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

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.


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.

iphone 14 pro blue image
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.

iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island 3

  • 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 split

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.

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.

flighty iphone 14 digital island

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."

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.

Related Roundup: iPhone 14 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

alpi123 Avatar
7 months ago
It definitely stole the show yesterday. I'm glad it didn't get leaked.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iStorm Avatar
7 months ago
It's neat, but I see a couple things that could be improved...

The time is now hidden when a new call comes in. Can't quickly see the time to decide if you want to take the call before your next meeting, or maybe you're expecting another call soon.




The signal bars are now hidden during a call. Can't see if poor reception could be affecting the call at a quick glance.



Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrTemple Avatar
7 months ago
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.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProfessionalFan Avatar
7 months ago

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.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Villarrealadrian Avatar
7 months ago
My iPhone 12 got mysteriously laggy after iPhone 14 presentation
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleFan91 Avatar
7 months ago
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” ?
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17 on Phone Feature

Gurman: iOS 17 to Provide Several 'Most Requested Features'

Sunday March 26, 2023 6:05 am PDT by
Apple changed the strategy for iOS 17 later in its development process to add several new features, suggesting that the update may be more significant than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In January, Gurman said that iOS 17 could be a less significant update than iPhone updates in previous years due to the company's intense focus on its long-awaited mixed-reality...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:06 am PDT by
Following nearly six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is expected to be released to the public as soon as this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. Below, we have recapped eight new features and...
apple mixed reality headset concept by david lewis and marcus kane

Some Apple Employees Seriously Concerned About Mixed-Reality Headset as Announcement Draws Closer

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:25 am PDT by
Some Apple employees are concerned about the usefulness and price point of the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, The New York Times reports. Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Initial enthusiasm around the device at the company has apparently become skepticism, according to eight current and former Apple employees speaking to The New York Times. The change of tone...
iOS 16

Apple Releases iOS 16.4 With New Emoji, Safari Web Push Notifications, Beta Changes, Voice Isolation for Calls and More

Monday March 27, 2023 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 16.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 16 operating system that initially came out last September. iOS 16.4 comes two months after the launch of iOS 16.3, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID. iOS 16‌.4 and iPadOS 16.4 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It can take a few minutes...
Steve Jobs Theater dusk

Apple Reportedly Demoed Mixed-Reality Headset to Executives in the Steve Jobs Theater Last Week

Sunday March 26, 2023 5:53 am PDT by
Apple showcased its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater last week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the "momentous gathering" is a "key milestone" ahead of the headset's public announcement planned for June. The event was intended to rally Apple's top members of...
top stories 25mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Design Leak, iOS 16.4 Coming Soon, and More

Saturday March 25, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
We're still almost six months away from the official unveiling of the iPhone 15 lineup, but it seems like every day we're learning more about what to expect from the next-generation models. Notably, this week gave us our clearest look yet at what appear to be some changes for the volume and mute control hardware. iOS 16.4 and associated releases are also right around the corner with some new ...
apple tv 4k red image

Apple Releases tvOS 16.4 for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD

Monday March 27, 2023 10:00 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 16.4, the fourth major point update to the tvOS 16 operating system that came out last September. Available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, tvOS 16.4 comes two months following the release of tvOS 16.3. The tvOS 16.4 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌ by going to System > Software Update....