The unveiling of iOS 16, Apple’s new iPhone operating system for 2022, is just a week away and we’re starting to get a clear idea of what to expect.
Well-respected source Mark Gourmet in his regular Bloomberg newsletter predicts that the iOS 16 update will include a complete update of the iPhone’s lock screen, the interface that appears when the device is lit but not yet unlocked. Currently, this only shows the date and time, the flash and camera shortcuts, and (if applicable) the current media playback controls. But Gourmet expects “significant improvements to the lock screen, including wallpapers that have gadget features.”
Gadgets are interactive blocks that are in view today or (since the release of iOS 14) on iPhone home screens and provide instant access to the basic functionality of the application or system. The Battery gadget shows the power levels of connected devices, for example, while the Find My gadget shows the location of selected contacts or items. Gourmet does not specify how the wallpaper will have this kind of functionality, but as much as it looks, it will be simple: the bare details of the appointments for the day in the Calendar, perhaps or minimal information about the weather.
This is partly due to visual economy considerations – it’s important not to clutter the user with unnecessary information unless they specifically look for it – but partly because Gourmet also expects this redesigned lock screen to always offer functionality. This means that, similar to the screen of the latest Apple Watch models, there will be no need to lift or touch to display the main interface: a minimum of information will be displayed on the screen all the time.
To ensure that this does not ruin the battery life, Gourmet predicts that the always-on version of the locked screen will have a “significantly” reduced refresh rate; we assume that, as with the Apple Watch, it will be darkened and aesthetically simplified, with some visual elements removed and others changed from animated to static.
The Apple Watch Series 5 always has a screen on, but as you can see on this Mickey Mouse face, the visuals are darker and less detailed when you’re “sleeping.”
Michael Simon / IDG
All this is attractive – the always on screen is a permanent entry in the wish lists of iPhone owners and was expected to appear last year – but still do not worry too much. Based on Gurman’s predictions, it won’t be available as a retrospective upgrade like most iOS features and won’t even work on all of this year’s new iPhones; he thinks it will only work on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. In other words, this will be another point of differentiation between sales between Pro models and the boring iPhone 14.
Did Gourmet understand this prediction correctly? It’s entirely possible, but don’t bet your house on it. No matter how widely read and respected the leak is, it still confuses some things: AppleTrack currently attributes to it a strong, not impeccable, accuracy rating of 86.5%. And in this case, you’ll notice that it overlaps with the words “if the feature eventually cuts” in relation to the always-on lock screen.
In any case, we will find out exactly what Apple has prepared for the iPhone at WWDC 2022 on June 6. Macworld will cover all announcements when they happen, so join us here for a day of fun and expert analysis.
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