Apple has a reputation for setting new trends in user experience, and Dynamic Island is one of its boldest design moves in recent years. We saw it in the iPhone 14 Pro for the first time, where our front camera notch no longer wastes space but allows us to interact with essential notifications immediately. Track time, receive low battery notifications, switch the playing song or a podcast, and more. Nice, isn’t it?
But here’s the real question: Is Dynamic Island just a sleek visual trick, or does it actually improve usability? More importantly, what does it teach us about human-centered design (something we at Arounda have rich expertise in)?
In this article, our UX experts will break down what Dynamic Island Apple is, how it works, and what businesses can learn from Apple’s approach to seamless, intuitive interactions. Let’s start.
What is the Dynamic Island: Everything You Need to Know
Dynamic Island is Apple’s way of turning the iPhone’s notch into something useful. Instead of a static black cutout, it’s an interactive area that changes shape to show important updates (incoming calls, music playing, timers, or directions). The coolest thing - without interrupting what you’re doing.
It’s like a mini dashboard at the top of your screen. It expands when needed (like showing who’s calling), then shrinks away when you’re done. It also supports Live Activities, meaning you can track things like food deliveries or sports scores in real-time. A small but smart UX change!
Which iPhone Models Support Dynamic Island?
Does iPhone 15 have Dynamic Island? Yes, it’s a standard feature on all models.
Does iPhone 14 have Dynamic Island? Not every model. The Dynamic Island feature first appeared in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. It was a Pro-exclusive feature, so the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Plus don’t have it.
What about the next iPhones?
- Most iPhone 16 models feature Dynamic Island (except iPhone 16e).
- As for the upcoming iPhone 17 series, reports suggest that Dynamic Island will be present across all models. But! Dynamic Island can be smaller because of advancements in Face ID technology. It’s only a rumor.
When we discovered “what is Dynamic Island,” let’s move further to design. Dynamic Island iPhone 15 and newer models showcase a thoughtful approach to human-centered UI design. In the next section, find out how its design impacts user interaction.
UI Design of Dynamic Island
IPhone Dynamic Island is a perfect example of human-centered UI design. Apple designed it to be fluid, intuitive, and unobtrusive. Tracking a timer, showing Face ID authentication, or displaying incoming calls? Interactions are distraction-free.
Shape Change
Dynamic Island’s standout feature is its ability to morph into different shapes based on what’s happening on your iPhone.
- It sits at the top of the screen when inactive, blending naturally into the UI.
- It stretches to show information like incoming calls, music controls, or AirPods connectivity.
- It expands into a wider box for more detailed notifications, such as navigation directions or timers.
This adaptive shape-shifting keeps essential information within reach without cluttering and provides a more dynamic and responsive feel. You can track your timer activity, pause it, or stop at all while switching to another playing song, pause music, or enter any app's full versions.
Split Island Functionality
Dynamic Island can split into two separate sections when multiple background activities run simultaneously. This feature is called Split Island.
For example, if you’re playing music and using a timer, Dynamic Island will separate them into two floating bubbles so you can see both at a glance. Each section remains interactive, and you can pause music or check the timer without switching apps. It is a perfect solution for multitasking and a great example of how UI design can enhance usability (quickly and clearly).
Dynamic Island Functions
Dynamic Island is an interactive hub that replaces intrusive pop-ups with a more fluid, integrated experience. You can see notifications in three states: small app icons, an expanded window after a long press, and a full-screen app. It helps users stay on top of important information without disrupting their main tasks (from notifications to live updates and app integrations).
Managing Alerts and Notifications
Notifications are less disruptive yet always visible. It displays:
- Incoming calls (expand to answer or decline)
- Face ID authentication (quick confirmation animation)
- Apple Pay transactions (with real-time status)
- Silent mode and charging indicators
- Find My notifications
- AirDrop file transfer status
- Privacy indicators for microphone or camera in use (green dot appears while the camera is on and orange while the microphone)
- Low battery alerts
- AirPods connection status and battery state
- Car key (if it was added to your Apple Wallet) locking and unlocking
- Airplane mode alert
- Apple Watch unlocking
- SIM card alerts
- AirPlay connections
- Focus mode changes
- Shortcut acts
- LED Flash alerts
- Near-field communication (NFC) notifications
Background Activities
Instead of opening full apps, users can monitor background tasks directly in Dynamic Island, such as:
- Music playback (with album art and controls)
- Screen Recording
- Timers and stopwatches
- Navigation directions (Apple Maps, Google Maps)
- Voice memo recordings
- Incoming call notification
- Phone call duration
- Live Activities (sports and fitness scores, ride-sharing updates, food deliveries)
- Personal Hotspot connection
- SharePlay sessions
Here are two examples of Live Activity (fitness) and navigation directions.
Third-Party App Integration
Apple has opened Dynamic Island to third-party developers. These integrations enhance user experiences with timely information and interactive elements directly within the iPhone's interface.
Popular apps already using it include:
- Media and audio control (Spotify, YouTube Music).
- Ride-hailing and travel updates (Uber, Lyft, Flighty, and airline apps).
- Food delivery and order tracking (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Deliveroo).
- Live sports and score updates (ESPN, MLB).
- Health and fitness tracking (SmartGym, Hevy, Slopes, Steps).
- Productivity and finance tools (MoneyCoach Budget & Spendings, Calzy).
- Weather updates (Carrot Weather).
- Games and interactive experiences (Hit The Island, Pixel Pals).
- Cooking and recipes (Pestle).
Pros and Cons
This feature is a thoughtful evolution of UI/UX design but it has benefits and drawbacks as any relatively new feature. Let’s break them down from our expert UX perspective.
