iOS 16.1 Beta Makes Dynamic Island Easier to Access With Reachability Support

[MacRumors]

The first beta of iOS 16.1 seeded to developers and public testers earlier this week enables Reachability support for the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, making the new pill-shaped area easier to access with one hand.

Twitter account Tech-Up shared a first look at how Dynamic Island works with Reachability on the iOS 16.1 beta, as spotted by 9to5Mac.

Reachability is an optional feature that lowers the top half of the screen so it's within easy reach of your fingers. The feature can be enabled in the Settings app under Accessibility → Touch → Reachability. To use the feature, simply swipe down on the bottom edge of the screen. To return to a regular view, tap the upper half of the screen.

On earlier versions of iOS 16, the Dynamic Island does not work with Reachability and remains at the top of the screen while other content is lowered.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1570709968407662593

Dynamic Island can display system alerts for incoming phone calls, AirPods connected, Face ID, Apple Pay, AirDrop, AirPlay, car keys in the Wallet app, unlocking the iPhone with an Apple Watch, charging and low battery indicators, ring/silent mode, NFC interactions, Focus mode changes, Shortcuts, Airplane Mode, Find My, and more. It will also work with Live Activities in third-party apps when iOS 16.1 is released later this year.

Article Link: iOS 16.1 Beta Makes Dynamic Island Easier to Access With Reachability Support

 

[MayaUser]

so we will have 2 pills now....great
I think it should stay always on top, but for the sake of one handed use they can do this too

 

[mystery hill]

Now there’s both a dynamic and static island at the same time. The next update will add a third.

The more, the merrier.

 

[Chrjy]

Even more impressively, the entire camera and Face ID technology moves with it as well.....can't innovate, my ****!

 

[nezr]

I've always turned off Reachability. Dont like it

 

[mystery hill]

I've always turned off Reachability. Dont like it

Yeah, but now when you turn it off, you lose a whole island.

 

[7thson]

Alternatively one can invoke Reachability by Accessibilty>Touch>Back Tap. Or program another action. Kinda cool.

 

[dms_91]

it’s the dynamic tectonic shift of dynamic island 😂

 

[CarAnalogy]

This almost seems like one of those "oh yeah...whoops" moments after shipping.

I don't know how they missed this because reaching the top of the phone is a big enough problem that they made Reachability. This has been a concern for a long time and one of the first concerns people had with Dynamic Island.

 

[eatrains]

Reachability is a sign that phones are too big.

 

[Berti10]

I remember a film … with Tom Hanks … it was about an island… also with a reachability problem

 

[MayaUser]

Now there’s both a dynamic and static island at the same time. The next update will add a third.

The more, the merrier.

based on the thumbs down , users here love to have more pills on their display, top and bottom

 

[klasma]

Alternatively one can invoke Reachability by Accessibilty>Touch>Back Tap. Or program another action. Kinda cool.

It's almost impossible to back-tap one-handed though without first changing your grip. I found it to be impractical.

 

[JGIGS]

Reachability is a sign that phones are too big.

Ya but we like battery life don't we? Unfortunately that's the trade off.

 

[War833]

Happy to see this. It made no sense whatsoever that the dynamic island wouldn't shift down like every other UI element. Reaching the top of a Pro max with one hand is not fun.

 

[klasma]

Ya but we like battery life don't we? Unfortunately that's the trade off.

If that was the only reason, phones would just be thicker.

 

[kirk.vino]

For those who wanted multiple islands on their screen HAHA

 

[PsykX]

Yeah, but now when your turn it off, you lose a whole island.

We should all turn that on. It's the first and only time in our lives we'll be able to get an island for free.

 

[_Spinn_]

This is a good change.

 

[JGIGS]

If that was the only reason, phones would just be thicker.

I think most people would rather a slightly larger phone with some extra screen space. I personally wouldn't want iphones to get thicker then they currently are. They already gotten a bit thicker then the most thin they've been.

 

[v0lume4]

Now there’s both a dynamic and static island at the same time. The next update will add a third.

The more, the merrier.

DYNAMIC ARCHIPELAGO

 

[chr1s60]

I would like some islands on the side as well. We shall form the Dynamic Republic of the Apple Islands!

 

[Populus]

I love reachability and I use it even on my iPhone 8

When I’ve had other iPhones without a home button, I set it up to activate it via triple tap on the back of the phone. Double tap for control center. That feature is awesome.

 

[siddavis]

I love reachability and I use it even on my iPhone 8

When I’ve had other iPhones without a home button, I set it up to activate it via triple tap on the back of the phone. Double tap for control center. That feature is awesome.

This wins post of the week from me! I had no idea this existed... just enabled it. Thank you!

 

[Vyse2020]

Reachability is a sign that phones are too big.

Nah