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dwaltwhit

Contributor
Original poster
Oct 25, 2013
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Tennessee
I have used an old iPad for years as a dedicated alarm clock. The display on it is starting to go out and I’m thinking about using my phone in nightstand mode. I’ve used it here and there on trips, but I was wondering if anyone has run into longterm problems with prolonged use.
 
What kind of problems? I use mine in nightstand mode every night while it's on a MagSafe charger, have been doing so every night for the past year. The display turns red once I darken the room, and it only turns on when it detects motion and stays on for a few seconds, so it's not displaying the same image all night long.
 
What kind of problems? I use mine in nightstand mode every night while it's on a MagSafe charger, have been doing so every night for the past year. The display turns red once I darken the room, and it only turns on when it detects motion and stays on for a few seconds, so it's not displaying the same image all night long.
No the iPad 3 that I use as an alarm is starting to dim. I was wondering if there was any downside to using my phone in nightstand mode.
 
No the iPad 3 that I use as an alarm is starting to dim. I was wondering if there was any downside to using my phone in nightstand mode.
Which phone do you have? If it has an always on display, I see no issues. Even if it doesn't, the brightness is as low as it goes in a dark room and should be fine. I've used it on the whatever the latest pro model was since they dropped it as a feature and have had nothing go wrong!
 
Which phone do you have? If it has an always on display, I see no issues. Even if it doesn't, the brightness is as low as it goes in a dark room and should be fine. I've used it on the whatever the latest pro model was since they dropped it as a feature and have had nothing go wrong!
Even if it does, you can set nightstand mode to turn off the screen while in that mode.
 
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I have used an old iPad for years as a dedicated alarm clock. The display on it is starting to go out and I’m thinking about using my phone in nightstand mode. I’ve used it here and there on trips, but I was wondering if anyone has run into longterm problems with prolonged use.
I have used Nightstand on the iPhone since it came out. I use it every night. Never had an issue on any iPhone I have used it on. I think its the best feature ever!
 
I can't really use Nightstand mode on my 11 Pro Max (only briefly), but I have used a smartphone of one model or another since May 2009 as a nightstand alarm clock.

I set my alarms in Apple's Clock app, but at night I use a third party clock app. Plug the phone in, open the third party app and then set my phone in it's stand on my nightstand. I've never had any issues with the screen, no matter what phone I've used to do this. Screen is on all night until I get up.

I don't think you have any thing to worry about.
 
Good to know, definitely lowers the risk of the screen 'burning out', even if i have never heard of an iPhone doing that...
I still have my original iPhone 6s+. Of all the phones I own it is the one that served as a nightstand clock/alarm for the longest (6 plus years). Plugged in, screen on for 4 to 8 hours a night. I still use it as my secondary phone.

Zero issues with the screen.
 
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No the iPad 3 that I use as an alarm is starting to dim. I was wondering if there was any downside to using my phone in nightstand mode.
AOD during the day would be as much or more of a risk than nightstand mode. But in reality, neither of them are problematic.


Even if it does, you can set nightstand mode to turn off the screen while in that mode.
Exactly. My phone (16 Pro) is fully dark/off in nightstand mode unless movement wakes it up, and it's only on for a few seconds before it shuts off again.
 
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I was reading a news article earlier where people were complaining on social media about the nightstand feature. Several users described the red nightstand mode screen as 'scary' or 'creepy' in the dark. It made me wonder if they have mommy check under their bed for monsters before they go to sleep. 😆

There's a reason they use red light for a mode that's going to be used in the dark. Red light preserves your night vision, so you don't stumble to the bathroom blind after a bright screen flashes in your eyes when you get up.
 
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