How the iPhone 14 Pro's New 'Dynamic Island' Works

[MacRumors]

With the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple introduced an updated design that does away with the notch at the front for the TrueDepth camera. Instead, Apple has slimmed down the hardware and put the proximity sensor under the display, allowing for a smaller pill-shaped cutout.

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As we learned during the rumor cycle, the new cutout consists of a circle for the camera and a second pill-shaped cutout for the TrueDepth hardware, but Apple has combined these into a single cutout that it is calling the Dynamic Island. We thought we'd take a closer look at the Dynamic Island, which is one of the most clever user interface changes Apple has implemented in recent years.

Dynamic Island Shape

The Dynamic Island is not a static cutout, and can shift in size and shape to blend itself into the UI and provide new visual tools front and center on the iPhone's display. In standard usage, it is a small pill-shaped cutout, but Apple uses pixels to expand it to match different tasks.

When making an Apple Pay payment, for example, the Dynamic Island expands into a square shape to match the Face ID confirmation interface, and while on a phone call, it expands to be larger so you can have the phone controls front and center.

Basically, the Dynamic Island is able to house ongoing background tasks that you might need to come back to while doing other things on your phone

Ways the Dynamic Island Can Be Used

So far, we only have Apple's demonstrations to go on, but it looks like the Dynamic Island can show all kinds of different information. We're rounded up the ways it's been used so far.

• Expanded into a large rectangle to show upcoming Maps directions without having to open the Maps app.
• Displaying Maps directions in a smaller pill-shaped interface for when you just need a quick glance at the next turn.
• Square shaped for an Apple Pay payment confirmation.
• Showing a music waveform and time remaining on a song that's playing.
• Tracking the time of arrival of a Lyft.
• Displaying privacy indicators when the microphone or camera is in use.
• Displaying a small bar with the phone icon and the length of the phone call.
• Showing a timer.
• Keeping track of sports scores.
• Accessing music controls and a music player.
• Showing AirPods connection status and battery life.
• Displaying iPhone charging status and battery life.

The Dynamic Island can show notifications or information that you're actively keeping up with. It's going to work with the Live Activities feature coming in iOS 16, so you can track sports scores, Uber rides, and more right from the top of the iPhone's display.

It's worth noting that any time the Dynamic Island is in use like this, it is doing its task without interrupting what you're doing in the app you're in. So if you're reading Twitter, you can also be controlling your music through the Dynamic Island with just a tap.

Split Island

Because the TrueDepth camera system is actually housed in two separate cutouts that are merged through software, the Dynamic Island can do a neat trick where it separates into a small pill on the left and a circle on the right, both of which are able to display different information at the same time, such as music controls and a timer.

Dynamic Island Interaction

When tapped, the Dynamic Island expands to become larger so you can interact with the content that it's offering at the current time, and when you're in an app, you can swipe up to send the app's content to the Dynamic Island so you can get back to the Home screen.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1567598119923351552

Third-Party App Support

Apple is allowing third-party app developers to integrate their apps into the Dynamic Island so you can access third-party app content as well as Apple's own app content. Third-party app Flighty, for example, is able to put your flight information in the Dynamic Island so you can see it with a tap.

Dynamic Island Reactions

So far, reactions to the Dynamic Island have been largely positive, as can be seen in our roundup of commentary on the feature. It has been called "one of Apple's best designs."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1567583848212430856

Availability

The Dynamic Island is limited to the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 14 models continue to offer the same notch as the iPhone 13 models.

Additional Coverage

We'll be picking up an iPhone 14 Pro when preorders go live tomorrow, and when it's delivered on the 16th, we'll do an in-depth look at all of the new features, providing a much more detailed overview of the Dynamic Island and its functionality.

Article Link: How the iPhone 14 Pro's New 'Dynamic Island' Works

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Such a great new feature, that I will unfortunately never be able to use. Well I'm sure those getting future iPhone Pros will enjoy it greatly.

 

[alpi123]

It definitely stole the show yesterday. I'm glad it didn't get leaked.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Touch ID vibes. I hope it doesn’t confuse people. Apple will just leave it easy and simple.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I'm glad it didn't get leaked.

