But it’s just so pleasant to use. It’s fun and the implementation is brilliant. The animations are so fun. The maps directions and notifications are so helpful. I’m excited about what Apple will do with the Dynamic Island in the future.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 14 Pro Max I'm using the Dynamic Island less than I expected
- Thread starter Jony Ive
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I like watching the faceID animation, the non-intrusive low battery warning and when I receive a phone call while I'm on my phone.
I think patience here is key and wait for 3rd party apps to support it. It's going to be amazing for me when it shows live sports scores or the status of my Uber so I don't need to constantly check the app.
I think patience here is key and wait for 3rd party apps to support it. It's going to be amazing for me when it shows live sports scores or the status of my Uber so I don't need to constantly check the app.
I’m glad that you’re happy with yourself about staying with the 13 max and keeping it for another year possibly. But here’s what’s gonna happen. This pill shape is the new design language moving forward for at least the next few years and by the time you want to get to the 15 all the phones will have the pill shape and your 13 max with the old notch will practically be worthless. So yeah now go run and click your heels with glee
Last edited:
I’m actually getting used to the Dynamic Island. Two things: 1) Most of the time, the point is to not use it. 2) When you do use it, it’s a nice visual reminder of what tasks are happening in the background.
I love having the phone call audio and duration of call info in that spot, as well as always knowing how to get back to the phone interface quickly.
One other thing we also know— Apple wouldn’t introduce this feature only to drop it in a year or two. It will probably be here for 3 years or so.
Imagine that next year the iPhone Pro will not have an island but full screen and the island will only be on cheap models, and all the enthusiasm for this ridiculous compromise will be zeroed, as has already happened with other “genial” solutions from Apple. Please go and buy the new Pros saying that the island is a compromise! 😅🤣🤦🏽
I’ve had my 14PM since Monday and I think the DI is remarkable. You have to understand that this was kept tightly under wraps, so third party developers weren’t able to take advantage of it — but that will change soon.
From a design standpoint, the DI makes the OS appear more complete and full screen — it’s subtle and interactive, so it’s easy to forget there are cameras in there.
I’ve been getting into Shortcuts lately and I like the way shortcuts and automations animate with the DI. And I’m sure there is a way to utilize shortcuts to make use of the DI even more.
From a design standpoint, the DI makes the OS appear more complete and full screen — it’s subtle and interactive, so it’s easy to forget there are cameras in there.
I’ve been getting into Shortcuts lately and I like the way shortcuts and automations animate with the DI. And I’m sure there is a way to utilize shortcuts to make use of the DI even more.
Honestly in some ways, the notch was better. For some apps I now have this weird useless space above the island.
The island is fine but I don't consider it to be some sort of desirable feature or attraction.
The island is fine but I don't consider it to be some sort of desirable feature or attraction.
Oh, and also 3D Touch on iPhone and Watch. It was a unique feature once. But killed off a few years later, erased from Apple memories.
I also have been using it less than expected (and I live in NYC so I do commute on mass transit while listening to music). I just think it doesn't have enough usable space. And I find it sort of off putting that it displays two related elements a mile apart from each other because of the unusable middle space.
As someone who was on a 14PM and now back on a 13PM (and will eventually be on a 14PM again once the new one arrives), I don't think it's a big deal. I didn't really feel the loss of the dynamic island, but I'll also be perfectly happy to go back to it. It feels more modern, and does make the screen feel bigger.
The other thing is that it's going to stick around for quite a while, so anyone who's planning to use an iPhone for the next few years may as well get used to it. The dynamic island is basically the endgame for the notch - until the stuff in the notch can actually go under the screen and function to a point that Apple is happy with, there is going to be at least a small cutout in the screen for these sensors, and there is going to be some sort of dynamic island surrounding it in the software. The next change is years away.
It is unfortunate that it cuts into video though. The 13PM was just perfect for that aspect ratio of video.
The other thing is that it's going to stick around for quite a while, so anyone who's planning to use an iPhone for the next few years may as well get used to it. The dynamic island is basically the endgame for the notch - until the stuff in the notch can actually go under the screen and function to a point that Apple is happy with, there is going to be at least a small cutout in the screen for these sensors, and there is going to be some sort of dynamic island surrounding it in the software. The next change is years away.
It is unfortunate that it cuts into video though. The 13PM was just perfect for that aspect ratio of video.
