3 criticisms of Dynamic Island - justified or not?

A call in Dynamic Island - looks almost the same as before, but the animations make it up. Unfortunately, you can't see them here.

As good as I think the idea that Apple is with the Dynamic Islands other people see this feature just as critically. In order not to report too one-sidedly, I would therefore like to briefly add one Article by David Morelo summarize who expresses his concerns about the new feature.

Here are his three criticisms:

1. It is difficult to operate the Dynamic Island

The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are the two devices that Apple will be the first to add the Dynamic Island, as they have the appropriate GPU to support this feature.

With a 6,1 and 6,7 inch screen diagonal, however, both devices are so large that it is impossible to press the buttons on the Dynamic Island with your thumb if you want to operate the iPhone 14 Pro with one hand. If you try anyway, you lose a firm grip on the iPhone and there is a high risk that it will fall out of your hand.

To take advantage of this new feature of iOS, many developers will use the Dynamic Island in a variety of ways, placing key functionality on iOS's most difficult-to-reach control.

My comment on this:

I've held the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max in my hands and all I can say is that even for people with big fingers it's hard to write a message with one hand.

Most users of the iPhone 13 Pro models will have gotten used to having to use their iPhone with two hands in some situations. I therefore see no real contradiction in using the Dynamic Island and its ease of use.

However, if you come from an iPhone 13 Mini, you will certainly have to adjust to the size of the Pro models anyway - and not just because of the Dynamic Island.

What's more, I'm not sure developers will use the Dynamic Island that excessively. Not all new iOS features are being embraced as diligently as the App Clips, for example, show. They're actually a good idea, but when was the last time you saw them in the wild?

The buttons in the Dynamic Island are never directly above the camera, but just next to it. Nevertheless, fingerprints could get lost on the camera lens.
The buttons in the Dynamic Island are never directly above the camera, but just next to it. Nevertheless, fingerprints could get lost on the camera lens.

2. The front camera will be full of fingerprints

Due to the Dynamic Island, which takes place around the front camera, controls will also come close to the front camera. The result will be that you often have to tap there, which means that the glass above the camera gets dirty with fingerprints here and there.

My comment on this:

Yes, you might tap the glass above the camera, but I can't find fingerprints on my current iPhone 13 Pro Max display. I think Apple has done a good job of anti-greasing the glass so you don't have to worry about the few streaks on the camera glass.

And to be honest, if I don't have an optimal picture every 10 weeks during a Facetime call because maybe a fingerprint got lost on the glass in front of the lens, then I can live with it.

Here you can guess how, for example, Face ID is integrated into the Dynamic Island.
Here you can guess how, for example, Face ID is integrated into the Dynamic Island.

3. Apple will stick with Dynamic Island for the time being

This point of criticism is aimed at the fact that some users have hoped that Apple will be able to come up with a camera cut-out completely in the display in the near future. The fact that Apple has now created a hardware and software solution with the Dynamic Island to "hide" the notch indicates that there will be no display without a notch in the next two to three years.

My comment on this:

Yes, I think this point of criticism cannot be refuted. In the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 we will certainly not have a display without a cut-out for the sensor field. If Apple doesn't realize this, it's certainly not because they don't want to, but rather because it can't yet be implemented technically in the way Apple wants.

Apple doesn't have a folding display either, but we also saw why: the smartphones with folding displays sometimes came in for repairs after just 2 weeks because the display broke.

I have to say that I'd rather wait until Apple sees the time to develop a display with no cut-outs at all.

Your opinion on Dynamic Island?

What do you think of the Dynamic Island? Will it prove itself in everyday life or will you no longer notice it in three days? Are you afraid of fingerprints on the Selphie camera? I look forward to your opinion on the feature.

Did you like the article and did the instructions on the blog help you? Then I would be happy if you the blog via a Steady Membership would support.

17 Responses to "3 criticisms of Dynamic Island - justified or not?"

  1. I find the initial argument terrible. Devices are getting bigger and bigger, people are buying them too, but why is the overall reporting still dependent on the “one-hand operation” argument?
    I've been using my devices with both hands since I started using my smartphone. If only because they aren't cheap and I don't want to accidentally drop them.

  2. There are also people like me who, because of a disability, have to operate the iPhone with one hand. With my iPhone XS I got used to it over time and it came off without any damage. Thanks to the good protective cover and bulletproof glass protection for the display, the XS does not even have the smallest scratch on the housing and display, despite a fall on a paved sidewalk. Now I have sold it and already ordered an iPhone 14 Pro (delivery date 16.09.22/2008/11). For me there hasn't been a better smartphone since I bought the first one in Switzerland in 13. I left out the IPhones XNUMX -XNUMX.