Yep, a rare surprise and a great one

 

[Jumpinbeans]

Work well when you are using it as a phone - flip the phone on its side and watch the clips of movies and it looks shocking.

 

[boyarka]

Gimmick Island that will die and be forgotten as fast as the touchbar.

 

[MrTemple]

Sure the 'dead space' is still there, but the visual weight of the dead space is so nicely taken up by the new interface.

Truly excellent design.

 

[Randel.D]

The main image on that video LOL

 

[Return Zero]

This is essentially a prettier version of what people have suggested ever since the notch first came around in the X... Hiding notifications and status icons in a blacked out bar at the top of the screen to disguise the notch. This solution is slightly less space efficient but way more aesthetically pleasing.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

The result will be that people will touch their front camera quite often. That is not good for the image quality.

 

[txscott]

I'll hold my final opinion until after I see it in action personally. But I don't think I want a hole that shows me notifications while I'm watching a video in landscape, or for that matter when I'm surfing the web even in portrait. I want to be able to get to the point that just the thing I'm doing in the foreground is the only thing on the screen. No volume level indicator, no nothing else. Can it do that?

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Work well when you are using it as a phone - flip the phone on its side and watch the clips of movies and it looks shocking.

it'll be virtually indistinguishable from the current phone when watching movies if you just watch within the "safe area".

 

[ProfessionalFan]

The result will be that people will touch their front camera quite often. That is not good for the image quality.

If only there was some kind of invention for wiping off that area easily.

 

[AppleFan91]

Loved it and was a pleasant highlight from yesterday.

Also, while the naming is terrible, someone online called the notch (iPhone X - 13) the “Constant Peninsula” 😂

 

[cmcnick]

Very smart execution in my opinion, although it will definitely delay Apple needing to implement a true full-screen display with no cutouts.

 

[cocky jeremy]

At least they're doing something with the cutout that is going to be there a while still. I'm curious how they'll modify this once everything is finally under the screen.

 

[Account25476]

More than 24 hours have passed since the announcement of the "dynamic island" on iPhone 14 pro, and I haven't seen a single video or person talking about how the dynamic island looks with the dark mode on.

I agree it does look great with the dark mode off (light mode) but what about the dark mode on? No one is curios about it?

 

[pdaholic]

The developer at Apple who came up with this feature should get a fat raise.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Very smart execution in my opinion, although it will definitely delay Apple needing to implement a true full-screen display with no cutouts.

That isn't something that is technologically feasible at this time anyway, not like they are choosing to not do it. Camera quality stinks under the display and FaceID obviously can't go under there yet either or they already would've done it.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

More than 24 hours have passed since the announcement of the "dynamic island" on iPhone 14 pro, and I haven't seen a single video or person talking about how the dynamic island looks with the dark mode on.

I agree it does look great with the dark mode off (light mode) but what about the dark mode on? No one is curios about it?

We'll find out when the embargo is lifted on reviews. Probably early next week.

 

[OlSuttree]

Very Apple-y UI design. Like a next-gen Menu Bar Extras.

 

[jmgregory1]

I think the article isn’t correct, particularly the following Because the TrueDepth camera system is actually housed in two separate cutouts that are merged through software, the Dynamic Island can do a neat trick where it separates into a small pill on the left and a circle on the right, both of which are able to display different information at the same time, such as music controls and a timer.

The camera / sensor cutout is a singular elongated pill cutout. When Apple creates a separate circle element to the right of the pill, it’s not a hole punch, but rather just a graphic element on the screen to the right of the actual pill cutout. And any elements on the left (or right) of what appears to be the basic pill cutout, are actually further graphically elongated sections of the pill.

You can clearly see the camera and sensors within the pill cutout and they’re not hiding behind the screen - the dot projector is sitting below and to the left of the pill, but that’s it. This is really just incorporating the blank area of the cutout section with actual active areas of the screen. It’s totally brilliant, imho.

 

[joshty92]

Cant wait to upgrade from my 11 Pro Max to the 14 Pro Max!!

 

[ProfessionalFan]

It’s totally brilliant

It is and the people crapping on it are for the most part Android users who were prepared to crap on anything presented.