Transform Your iPhone Into A Smart Display With iOS 17’s StandBy Feature
At the WWDC 2023 keynote, Apple unveiled several upcoming features for iOS 17 set to release later this year. Among them is StandBy on iPhone, a noteworthy addition that enables your iPhone to function as a smart display when positioned horizontally while charging.
According to Apple, the iPhone’s StandBy provides “eye-catching information” that can be easily viewed from afar when the iPhone is charging horizontally.
How to enable the Standby feature?
Enabling the StandBy feature requires iOS 17 to be installed either via the developer beta or the September public release. Only place iPhone horizontally when charging on a compatible wireless charger (may work best with MagSafe-compatible units), a kickstand, or any stable surface.
When the iPhone detects the charging state and horizontal orientation, the StandBy screen is automatically activated.
However, it is worth noting that the always-on display feature is limited to iPhone 14 Pro models. On other iPhone models, you have to tap the screen manually to see the information. On the other hand, in iPhone 14 Pro models, the StandBy screen is activated automatically and remains on during charging.
“When you charge with MagSafe, StandBy remembers the user’s preferred view. StandBy is easy to activate at any time by tapping the screen, and on the iPhone 14 Pro with Always-On display, it’s always available,” notes Apple.
Users can choose different modes
Users have the option to choose between different StandBy modes, including widget, photo and clock. Each mode offers unique information to display. For example, in clock mode you can choose different clock styles, such as analog, digital, world, floating and sundial.
