What Is Dynamic Island?
Dynamic Island is an interactive software feature on certain iPhone models that surrounds the camera and Face ID hardware cutout at the top of the display. Introduced with iPhone 14 Pro in September 2022, it blends the physical hardware cutout with on-screen content to show notifications, Live Activities, and quick controls.
How Dynamic Island Works
Older iPhones with Face ID had a static black notch at the top of the display. Dynamic Island replaces that fixed notch with a pill-shaped area that can grow and shrink dynamically. Apple uses precise software animations to make the digital pill feel physically connected to the camera hardware. When something happens (like a song starting or a timer running), the pill expands smoothly into a larger oval that shows the status, then collapses back when you're done.
What Dynamic Island Can Display
- Live Activities: Sports scores, timers, ride-share status, food delivery tracking
- Phone calls: Active call indicator with mute/end shortcuts
- Audio playback: Now-playing controls when music or podcasts are running
- AirPods: Connection status and battery level
- Face ID: Authentication prompts
- Charging: Battery percentage when plugged in
- Privacy indicators: Camera and microphone in-use dots
Models with Dynamic Island
- iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max (2022) — first generation
- iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max (2023)
- iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max (2024)
- iPhone 17 lineup (2025)
Standard iPhone 14, iPhone SE, and any model older than iPhone 14 Pro do not have Dynamic Island.
Customization
Apps must explicitly support Dynamic Island via Apple's Live Activities API to display content there. You can disable specific Live Activities in Settings > Notifications > [App Name], and hide all of them from your lock screen via Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Live Activities.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Which iPhones have Dynamic Island?
Dynamic Island debuted on iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max in 2022. It expanded to all iPhone 15, 16, and 17 models. Standard iPhone 14 and earlier do not have it.
What does Dynamic Island do?
It shows Live Activities, call notifications, audio playback controls, AirPods status, Face ID prompts, and other alerts that expand and collapse around the camera cutout.
Can Dynamic Island be turned off?
Not entirely, since it surrounds the physical Face ID hardware. You can disable Live Activities per app or hide all of them on the lock screen.
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