iPhone 14 Pro's Always-On Display Behavior in iOS 16 Allegedly Revealed Days Ahead of Unveiling - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iPhone 14 Pro's Always-On Display Behavior in iOS 16 Allegedly Revealed Days Ahead of Unveiling

The iPhone 14 Pro will feature unique behavior on the Lock Screen and significant changes to the status bar thanks to its always-on display, according to a source that spoke to MacRumors.

iphone 14 pro always on display 3
The source behind the latest wave of information was responsible for the bombshell leak earlier this week that claimed the iPhone 14 Pro's display cutouts will appear to have a single, unified "pill" at the top of the display, rather than two distinct cutouts.

According to new information from the source shared exclusively with MacRumors, iOS 16's Lock Screen will directly interact with the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display, featuring integration with notifications and the depth effect and colors of wallpapers.

iphone 14 pro always on display 1
The iPhone 14 Pro's status bar will also purportedly see changes as a result of the increased amount of usable space at the top of the display, moving the cellular signal indictor to the left and re-implementing the full-width battery status bar on the Lock Screen and notification center when the device is locked.

iphone 14 pro always on display 2
The source shared several graphics allegedly based on information from Apple that illustrate some of the iPhone 14 Pro's software changes on the MacRumors forums and has since provided further information. The iPhone 14 Pro will apparently feature the following features and specific changes:

  • The background of Lock Screen wallpapers with a depth effect will be removed and fully darkened when the display is in its always-on mode, while the foreground will be dimmed. In addition, the foreground will be tinted with color and feature edge highlights depending on user customization.
  • Widgets will be visible on the always-on display but will fade in and out at set intervals, unnoticeable to the user, to prevent OLED burn-in.
  • Content shown on the always-on Lock Screen and the full-illuminated Lock Screen must be configured in the same way and cannot be separated, meaning that they have to share the same wallpaper, color choices, fonts, and widgets. The core visual elements of the always-on display itself can be independently customized.
  • Notifications will be part of the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display experience, and like on the normal Lock Screen, notifications will roll in from the bottom one at a time and remain subtly visible for 10 seconds. Once the display is woken up, the notifications will animate from the bottom and proceed to the user-defined setting of how notifications are presented on the Lock Screen (such as count, stack, or list).
  • Apple may also allow users to enable a notification counter at the bottom of the always-on display.

Apple is also said to be planning to release an update, such as iOS 16.0.1 or 16.1, soon after the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro that will include fixes for issues with the device’s always-on display and wallpapers. While the company is now in the feature’s final stages of development, it is reportedly still encountering bugs and is scrambling software engineers from different teams, including the Apple Watch, to finish the always-on display experience before launch.

The iPhone 14 Pro lineup is expected to be revealed at the Apple's "Far out" event on Wednesday, September 7. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are likely to be available for pre-order on Friday, September 9, and start arriving to customers on Friday, September 16.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

imac video apple feature

November 20 to Mark the End of an Era at Apple

Wednesday November 11, 2026 7:51 am PST by
Apple has announced that the long-running Apple Support Community discussion forums for user-to-user tech support will be permanently closing on Friday, November 20. The forums have existed in some form for nearly 30 years, so it is the end of an era. Effective immediately, the Apple Support Community forums are in a read-only state, with new posts no longer being accepted. The final message ...
johny srouji

Apple's Johny Srouji Eyed to Replace Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang

Thursday November 12, 2026 4:29 am PST by
Apple's chief hardware officer Johny Srouji is being considered as a potential successor to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang as the chipmaker's board prepares to remove its co-founder, according to Semafor. Citing a person familiar with the matter, the publication identified Srouji as one of the people under consideration for Nvidia's top job. It is unclear if Srouji has yet been approached or...
airpods 5 new blue

Apple Releases New AirPods Firmware

Tuesday November 10, 2026 12:11 pm PST by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Max 2. The firmware has a build number of 9B47, up from 9A348/9A350. Apple has been beta testing the new firmware for the last several weeks. In a support document, Apple merely mentioned the new firmware contains "bug fixes and other improvements." Firmware updates can be downloaded...

Top Rated Comments

TFK. Avatar
55 months ago
I can’t wait for people to start complaining about this for no reason
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
55 months ago
Gosh, if the single unified pill was a bombshell leak, what does it make this? Is MR HQ still standing?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aries81 Avatar
55 months ago
in before 'kiss your battery life goodbye'
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
55 months ago

"What more can they really do?" USB-C, plus whatever else a zillion smart engineers can come up with over the next 12 months...
Here, are you happy now?



Attachment Image
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️ Avatar
55 months ago
Not going to lie the whole status bar looks great!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brgjoe Avatar
55 months ago
Yeah, I don't get the complaints.

