(Credit: Apple)
The notch at the top of the iPhone has been a familiar sight for the past several generations, but I've always felt like it was just wasted space. Other than housing the phone's front camera, the notch just eats into my screen. To make that space more useful, Apple has turned it into an interactive feature called the Dynamic Island for newer iPhone models.
It can now display notifications for Apple Pay transactions, low battery warnings, AirDrop transfers, Apple Maps directions, incoming phone calls, music being played, SharePlay sessions, and screen recordings. The feature even works with a variety of third-party apps to display relevant information.
Initially, the Dynamic Island was available only on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, but it’s now found on all iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models. The feature doesn't need to be enabled or configured for the Dynamic Island to do its job; it automatically kicks in when your phone is unlocked and any supported activity is running. In many cases, I can press down on the Dynamic Island to open the activity in a larger window. In other cases, I can tap it to launch the activity in its associated full-screen app. I can even swipe to expand and contract the activity. Here are a few uses I've found for the Dynamic Island that I think are actually helpful.
1. Authenticate Apple Pay Transactions
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)Use Apple Pay to make a purchase at a physical or online retailer, and the Dynamic Island displays a swirling green image to indicate the Face ID authentication. After my face has been authenticated and the purchase has gone through, the image turns into a green smiley face.
2. Visualize AirDrop Transfers
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)The Dynamic Island serves as a visual status indicator for AirDrop transfers. When items are shared with me, an indicator will appear on the Dynamic Island to show the progress of the file transfer. After the process is completed, a checkmark then pops up in the same spot.
3. Show Privacy Indicators
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)Your iPhone displays a visual privacy indicator whenever an app or service is accessing your camera or microphone. These indicator lights appear inside the Dynamic Island on phones that support the feature. If I open an app with access to the camera, a green dot pops up in the display. If I open one that can access the microphone, an orange dot appears.
4. Set a Timer
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)I can monitor my timers through the Dynamic Island. To do this, I'd open the Clock app and set a timer to make the Dynamic Island display the countdown in minutes. I can press down on the display to expand the information so I can see the timer and also pause or stop it. If I tap the Dynamic Island, it'll open the full Clock app.
5. Control Phone Calls
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)When I'm on a phone call and head to the Home screen, the Dynamic Island shows the ongoing duration of the call and the volume level. If I press down on the display, I can see the duration of the call and the name or number of the caller, change the audio source, and hang up. If I tap the display, I'll open the Phone app.
6. Follow Apple Map Directions
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)When navigating with Apple Maps, I can return to the Home screen to see turn-by-turn directions in the Dynamic Island. If I press down on the display, I'll see the next turn with an option to end the route. If I tap the Dynamic Island, the Maps app opens in full-screen mode.
7. Play Music or Other Audio
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)When I play a song, podcast, or audiobook and return to the Home screen, the Dynamic Island shows me a small image of album art and a volume gauge. If I press down on the Dynamic Island, I'll see a larger display with the album art, the name of the song, and the artist, as well as playback controls and audio output options.
8. Record Your Screen
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)If I kick off a screen recording, the Dynamic Island shows a record button that says the screen is being captured. I can tap on the Dynamic Island to show a timer and a button to stop the recording. When I press the Stop button, the display indicates that the recording was saved to my photo library.
9. Switch Between Apps
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)I can also use the Dynamic Island for multiple apps at once. Let’s say I'm running two or more apps, and each one is using the Dynamic Island. I can easily switch between them by swiping the Dynamic Island area to the left or right, and an icon for the other app should appear. I found it somewhat trickier to move between three or more apps, but you can still do it by swiping to the left or right.
Which Third-Party Apps Support Dynamic Island?
Several third-party apps can display information on the Lock screen and the Dynamic Island. They include: Calzy, Carrot Weather, Dynamic Island Notes & Memo, Dynamic X, Flighty, Google Maps, Island Widgets, Pestle, Posture Pal, SmartGym, Steps, Sticky Timers and Countdowns, and TV Remote. These third-party programs work similarly to Apple's built-in offerings. Press down on the Dynamic Island to display certain details about the app or activity; tap it to open the app in full-screen mode.