iPhone owners can look back on the past 12 months as a very strong year for their favorite phones. The new iPhones impressed, even if the iPhone 14 Pro models are packed with far more improvements than the standard iPhone 14. Still, the cameras on all four new iPhones performed well, the iPhone 14 Pro Max battery life set a new benchmark for Apple phones, and even the notch looks like it’s on its way out.
But the best thing that happened to the iPhone in 2022 was an improvement that almost everyone could enjoy, whether you bought one of the best iPhones to join Apple’s lineup or kept your existing phone. The arrival of iOS 16 in the fall added the ability to customize the iPhone’s lock screen, including adding lock screen widgets. This made an immediate change in how I interact with my iPhone.
How iPhone lock screens will change in 2022
Lock screen customization has been very limited thus far. iPhone owners can choose their own wallpaper — either one designed by Apple or an image from their camera roll. But everything else is set in stone.
Being able to add widgets to the lock screen is a game-changer for me, allowing me to get more out of my iPhone experience
It’s safe to say that iOS 16 has lightened things up considerably. You can still change your wallpaper, though your options seem to be more extensive with this iPhone software update. iOS 16 also recommends photos from your camera roll that are particularly suited to the iPhone’s lock and home screens. And now you can also change the font and color of the time and date that appear on the lock screen.
Even better, you can create multiple lock screens if you’re so inclined, whether it’s to tie the lock screen to a specific focus mode — yes, iOS 16 adds that capability too — or just because you like variety. It’s a nice change that has added customization that Android users have taken for granted for years.
And that’s great and all, but if all lock screen customization had been brought to the table, it would be a welcome change, but not a fundamental change. It’s the ability to add widgets to the lock screen that has proven to be a game-changer for me, allowing me to get more out of my iPhone experience.
Widgets have been a part of the Apple iPhone software since iOS 14, giving you clear information right there on the home screen. Want to know how much charge is left in your AirPods, what podcasts you’ve queued up or the temperature where you are? There is a widget for that. And if you need to dive into the app for more information and actions, just tap on the widget.
Every night before I go to bed, I just tap the alarm widget to go straight to the clock app. Previously, I had to unlock my iPhone, turn on the clock, and then go to the Alarm tab.
iOS 16 moves the collection of widgets to the lock screen, and who could have guessed that this is exactly what the iPhone has been missing all these years? With widgets now positioned around reading the date and time on the lock screen, you don’t even have to unlock your phone to get important information at a glance.
I set up my main lock screen with three widgets – a small one above the clock that shows the current temperature. Below the lock, I’ve placed two square widgets — one that shows me if my alarm is on and one that shows my movement ring from the fitness app.
Every night before I go to bed I have to tap on the alarm widget to go straight to the clock app where I can set the alarm. Previously, I’d have to unlock my iPhone, turn on the clock, and then go to the Alarm tab to set my morning wake-up call. All of these steps are now in one tap from the lock screen. Likewise, the Transfer Tool lets me see how close I am to achieving my fitness goal without having to unlock the phone and search through the new iOS 16 app. (The usual answer? Not close enough, especially when there’s a holiday celebration.)
None of these widgets may hold any value for the way you want to use your iPhone, but that’s the genius of the customization ability. You are free to set up the lock screen with your widgets an act find value. Pop around iOS 16, and you’re sure to find a widget, either for a built-in app or a third-party app, that fits your specific needs.
Why a customizable lock screen matters
It’s rare for a feature to arrive on an iPhone in a fully configured state, as sometimes it can take several iterations to work out any rough patches and really let the feature shine. But lock screen widgets work right out of the gate. Assuming the widget maker keeps things simple with the design and functionality of its widget, this is an example of Apple’s optimization that has worked perfectly from day one.
iOS 16 has some other delights as well. I know at least one of my colleagues is a big fan of the visual search improvement that lets you drag the image subject from an image to paste it elsewhere. Subsequent iOS 16 updates, such as iOS 16.2, brought welcome capabilities as well. But for my money, nothing is better than the customization of the lock screen and widgets that I brought to the iPhone. They helped Apple finish the year in a much better place than where it began.
[ad_2]