If you don't like it, I am sure there will be an option to turn it off. Like on the Apple watch. I look forward to *finally* seeing this feature on iPhones.

Don't see why people whine about some of us who want the OPTION to use a feature like this. <shrug>
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Hands-On With the New Apple TV 4K and Siri AI
Hands-On With the New Apple TV 4K and Siri AI
6 hours ago
Siri AI Coming to Older Apple TV 4K Models in tvOS 27.2.1
Siri AI Coming to Older Apple TV 4K Models in tvOS 27.2.1
7 hours ago
HomeView Launch Kicks Off as First Orders Reach Customers
HomeView Launch Kicks Off as First Orders Reach Customers
8 hours ago
Apple Continues to Move Up iPhone Duo Delivery Dates
Apple Continues to Move Up iPhone Duo Delivery Dates
10 hours ago
Apple Explains How HomeView Keeps Camera Data Private
Apple Explains How HomeView Keeps Camera Data Private
11 hours ago
Apple Releases Updated HomeView Software 27.2 Before Launch
Apple Releases Updated HomeView Software 27.2 Before Launch
12 hours ago
Apple Adds Samsung Foldables to Trade-In Program
Apple Adds Samsung Foldables to Trade-In Program
14 hours ago
Apple Sports App Now Features UFC
Apple Sports App Now Features UFC
14 hours ago
Trump Says Tim Cook Should Be Nvidia CEO as Jensen Huang Resigns
Trump Says Tim Cook Should Be Nvidia CEO as Jensen Huang Resigns
14 hours ago
Apple Releases Emotional 2026 Holiday Ad Featuring MacBook Neo
Apple Releases Emotional 2026 Holiday Ad Featuring MacBook Neo
15 hours ago
Apple's Official iPhone 18 Pro Cases and Watch Bands Get Big Discounts on Amazon
Apple's Official iPhone 18 Pro Cases and Watch Bands Get Big Discounts on Amazon
15 hours ago
Nintendo to End 'Sign in With Apple' Support in January
Nintendo to End 'Sign in With Apple' Support in January
15 hours ago
Walmart Black Friday Sale Begins With Early Deals on TVs, Laptops, and More
Walmart Black Friday Sale Begins With Early Deals on TVs, Laptops, and More
16 hours ago
Apple Says HomeView Software Update Coming Next Month With Siri Fix
Apple Says HomeView Software Update Coming Next Month With Siri Fix
16 hours ago
Review: Is Apple's All-New HomeView Smart Home Hub Worth $299?
Review: Is Apple's All-New HomeView Smart Home Hub Worth $299?
17 hours ago
Apple Home Collection: Select Accessories Available to Order This Friday
Apple Home Collection: Select Accessories Available to Order This Friday
17 hours ago
'Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble' to Leave App Store This Month
'Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble' to Leave App Store This Month
18 hours ago
Apple's Johny Srouji Eyed to Replace Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
Apple's Johny Srouji Eyed to Replace Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
18 hours ago
Apple Support Community Deserved a Proper Goodbye
Apple Support Community Deserved a Proper Goodbye
1 day ago
Apple on Fatal Vehicle Crash Near Apple Park: 'Our Hearts Are Broken'
Apple on Fatal Vehicle Crash Near Apple Park: 'Our Hearts Are Broken'
1 day ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
1 day ago
Google Says Gemini App Rolling Out on Apple CarPlay Starting Today
Google Says Gemini App Rolling Out on Apple CarPlay Starting Today
1 day ago
Is It Worth Buying a Ceramic Apple Watch?
Is It Worth Buying a Ceramic Apple Watch?
2 days ago
Samsung Early Black Friday Event Brings Major Sales to Frame TVs and More
Samsung Early Black Friday Event Brings Major Sales to Frame TVs and More
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Battery Test Involving 32 Smartphones
iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins Battery Test Involving 32 Smartphones
2 days ago
AirTag 2 4-Pack Hits Record Low $69.99 Price Ahead of Black Friday
AirTag 2 4-Pack Hits Record Low $69.99 Price Ahead of Black Friday
2 days ago
Rumored Apple Smart Glasses Mentioned in Supplier's Earnings Briefing
Rumored Apple Smart Glasses Mentioned in Supplier's Earnings Briefing
2 days ago
Make Apple Watch Listen for Sounds Like the Doorbell
Make Apple Watch Listen for Sounds Like the Doorbell
2 days ago
Apple Chip Supplier TSMC Approves $1 Billion AI Investment
Apple Chip Supplier TSMC Approves $1 Billion AI Investment
2 days ago
'Apple Support Community' Permanently Closing on November 20
'Apple Support Community' Permanently Closing on November 20
2 days ago