Dynamic Island:Should it stay in the iPhone’s final form factor?

[_Refurbished_]

After using the Dynamic Island for a few weeks, I can safely say I don’t want it to go away…..even when they put the cameras and sensors under the display. The screen space is perfectly used for the apps that need them and the system notifications feel at home there. It’s like an adaptive widget on every screen.

Now, when Apple does implement under display technology, there will be situations where they can utilize the entire display, without the Dynamic Island being present. I hope they continue to use that space the same way they’re using it now and simply tweak the experience to new hardware.

 

[Pug72]

I think it's great but if and when they do hide/move the sensors & camera lens it would be good to keep it but with an option to turn off when viewing photos/video or playing a game.

 

[teeshot44]

There will never be a “Final Form Factor” until the last iPhone is produced at some point in the future. There will be changes that none of us can imagine. Just as no one could predict what has evolved in the most current model and software since Jobs first iPhone announcement almost 17 years ago. I can’t imagine what will exist in 2040 much less what I will like or prefer then.

 

[_Refurbished_]

There will never be a “Final Form Factor” until the last iPhone is produced at some point in the future. There will be changes that none of us can imagine. Just as no one could predict what has evolved in the most current model and software since Jobs first iPhone announcement almost 17 years ago. I can’t imagine what will exist in 2040 much less what I will like or prefer then.

That’s simply not true. We’ve reached the point where these devices are all screen. The only thing you can do at this point is change the screen size, which I’m sure they’ll do, but mathematically speaking there’s very few sizes left. They can make the phones either slightly bigger or smaller, and or change the height. But this is it. It’s a screen with a backing. Not much else can be done to the functional design that hasn’t already been done over the years.

 

[teeshot44]

That’s simply not true. We’ve reached the point where these devices are all screen. The only thing you can do at this point is change the screen size, which I’m sure they’ll do, but mathematically speaking there’s very few sizes left. They can make the phones either slightly bigger or smaller, and or change the height. But this is it. It’s a screen with a backing. Not much else can be done to the functional design that hasn’t already been done over the years.

Remember, in 2006. The iPhone screen size was nonexistent. There was no such thing. Who’s to say what will or won’t exist in the future. Maybe an implanted chip where the screen will be as large as you want your mind to see. VR is already here. Where will that go in the future? My bet is in the not too distant future, the iPhone will not be be recognizable in any respect to its current form.

 

[Paddle1]

It should just be completely digital, it can disappear when not in use.

I have to say I think you're the first person I've seen that actually seems to really like it. Most comments I've read about it are from people being underwhelmed or disappointed.

 

[_Refurbished_]

It should just be completely digital, it can disappear when not in use.

I have to say I think you're the first person I've seen that actually seems to really like it. Most comments I've read about it are from people being underwhelmed or disappointed.

Part of that is because I just started using it after seeing the same commentary. I didn’t buy my phone last year with the hopes of it revolutionizing my experience like it was advertised.

It’s a good use of the space and certain parts of the OS fit really nicely inside (charging indicator, system pop-ups etc)

 

[Sirious]

It should just be completely digital, it can disappear when not in use.

I have to say I think you're the first person I've seen that actually seems to really like it. Most comments I've read about it are from people being underwhelmed or disappointed.

Then maybe I am the second person .. I also really like it

 

[Squillace]

That’s simply not true. We’ve reached the point where these devices are all screen. The only thing you can do at this point is change the screen size, which I’m sure they’ll do, but mathematically speaking there’s very few sizes left. They can make the phones either slightly bigger or smaller, and or change the height. But this is it. It’s a screen with a backing. Not much else can be done to the functional design that hasn’t already been done over the years.

Well, sorry, but that is simply not true either.

Considering the fact that innovation is endless, what if in a few years the technology evolves so much that Apple (or any other manufacturer) comes up with a weird and brilliant tech that allows content like the one you have in the Dynamic Island to be projected just above the screen, in a 3D hologram form?
It might sound very "minority report" like and ridiculous right know, but we have no evidence to say that something like that can't be possible in 10 or 20 years from now in the future...

So no, there will never be a final form factor until the very last iPhone.

 

[gwang73]

When the technology for under-the-screen sensors are ready, I think the Dynamic Island should completely disappear when not active and they will probably relocate it to somewhere not as intrusive on the display. It's only where it is today because of the sensors.

I should add, I also do really like the Dynamic Island, especially for following sports scores. But I think short-press should open up the mini controls and long-press to open the app.

 

[BLtheP]

I must be the third, I love the Dynamic Island. Especially for the now playing widget that it does when content is playing. I hope they do maintain it even when they do eventually hide the camera and scanner.

 

[_Refurbished_]

Well, sorry, but that is simply not true either.

Considering the fact that innovation is endless, what if in a few years the technology evolves so much that Apple (or any other manufacturer) comes up with a weird and brilliant tech that allows content like the one you have in the Dynamic Island to be projected just above the screen, in a 3D hologram form?
It might sound very "minority report" like and ridiculous right know, but we have no evidence to say that something like that can't be possible in 10 or 20 years from now in the future...

So no, there will never be a final form factor until the very last iPhone.

I think you're missing the point. I'm not talking about the distant future of unknown technology, I'm talking about a slab with a screen. When it comes to the "iPhone", we're at the end-of-the-line on how it looks from the top down. You can make it thinner, lighter, but the front will still be a rounded edged screen. Even if the bezels are completely removed, which I'm not sure is a benefit in design, it's still a giant screen in your hand and my Dynamic Island points are still valid with any minor iterations Apple will conceive in the near or distant future.

Is the Dynamic Island relative to the Vision Pro? Of course not, that's not the point of this discussion. What you're talking about is a future product that's not an iPhone, and while that may be coming.....I'm not sure we'll move away from handheld devices in our lifetime. Maybe future generations will accept such a device, but I don't see it happening with the current generations. A hologram device wouldn't be practical and a chip inside our brains is meant for generations that don't have it blacklisted out of the gate due to a fear of change.

 

[_Refurbished_]

I must be the third, I love the Dynamic Island. Especially for the now playing widget that it does when content is playing. I hope they do maintain it even when they do eventually hide the camera and scanner.

Exactly.

It's the adaptive potion of iOS that's been static all these years. It's a widget for when you need it and it does it with grace.

 

[robvalentine]

I told myself I'd never buy an iphone with dynamic island, or dynamic sausage as I like to call it. I got an iphone 15 pro, and I should have stuck with my initial descison as there's now a large chuck of unusalbe screen space. and then when you get a live activity (Spotify etc) then it becomes even bigger for no net use gain IMO.

the iphone x-12 had the least intrusive notch, then it's gotten more intrusive each time in the name of "Progress". the Iphone 13 pro's notch was narrower, but deeper than my 11 Pro's notch. I'd rather have a big bezel. I'd call it regress as the small amount of screen above it is useless.