    1. Hello Horst! I hope you get along with the Pro then. The iPhone XS is “only” 5,85 inches and the iPhone 14 Pro is 6,1 inches. But now there's no turning back anyway. The old one is gone. 😂 I keep my fingers crossed that you can use it well. A good case is definitely important. That's the first thing I do for me too.

      1. Hi Jens,
        Thanks. I have no qualms about that. The Max would be too big for me. Otherwise, the case (for Magsafe), the corresponding charger for wireless charging of the 14 Pro and my Airpods Pro are already ready. Lens protection and tempered glass film have been ordered and will be delivered safely by Friday. So nothing stands in the way of commissioning. I am already very excited. Oops it's already Monday.

        Greeting Horst

        1. Hello Horst! Yes, the iPhone 14 Pro is slowly coming. Only 4 days left... ;-) Do you have a tip for lens protection and tempered glass film? I haven't ordered anything yet...

  3. Hi Jens,
    I ordered the following from Arktis:
    Arctic PRO iPhone 14 Pro screen protector GLASS 13,99 €
    Arctic PRO iPhone 14 Pro Camera Protector 8,99 €

    Update 20.09.2022-14-XNUMX: Arctic camera protection doesn't seem to be that good as it detaches on its own and falls off. A better product that also looks good because it comes in the colors of the iPhone XNUMX is now doing its job on my iPhone: the wlooo Camera Protection for iPhone 14 Pro/iPhone 14 Pro Max (unfortunately not available for the iPhone 14 or 14 Plus)
    Update end

    Only 5760 minutes left! I'm really happy 🦁🦁🦁

    Greeting Horst

    (Sir Apfelot's note: I linked the products to Amazon... I hope that was ok)

    1. Hahaha! You are like my daughter who sets a vacation countdown to the second, even if the vacation is still 6 weeks away. 😂
      But thanks for the links. I think I'll get that too.

  4. Hi Jens,
    OK. A number of arctic products are offered on Amazon anyway. I hope your daughter can sleep the night before departure. I usually haunt around half the night.
    The linked products are announced for tomorrow. Think new wireless charging station i bought it on amazon.

    This was also thought through. The lighting can be switched off!

    Greeting Horst

      1. Hi Jens,
        Is correct ! It was also important for me to be able to charge my AirPods Pro.
        Then I have an IPad 2019 that I use for reading and surfing.
        I just can't get used to the Apple Watch, although it certainly has very clever and useful functions. I prefer to wear a “real” watch, an automatic one.
        In 259200 seconds it comes ... to be continued.
        Greetings to you and John.
        PS
        Have you already celebrated TEN(!) YEARS of SIR APFELOT?

        1. Hello Horst! Have we already made it 10 years?!??! Wow... I didn't even notice. 😂 Time flies! I didn't prepare a cake. :(

          1. Hello Jens and Johannes,
            10 years is half an eternity in IT. Anyway, I'm going to eat a piece of Prince Regent's cake today on “10 Years of Sir Apfelot”. So please keep it up. In any case, for me you are the first address for Apple products, also because you also think outside the box, for example the euphy cordless vacuum cleaner, which I have been using without any problems since buying it.

            Greeting Horst
            PS
            Let's go to the pastry shop

          2. Hello Horst! Wow, I would eat a piece like that, but unfortunately I have to plan a server move today and don't have time for cake. But I'm going to have a snap of the greatest readers in the world soon. I am pleased that such nice contacts are made again and again. And the Sadaghian boss I send readers to for Mac repairs called me the other day and said the Sir Apfelot readers are the nicest customers he's ever had. 😊
            And thank you for the compliment too. We are all happy about that. Also Holger, who doesn't appear here, but solves all the technical things in the background, which I have no idea about!

  5. Hi Jens,
    Here is my extra greeting to Holger. I'm at the Wiesn on Saturday and I'm drinking a beer to the whole(!) Sir Apfelot team. I will NOT take my new IPhone 14 Pro with me. Too much hustle and bustle !!
    Bottom up !

  6. There is a Feahe regarding the Dynamic Island that nobody seems to have dealt with yet:
    How does it behave when watching a film in full screen? Or with pictures? Is that disturbing in the picture?

    1. You can watch a 16:9 movie on the iPhone 14 without the cutout being in the picture. Only if you make the film larger and it is cropped at the top and bottom does it reach so far to the left and right that the Dynamic Island would interfere. But it also depends on the app playing the movie. If you simply place it in the middle, as you could do with the notch on the iPhone 13, then there is a part in the Dynamic Island.
      If the app is programmed to be “aware” of the Dynamic Island, it will nudge the film a bit further to the right and everything will fit. But how the apps behave keeps their developers away.
      That's my info... I don't have my iPhone 14 Pro Max yet so I can only speak from the reports I've read or heard so far.

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