Advantages:
- Interaction without interruptions to other processes.
- Users no longer have to switch screens or open apps to check essential updates.
- Users get just the right amount of information (it expands only when needed).
- Optimized for multitasking with Split Island.
- Better use of dead space in modern smartphone design.
- Dynamic Island’s highly responsive animations make interactions feel natural.
- Opens new UX possibilities for third-party developers.
- Timely updates on the ongoing activity progress.
Disadvantages:
- Users can’t choose which apps appear there or how long notifications persist.
- Limited interactivity (users still need to open apps for deeper engagement).
- On devices with smaller screens, Dynamic Island takes up a noticeable part of the interface (it can be annoying when watching videos or using full-screen applications).
- Some users find the constant movement of Dynamic Island distracting, especially when trying to focus on reading or gaming.
- Doesn’t always scale well for third-party apps
- It’s impossible to turn off the feature fully.
- Accessible only on the iPhone 14 Pro and the latest models.
- Leads to front camera blurriness since you constantly tap on the Island where the camera is.
Key point! The next step for Apple and app developers is expanding its functionality to make it more interactive, customizable, and universally supported across apps. And now, let’s discover what is the best use of this feature.
What is the best use of iPhone Dynamic Island
Dynamic Island is for multitasking, better interactions, and no screen interruptions. But what does it look like in real life, and what can you do?
1. Managing live activities in real time
- Ride-hailing apps (see driver arrival time and trip progress).
- Food delivery services (track your order’s status).
- Sports updates (get real-time scores without opening an app).
2. Music and audio control
- Album art, track info, and playback controls.
- Live audio recording status.
- Background call status.
3. Navigation and directions without app switching
- Turn-by-turn directions.
- Live ETA and distance updates.
- Flight tracking (for real-time airport and travel status).
4. Productivity and task management
- Countdown timers (for workouts, cooking, or focus sessions).
- Calendar reminders and meeting status.
- Screen recording indicator.
5. Quick connectivity and system updates
- AirPods connection status and battery updates.
- Silent mode activation and volume adjustments.
- Apple Pay transaction confirmations.
Enjoy staying informed and in control without disrupting your other tasks and processes.
How to Customize and Disable Dynamic Island
If you want more control over how it functions (customize its behavior or disable it in certain situations), then we explain what you can do.
Apple currently doesn’t provide deep customization options in iPhone Dynamic Island settings, but you can manage certain aspects through built-in iOS settings and third-party apps.
Ways to adjust Dynamic Island behavior:
- Reduce distractions
Go to Settings → Accessibility → Motion and enable “Reduce Motion” to tone down animations in Dynamic Island.
- Control notifications
Manage which apps can send Live Activities by navigating to Settings → Notifications → Live Activities and toggling permissions for specific apps.
- Limit live activities duration
Some apps allow you to set a time limit for Live Activities so they don’t linger too long in Dynamic Island.
How to temporarily disable Dynamic Island
There’s no official “turn off” switch for Dynamic Island but you can use these workarounds:
- Enable full-screen mode
When watching videos or playing games, Dynamic Island automatically minimizes distractions.
- Use a black wallpaper
Setting a dark wallpaper camouflages Dynamic Island, making it less noticeable.
- Use screen curtain in VoiceOver
A workaround in Settings → Accessibility → VoiceOver → Screen Curtain can visually block UI elements, including Dynamic Island.
Can you fully disable Dynamic Island?
No, Apple does not allow users to completely disable Dynamic Island, but future iOS updates may introduce more control over its behavior.
Talking about updates, let’s discover what’s new for iOS18.
What’s New in Dynamic Island for iOS 18?
Enhancements in iOS 18 make Dynamic Island a more integral and versatile component of the iPhone interface.
Recent updates and improvements
#1. Users can follow live sports scores and play-by-play action directly on the lock screen. It supports various sports leagues (NFL, NBA, and Premier League) and provides real-time updates without opening specific apps.
#2. iOS 18 expands Live Activities. Now, users stay informed about ongoing events such as deliveries, ride-sharing, and workouts directly through Dynamic Island.
Integration with the Action Button
#1. Users can assign specific functions to the Action Button (activating the flashlight, camera, or specific shortcuts).
#2. On iPhone 16e models running iOS 18.3 or later, pressing the Action Button can activate Visual Intelligence. Users can learn more about objects and places around them.
New UI enhancements and usability tweaks
#1. Dynamic Island has smoother and more responsive animations.
#2. Developers have more tools to integrate their apps with Dynamic Island.
#3. Users can customize which notifications and live activities appear in Dynamic Island.
Apple continues to improve its design approach, and future iOS updates may introduce greater customization options, deeper AI integration, context-aware interactions, and much more.
We keep our finger on the pulse of the latest digital trends and innovations to create truly useful, human-centered experiences that look great and are helpful. If you want to build a standout app with great UI/UX, we’ll help you transform your vision into a product that users love. Explore our mobile design services.
Final Thoughts
Functionality, motion, and context-aware design of Dynamic Island transform users' engagement with notifications, background tasks, and live updates. And with each iOS update, it’s only getting smarter, more interactive, and intuitive.
We know great user experiences don’t happen accidentally. They’re crafted with deep insight, foresight, and a relentless focus on the end user. That’s why we stay ahead of industry shifts, continuously researching, testing, and implementing the latest mobile UI/UX design innovations.
If you’re looking to build a digital product that’s intuitive, engaging, and future-ready, let’s make it happen. Reach out to us today to create products that users truly enjoy.
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