iPhone 15 Dynamic Island to Include New Integrated Proximity Sensor (2024)

by Tim Hardwick

This year, all iPhone 15 models will include Apple's Dynamic Island that unifies the pill and hole cutouts at the top of the display, but there will also be a material change to the feature that wasn't included in the iPhone 14 Pro models.

iPhone 15 Dynamic Island to Include New Integrated Proximity Sensor (1)
According to a new tweet by Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the proximity sensor on the ‌iPhone 15‌ series will be integrated inside the ‌Dynamic Island‌ area, instead of sitting below it.

In the iPhone 14 Pro, the proximity sensor is located under the display (outside the Dynamic Island). Conversely, in the iPhone 15 series, the proximity sensor is situated within the Dynamic Island, with almost no change to the Dynamic Island area.

The proximity sensor detects when the user holds the phone up to their ear and shuts off the screen. It's possible that moving the location of the sensor could be related to improvements to Face ID, but as Kuo says, the tweak is unlikely to result in any difference to the look or functionality of the ‌Dynamic Island‌. Regardless, it will mark a change in components that may have simply been instigated to reduce costs.

According to Kuo, Apple supplier Finisar will shift to providing Apple with 940nm wavelength proximity sensors, compared to 1380nm for the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro. Based on additional information provided to MacRumors by leaker Unknownz21, the new proximity sensor is now part of the Single Pearl Module, codenamed "Sphinx."

Apple is expected to launch the ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup in September as usual. For everything we know about what's new in the new models, be sure to check out our dedicated roundups using the links below.

Related Roundups: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro

Tags: Dynamic Island Guide, Ming-Chi Kuo, Unknownz21

Buyer's Guide: iPhone 15 (Neutral), iPhone 15 Pro (Neutral)

Related Forum: iPhone

[ 86 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

mystery hill

14 months ago

They’re going to update the Island every year, just like they do with the cameras.

‘This is the best Dynamic Island we’ve shipped on iPhone, and we think you’re gonna love it.’

Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)

DMG35

14 months ago

Me every year: I think I'll skip this year's upgrade.

Launch Day: Me clicking the Apple store refresh page like a mad man until it opens and I can order....

Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)

derdante

14 months ago

Moving components that were once hidden behind the display to a cutout seems like a step back to me.

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

bLackjackj

14 months ago


They’re going to update the Island every year, just like they do with the cameras.

Am I the only one that hasent been brainwashed by Apple Marketing? It's still a notch, a floating notch.

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

nvmls

14 months ago


I haven't got a 14, is this dynamic island a thing that people use?

It looks better than the notch but it’s useless & more intrusive.

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

matt3526

14 months ago


It looks better than the notch but it’s useless & more intrusive.

I quite like it to be honest, it's great for things like Music, Apple TV and timers.

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments

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iPhone 15 Dynamic Island to Include New Integrated Proximity Sensor (2024)

FAQs

IPhone 15 Dynamic Island to Include New Integrated Proximity Sensor? ›

According to Kuo, the iPhone 15's proximity sensor “is situated within the Dynamic Island.” This change will reportedly have no impact to the Dynamic Island area itself. Currently, the proximity sensor on the iPhone 14 Pro is located underneath the iPhone's display, outside of the Dynamic Island.

Does the iPhone 15 have a proximity sensor? ›

Proximity Sensor integrated into the iPhone 15 Face ID Module. Smartphones rely on proximity sensing modules to control the capacitive “touch screen” display and modulate its brightness.

What does the Dynamic Island do on the iPhone 15? ›

What's the Dynamic Island? See the pill capsule-shaped space at the top of your screen? That's the Dynamic Island, a secondary display that automatically pops up when you unlock your device to alert you that your battery is running low or your Uber® is on the way, among other things.

What is the Dynamic Island sensor on my iPhone? ›

Dynamic Island is a new feature of iOS 16.1 released for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max at Apple's event in September 2022. It is a touchable area located in the central top area of the iPhone where the cameras and sensors for face ID reside (the same location as the not-so-good-looking notch).

What sensors are in the Dynamic Island? ›

The Dynamic Island is a small pill cutout at the top of the display that acts as an interactive widget. It contains the front-facing camera and FaceID sensor, and replaces the 'notch. ' It's great for displaying alerts, notifications and background tasks like timers.

Does the normal iPhone 15 have Dynamic Island? ›

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus feature a gorgeous new and durable design, the Dynamic Island, a powerful 48MP Main camera, and A16 Bionic.

Is Dynamic Island worth it? ›

While the Dynamic Island animations look slick, there is surprisingly little user customization offered. We can't adjust the size of the island itself or modify how long certain notifications remain visible before disappearing. This rigid approach contrasts with the highly customizable notification settings on Android.

What all can the Dynamic Island do? ›

10 things that Dynamic Island can do on iPhone 14 Pro
  • Show the time and date. The Dynamic Island can always be used to show the time and date, even when you're using other apps. ...
  • Show notifications. ...
  • Control music. ...
  • Get directions. ...
  • Check the weather. ...
  • Set alarms and timers. ...
  • Take a quick note. ...
  • Access your favourite apps.
May 12, 2023

What is the black thing on top of the iPhone 15? ›

The Dynamic Island is an oval-shaped notch at the top of the screen to hide the selfie camera cutout and Face ID sensors. However, the notch can adjust its size based on notifications.

Is iPhone Dynamic Island good? ›

The best things I have loved about the iPhone 14 Pro are the camera and display. The Dynamic Island is still great, but the increased brightness of the display has provided me with more benefits in using this device over the features the Dynamic Island offers.

Can you hide the Dynamic Island on iPhone? ›

Let's get this out of the way: You can't actually hide the Dynamic Island on your iPhone. It is, after all, a physical cutout for the front-facing camera and the Face ID tech. But what you can do is hide all the software features that are around the Dynamic Island—the dynamic part of it.

Can I customize my Dynamic Island? ›

Yes, you can customize the Dynamic Island on your iPhone 14 Pro with personal text or emojis using the Activity Builder app, adding a unique touch to your device's display.

How to hide Dynamic Island on iPhone 15? ›

Unfortunately, as of iOS 17, there's no way to disable the Dynamic Island completely. However, you can temporarily hide the activity displayed by swiping on it horizontally. This will disable the Dynamic Island for as long as the Live Activity session lasts. Instead, it will just show the generic, pill-shaped cutout.

What app uses Dynamic Island? ›

Spotify. Spotify's Dynamic Island support lets you access the music streamer without actually having to open the app.

Does iPhone have proximity sensor? ›

The iPhone's proximity sensor uses infrared light from an emitter at the top of your screen. The sensor measures how long it takes for the rays to reflect off a surface to determine the distance.

What feature will the iPhone 15 have? ›

Specifications
iPhone 15
RAM/Storage4GB RAM with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB
Camera48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP front
BatteryUp to 20 hours of video playback
ConnectivityUSB-C, 4G LTE, 5G, eSIM, Satellite
4 more rows
Nov 3, 2023

Is there any changes to iPhone 15? ›

At a Glance. The 2023 iPhone 15 models feature USB-C instead of Lightning, faster A16 chip, the Dynamic Island instead of a notch in the display, upgraded camera technology, and more.

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