iPhone 14 Pro: Always-on display will soon work like Android

Overdressed? The always-on display of the iPhone 14 Pro always shows a background. Image: © Apple 2022

The always-on display of the iPhone 14 Pro should soon work like you know it from Android smartphones: that it only shows the time on a black background. Corresponding settings can be found in the developer beta of iOS 16.2. Apple is reacting to criticism from several sides.

Apple probably wanted too much of a good thing – and is now rowing back. In September, Apple fans were initially happy that the iPhone 14 Pro finally had a long-awaited feature: the always-on display. But the Apple version differed significantly from what has long been known from Android smartphones. By default, the iPhone not only shows the time on the always-on display, but also a dimmed version of the selected background image and notifications. Many testers and users find this too much.

iOS 16.2 lets you customize the always-on display

iOS 16.2 developer beta 3 now allows a setting to customize the always-on display. Under “Display and Brightness” there is a menu item called “Always On Display”. There you can switch the option on or off using the slider. New in iOS 16.2 beta 3 is the option to optionally disable the background and/or notifications on the always-on display.

With the wallpaper deactivated and no notifications, the always-on display remains black and only shows the time and your lock screen widgets – just like Android smartphones do.

In the settings of the iOS 16.2 beta, wallpapers and notifications for the always-on display can be deactivated. Image: © 9to5Mac 2022

This new option, expected to come to iPhone 14 Pro with iOS 16.2, is a response to complaints from some users and testers. So far there was only one workaround to disable the background on the always-on display. In “Do not disturb” mode, the always-on display can be dimmed so much that the wallpaper is barely visible.