Is Dynamic Island Really Worth It?

Tapping Till I’m Dynamic: Why Apple’s Notch Fix Leaves Me Frustrated Yet Optimistic

The Dynamic Island — savior of notches or just another smartphone gimmick? As the flashy new module debuting on iPhone 14 Pro, and now all iPhone 15 models, it certainly stirred up attention and excitement upon release.

But after the hype dies down and you actually start using this so-called “innovative” feature in your daily iPhone routines, does it live up to its billing?

I found the Dynamic Island left me with mixed emotions. While undeniably novel to look at during setup, over time it revealed some cracks in the user experience.

First of all, what is Dynamic Island?

photo by Macworld

To recap, Dynamic Island is the nickname given to the pill-shaped cutout at the top of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 displays that houses the front camera and Face ID sensors. Unlike the previous notch design, Dynamic Island dynamically changes shape and size to surface notifications and information from active apps in a subtle yet engaging way.

For example, when listening to music via Apple Music, it will display a mini album art preview in the Island. If you receive a call, it expands to show the caller ID and options to answer…