- Apple could make the iPhone lock screen way more personal and useful by taking a page from the Apple Watch .
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .
ADVERTISEMENT
Everyone's iPhone lock screen looks the same — here's how Apple could make it way more personal and useful (AAPL)
Everyone's iPhone lock screen looks exactly the same.
iPhone XS
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
With the exception of wallpapers, every iPhone lock screen looks exactly the same.
You have the time and date in the top-center of the phone, some information like battery life and signal strength at the very top, and a couple of quick-access controls for the flashlight and camera at the bottom.
This is fine, but wouldn't it be nice if you could actually customize your iPhone's lock screen, so it could look and feel the way you want it to?
ADVERTISEMENT
Apple wouldn't have to look very far for inspiration here. Specifically, the Apple Watch has the right idea.
Let's break it down.
This is the current iPhone lock screen mine, to be exact.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Dave Smith/Business Insider
ADVERTISEMENT
This is an iPhone X running iOS 12.
You can see the time and date in the top center, information about the phone above that, and a couple of quick-access controls in the bottom corners.
Heres Steve Jobs demonstrating the very first iPhone lock screen. It doesnt look much different!
BusinessInsider USA Images
YouTube/ Hisham Yousif
ADVERTISEMENT
By contrast, heres what I see when I lift my Apple Watch to my face.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Dave Smith/Business Insider
You get all kinds of information and controls here!
ADVERTISEMENT
Directly from my Apple Watch's main screen, I can:
- See the time and date
- Message or FaceTime my wife
- Check the weather forecast for the day
- Start a workout
- Glance at my activity for the day
I can customize watch face styles, and make as many as I want. If I swipe left or right from my main "lock screen," I can see an entirely different style!
BusinessInsider USA Images
Dave Smith/Business Insider
ADVERTISEMENT
This watch face looks similar to my previous one, but has quick-access messaging and FaceTime controls for the rest of my family, and shows the weather forecast in a different way.
I can also opt for a style thats more minimalist.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Dave Smith/Business Insider
Because sometimes you only really need your watch to tell you the time, you know?
ADVERTISEMENT
And best of all, I can create and manage these watch faces directly from my iPhone.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Dave Smith/Business Insider
In the Apple Watch app, you can look at all of the watch faces you've made, browse new styles to try out, and adjust any faces on the fly.
Here, you can see how easy it is to adjust the color of your watch face text. It updates in real-time!
ADVERTISEMENT
Just look at the variety of Apple Watch face styles. You dont get any of this on the iPhone.
BusinessInsider USA Images
Dave Smith/Business Insider
The wildest part is, these are all Apple-made faces, since Apple doesn't allow third-party watch faces on the Apple Watch.
When you choose a new style to try out, you can adjust all of the quick-access controls, or "complications," as you see fit.
ADVERTISEMENT
BusinessInsider USA Images
Dave Smith/Business Insider
Imagine your iPhone's lock screen having more shortcuts than just your camera or flashlight. And imagine being able to choose them.
Maybe you want the time and date to appear in a different color. Maybe you want your calendar, or the news, or weather conditions to appear in the middle of the screen. On the Apple Watch, you can already do that.
Theres no reason the iPhone cant have these things.
ADVERTISEMENT
BusinessInsider USA Images
Hollis Johnson
Many of the controls I'm describing exist as "widgets" on the iPhone swipe left from the lock screen to see them.
But, in my opinion, swiping is one too many steps. If I'm navigating my phone, this information is no longer "at a glance." I want to be able to see this kind of information immediately once I raise or wake my phone.
Here's hoping Apple decides to upgrade the iPhone's lock screen in iOS 13.
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also:
- How to backup an Apple Watch and restore its data after you unpair it from an iPhone
- I've been using Apple products exclusively for 12 years here are 9 things I realized after giving them up for one week
- 'Why won't my iPhone update?': How to fix any iPhone updating issue, from low storage space to confusing error messages
SEE ALSO: The 20 best iPhone tips and tricks to make your life easier
FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
Congo is spending 22% of its scarce revenue on security - Minister
Another African country is set to get a Russian embassy
Medic West Africa 2024: A resounding success in fostering collaboration and innovation for a brighter healthcare future
10 African countries with the most troubling external debt in 2024
10 African countries with the least soft power influence over the world
Kenyan government rejects calls to ban TikTok, recommends tighter control over
Congo accuses Apple of conflict minerals in its supply chain
Top 10 African countries with the highest fuel prices in April 2024