I wouldn't purchase a phone just for something like dynamic island. That being said, it is definitely more noticeable than the notch when it is simply sitting there without any use but I don't find it very distracting either. I never recognized the notch but I found myself a few times glancing at the dark void at the top of the phone with the pill. Not being from a first world country helps with not caring about it though. 😊
It is narrower than the notch on iPhone 13. So IMHO it would look better and more subtle if Apple kept it as a narrower notch. They could even name it the dynamic peninsula (oh my) or whatever if they really want, and have the same functionality, just attached to the top of the screen.
It is narrower than the notch on iPhone 13. So IMHO it would look better and more subtle if Apple kept it as a narrower notch. They could even name it the dynamic peninsula (oh my) or whatever if they really want, and have the same functionality, just attached to the top of the screen.
I wasn't aware the Dynamic Island is something you "use". I see it more as a passive thing which you don't really need, but it's functions are still nice to have. Like my Apple Watch: I don't use it actively much, but it's still vety annoying when I don't have it with me.
I didn't know that! That's horrible. Would you post a screenshot so I can see what you describe?
EDIT: Are you referring to the fact that a screenshot records the Dynamic Island if there is information displayed in it? What if the dynamic Island is not in use by an app? Does it still show up in a screenshot?
Last edited:
It's a cute gimmick to have. No complaints.
Don't know why anyone would spend hundreds on a gimmick tho.
Don't know why anyone would spend hundreds on a gimmick tho.
I guess I’ll be fine if I upgrade. I swipe down from the left side anyway because my screen protector doesn’t cover the notch and sliding my finger over the edge of it doesn’t feel good.
I’ve upgraded from a 12 mini to the 14 Pro and while I’ve used the Dynamic Island to do glance at information such as my AirPod’s battery and what song is playing I don’t think I have directly interacted with it in the almost two weeks I’ve had the phone.
The Dynamic Island was never a selling point to me (my upgrade was 100% based on wanted improved cameras). I do like the way the animations feel more integrated into the phones hardware and like it more than the notch - although I don’t think I would be willing to pay for just that change.
The Dynamic Island was never a selling point to me (my upgrade was 100% based on wanted improved cameras). I do like the way the animations feel more integrated into the phones hardware and like it more than the notch - although I don’t think I would be willing to pay for just that change.
The DI sucks, plain and simple, it’s way more obvious unless you live in dark mode, the UI/UX on some of the animations is very un-apple. The face unlock animation is ugly as hell, the green on black just looks off and in your face compared to the old style you hardly noticed. I’ve always had the new iPhone and never had regrets. My 14 pro is now boxed up ready to send back, I swear down prefer the notch anyday.
Apple introduce reduced notch only for 13 series, probably DI was already implemented but “Hey, we could spent that for 14 and others, so we don’t need to upgrade (SoCs, screens, services)”.
Apple has turned unreliable with hw and sw features developed.
Yes, cuz the 48 MP for the 14 isn't an upgrade at all. 🙃
I’ve had my iPhone 14 Pro for a week now and haven’t used dynamic island once. Not once. Frankly, I don’t even know how to use it.
Like, do I need to press on it or something? lol
Like, do I need to press on it or something? lol
Interesting how so many cried and complained when the iPhone X dropped with the notch and now aren’t willing to upgrade because there gonna loose the notch
I’m enjoying the Dynamic island and was still gonna upgrade to the 14 Pro Max even when the rumor was just a pill shape or a pill and punch hole design
Since launch day I’ve found that the new feature feels so natural and inter graded with the UI
Most of the new features like Always on, Haptic Keyboard and battery percentage have a Settings toggle except for the island???
So if you want to point a finger at a Gimmick you looking at the wrong feature
I’m enjoying the Dynamic island and was still gonna upgrade to the 14 Pro Max even when the rumor was just a pill shape or a pill and punch hole design
Since launch day I’ve found that the new feature feels so natural and inter graded with the UI
Most of the new features like Always on, Haptic Keyboard and battery percentage have a Settings toggle except for the island???
So if you want to point a finger at a Gimmick you looking at the wrong feature
Well it’s a gimmick what do you wanna use it for..
music is the only thing that would make it half useful, but you can’t change the volume from there and still have to open the app.
music is the only thing that would make it half useful, but you can’t change the volume from there and still have to open the app.