I think Apple went overboard on the iPhone 14 Pro always-on display

iPhone 14 always on display
(Image credit: Apple)

With the iPhone 14 Pro, we now finally have a feature that’s been on Android for years: an always-on display, or AOD. You can’t believe how excited I am for this small yet powerful feature. It’s one I miss constantly on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, and one I love when I look at the Pixel 6 Pro on my desk. 

But as thrilled as I am that the iPhone 14 Pro rocks an AOD, I’m less enthused about the execution. To my eye, having seen barely more than what Apple showed off at the Apple event, the new AOD looks too complicated. It’s like Apple over-engineered the solution to a problem, something that isn’t all that uncommon.

I want to preface this by saying I’m a minimal person, though not a minimalist. I like things simple. I keep my technology as minimal as possible, with as few apps or programs as needed, minimal code, plain desktops, clean filesystems — you get the idea. So understand that before going forward.

iPhone 14 Pro always-on display: Welcome but too complicated

Like I said, I am excited for the always-on display when I get my hands on a purple iPhone 14 Pro. It’s a feature I talked about heavily last year before the iPhone 13 launch, and it’s one I’ve continued to mention leading up to this year’s announcement. I love having an AOD on the best Android phones, and I’m glad the iPhone finally has one.

iPhone 14 Pro Max

(Image credit: Future)

But looking at what Apple revealed, plus bits and pieces from people on the ground at the event, I am left dissatisfied. What I’ve seen looks like too much of a good thing. Let me explain.

The iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on display is essentially a dimmed version of the lock screen, complete with all the widgets and clock typefaces. That’s cool, but an AOD is supposed to (in my humble opinion) provide basic information at a glance. Time, notifications, possibly the weather and calendar events, and battery percentage. Those are the basics I want to see when I glance at the Pixel 6 Pro on my desk, and that’s what the phone provides in a minimal, monochrome format.

Looking at what Apple revealed, I am dissatisfied. It looks like too much of a good thing. It looks over-complicated.

Other Android phones offer a bit more in the AOD area, such as OnePlus letting you change the clock typeface or what can appear on the OnePlus 10 Pro’s AOD. But the core premise remains the same: simplicity. Apple appears to have gone overboard, making for a cluttered AOD. at least from what I’ve seen.

I don’t mind the new iOS 16 lock screen features — I quite like them, in fact — but that doesn’t mean I want a dimmed version of the lock screen as my AOD. I have the same problem with my Apple Watch 7’s AOD. It's a dimmed, colorized version of my watchface, not a basic clock. Instead, I have to set a basic clock watchface to get the AOD I want.

It appears I’ll need to do the same with the iPhone 14 Pro, since the phone will spend more time with the display off than on the lock screen.

iPhone 14 Pro always-on display: Outlook

When I look at the images of the iPhone 14 Pro’s AOD, I am ambivalent, torn if you will. It’s a feature I’ve wanted since making the switch to iPhone early last year, but it doesn’t look like I expected. Is that just the rantings of a curmudgeon resistant to change? You could make that argument.

I will wait to form my full opinion until after I spend some time with the iPhone 14 Pro. Things in theory often work differently in practice, so it’s possible that I will like Apple’s implementation of an always-on display. Or it’s possible that my opinion will further sour. 

I plan to keep an open mind about it, but right now, I think Apple overcomplicated the issue.

Next: iPhone 14 sticks with a 60Hz display — and that’s ridiculous.

TOPICS
Jordan Palmer
Phones Editor

Jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all things phone-related. He's written about phones for over six years and plans to continue for a long while to come. He loves nothing more than relaxing in his home with a book, game, or his latest personal writing project. Jordan likes finding new things to dive into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Outside of work, you can find him poring over open-source software and his studies.

Read more
Closeup of iPhone 16e main camera.
I was really excited about the iPhone 16e, but not anymore — here's why I won't be upgrading
iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro showing rear cameras in hand
iPhone 17 Pro could come with a brand new design — and I think that's a terrible idea
Google Pixel 9a render
Google Pixel 9a needs to be more like the Nothing Phone 3a — here’s how
iPhone 17 Slim render
I’m not excited about the iPhone 17 Air — here’s why
iPhone SE 4 renders
iPhone SE 4 rumors paint an exciting picture — and that has me worried
Now Bar vs. Dynamic Island
I just tried Samsung Galaxy S25 Now Bar vs. iPhone 16 Pro Dynamic Island — here’s the winner
Latest in iPhones
iPhone 17 Air concept image
iPhone 17 Air just tipped for exclusive upgrade regular iPhone 17 won't get
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 18 may miss out on this performance upgrade — what we know
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air — 5 biggest revelations from new in-depth report
Zens Quattro Wireless Charging Pro 4 charging station with 3 iphones and an AirPods case
Double-decker 'AirPower' charger now available from Apple — here's what it costs
Foldable iPhone concept image
Are you sitting down? Here’s what the foldable iPhone could cost
iOS 19 logo on an iPhone
iOS 19's big redesign is tipped to bring a whole new look and unite all of Apple's devices — and pave the way for a foldable iPhone
Latest in Opinion
March Madness games on YouTube TV using multiview
This is how I've streamed March Madness for the past 2 years — and it's the only way to watch every second of all 67 games
woman shopping for TV with retail worker giving advice
I've been testing TVs for a decade — 5 things to avoid when shopping for a cheap TV
Adam Scott as Mark S and Britt Lower as Helly R in Severance, standing by an elevator
'Severance' season 2 finale — here's my wild theory based on episode 9
Woody Harrelson as Duncan Allcock in "Last Breath"
The most intense survival thriller of 2025 so far is now streaming — and viewers rate it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes
Two women sit on the Nolah Natural 11 Mattress
I'm a sleep editor and I'm ditching my memory foam bed for an organic mattress — here's why
De'longhi la specialista touch first look
I got a first look at De'Longhi's new La Specialista Touch — 3 things I love, and 1 thing I don't
  • Rac3r4Life
    I was honestly thinking the same thing. I am not an iOS user. I have had AOD on my Android devices for years, and the simplicity is the reason it's so useful. I think Apple definitely overdid it with their implementation, and it's not what people want. That's Apple, though. It's why I don't use an iPhone.
    Reply