Other Dynamic Island makes it impossible to use iPhone 14 with one hand

[DJLC]

it's just not consistent.

I can agree with this point... it would be nice if things were more consistent. I think Apple's gone back and forth on quite a few things like this in the last decade or so.

Although personally, I kept my Safari bar at the top for consistency. Thankful ol' Tim Apple let me. 😜

 

[War833]

I'm fairly sure it will work with reachability, just like anything else being rendered on-screen by software. But I agree it is a bit odd to place something both central and interactive at the top of the screen, given the usability issues on large phones - I think they painted themselves into a corner somewhat, because they wanted to invent some gimmick around the camera pill.

 

[VertPin]

Larger phones are here to stay.

 

[Nathan576]

But that's why they moved everything to the bottom in Safari etc, to make it easier to use an iPhone with one hand. Dynamic island is the move in completely different direction, which is strange.

What is strange about it? You said it yourself in your first post, the point is to take advantage of the notch and give it features, not convenience. I don’t see your point, there’s nothing wrong with that.

 

[Andrew73875]

Larger phones are here to stay.

Of course they are here to stay.

The point is more about software consistency and reachability. Placing UI controls at the top of a big screen makes it harder for users interact with them. Especially, when the previous decision was to place everything at the bottom of the screen.

 

[mpavilion]

Of course they are here to stay.

The point is more about software consistency and reachability. Placing UI controls at the top of a big screen makes it harder for users interact with them. Especially, when the previous decision was to place everything at the bottom of the screen.

Agreed. Doesn't anyone else here sometimes juggle to operate their phone with one hand while holding something else (food, a kid's hand, a bag, whatever) in the other?

 

[NM08SRT8]

Not to mention spending your whole day smudging the front camera. Nice.

What? Like instead of your face/head doing it instead?

 

[RRC]

Thankfully I have two hands…

 

[cannono]

This doesn’t make sense to complain about. The control center and Notification Center have been up there for years now. Higher than the island itself.

 

[kupkakez]

I haven’t been able to one hand any phone since maybe iPhone 4s and earlier days. If I’m reading a long Reddit thread or article I can one hand that to scroll. Anything else I need to do on the phone has to be 2 handed for me. For me it’s a non issue anyhoo I’d have to 2 hand it regardless.

 

[TroyBoy30]

you just need man hands

 

[WilliamG]

What? Like instead of your face/head doing it instead?

Why would my face/head be doing that? Do people still hold phones to their faces in this day and age? 😂

 

[NM08SRT8]

Why would my face/head be doing that? Do people still hold phones to their faces in this day and age? 😂

Do you walk around all day with your BT headset in? 🤦🏽‍♂️🥴

 

[Renho]

So, here's one of the reviews that shows how the dynamic island works (time stamped)

First of all, it's an amazing achievement. Looks very cool and futuristic.

However, to make use of the "island" you have to push to the upper part of the display. It's safe to say that it's impossible to do so with one hand. Especially considering that Pro models have rather large screens.

We tend to make fast gestures with one hand in the lower part of the screen (that's why home button was there). And Apple already elaborated on this topic earlier:

It seems that the design process for this feature was reversed. Not "how are we going to make our phone more comfortable to use", but rather "how are we going to make use of this notch and make it less distracting".

What are your thoughts on this?

What?! We have already had to use it with 2 hands. Swiping down from top in 2 spots. It’s not going to make it harder, 6.7 inches made sure of that, that one handed use was going to be limited.

 

[Asiatic Black Hebrew]

This doesn’t make sense to complain about. The control center and Notification Center have been up there for years now. Higher than the island itself.

Thank you. Came in to say exactly this. Having to reach up high is hardly a new thing.

 

[aenflex]

I already can’t use my 13 pro one-handed. I was barely able to with my 11 pro. Last iPhone I had that used one-handed was the 7.

I don’t understand why people are complaining about this particular aspect of ‘the island’. Half the country are women, and there are plenty of men with small hands. One-handed use is a bit of a ridiculous expectation with 6’’ and larger devices.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

I’ve never heard this before and just tried it a few times with little success? But I’m probably just holding my phone wrong.

You've never swiped from the left or right of the notch to get the control center and notifications?

 

[kerrikins]

I'm surprised how many people here say that they never one hand their phone, as I'm a woman with small hands and still do. I'm pretty adept at shifting it so that I can reach up with my thumb, too. I frequently need to use it one handed when I am out doing something or have groceries or a coffee in my other hand, etc. It's not easy but I manage when necessary, though of course two hands is better.

That said I am sure that Apple has thought of these issues, or I hope that they have!

 

[OW22]

I don't know anybody who one-hands their iPhone, not since iPhone 5.

12 Mini, with ease.

 

[Andrew73875]

12 Mini, with ease.

Exactly, iPhone 6/8/SE2 sizes are also possible.

This doesn’t make sense to complain about. The control center and Notification Center have been up there for years now. Higher than the island itself.

The fact that they've been like that for years doesn't make them comfortable though.

The point is to make devices comfortable to use in different scenarios. For example, it's perfectly comfortable to type on an iPad as it is. However, sometimes you hold it with both hands. Thus, split keyboard on an iPad allows typing while holding it with both hands.

(timestamped)

Same with an iPhone. Yes, most of the time we can use it with both hands. But sometimes we carry bags, hold an umbrella etc. It's nice to have essential (or new) features reachable with one hand.

 

[Taco1933]

It’s unreasonable to ask apple to make big iPhones designed for people with small hands. There’s only so much functionality you can cram into the bottom part of the screen. Nobody was buying the small iPhones, so people are apparently either to use the bigger ones one handed or find suitable work around.

Seems like a nonissue.

 

[ninethirty]

Not if you're using a normal sized phone for a normal person. I expect it'll be easy to use on the Pro. Pro Max on the other hand... well, you had to have a giant screen.

 

[nkawal]

Dynamic island is officially blocked me from getting the 14 pro max. I had the 7+ then 8+ the. The X. Went to the 11&12 pro and was set to go to the 14 pro max but playing around using my wife’s 13pro max I could barely use it one handed, now that dynamic island will definitely need to stretch up there to utilize it. Ended up ordering the 14 pro.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Meh, touch bar for iPhone honestly. Half the features probably won't even work with Apple stuff on arrival and 3rd parties may or may not even bother or simply add redundant features into the space. It's not going to add anything game changing but may make accessing somethings a little more convenient. I wonder if there is a way to turn it off.

 

[ps3zocker]

The time of one-handed operation is clearly over. People just want huge phones.