When iOS 16 was announced with lock screen widgets, I was a pretty happy camper. The feature sounded like it would add some swagger to my lock screen, while also proving to be quite useful.
I’ve come to the realization that no matter what widgets I have on the lock screen, I never look at them. It’s so bad, I bet I couldn’t even tell you which widgets I have set up right now. I just pick up my phone and “flick up” on the lockscreen so fast I don’t even realize I’m doing it.
Maybe when I upgrade from my 13 Pro Max to an always-on display things will be different, I don’t know. I just can’t get over how little I even notice this new feature I was so excited for.
I cannot imagine not having lockscreen widgets. Then again, I might be in your camp if my iPhone did not have the always-on display. I think that the always-on display is the big difference that takes widgets on the lockscreen to a very useful level.
My iPhone is sitting on its stand while I am working (that I bought because of the always-on display and the lockscreen widgets). The top widget is the date with today’s next calendar item. Then there is the time. Beneath on the left side there is a medium-sized widget with reminders and on the right side two small circular ones (Halide and Weather [temperature]). Always there, (almost) always working and up to date. What I have noticed is that some widgets work better than others. But that was when I did set up my lockscreen back in October. 3rd party widgets very often had not been very current back then. That is the reason why Halide is the only 3rd party widget on my lockscreen.
I never really have dealt with the lockscreen before I got the iPhone 14. Now, the lockscreen has become something completely different for me: I do not check stuff on the iPhone that often because the lockscreen already provides me with a lot of information. I was not sure about the always-on lockscreen being that big of a deal for me, but it really is.
I would love to have the ability to have another row for widgets on the lockscreen.
And I am very interested in those shiny Sonoma widgets - because of my experience with the iPhone lockscreen.
I experimented but was pretty slow to keep them, until a couple weeks ago, actually. Like you, I wasn’t used to seeing the locked phone that way and I didn’t like how they stop portrait photos from layering.
I finally got fed up with extra taps to get to my glucose monitor. We’ll see if the habit sticks, though.
I’ve just got the weather and sunset. It’s a nice bit every once in a while to be able to just check those 2. Most of the time though, I forget they’re even there
I feel you. I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max with always-on-display but I’m still underwhelmed with widgets. Maybe when the new version of iOS adds actual functionality to the widgets, they will become more useful. I think they’re just too small. The ones on my home screen are actually quite useful but the tiny lockscreen widgets, I guess they’re just not for me.
I don’t have an always-on display. I still find Lock Screen widgets very useful.
The weather is right there at the top of the phone screen when I pick it up; I don’t need to open a weather app or swipe up – but if it want to go to my weather app, I just tap the weather widget on the Lock Screen and go right there. Now I don’t need to keep the weather on my Home Screen at all.
I can also see my next appointments on the Lock Screen (personal and work, on different calendars, different widgets). Tap either and I go directly to that appointment. Much faster than unlocking the phone, opening a calendar app and tapping the right appointment.
Shouldn’t it be “lock screen widget”? You can’t really have more than one. The poor implementation of a single small widget area makes this a non-starter for me. Why only allow one tiny sliver of info?
I was bemused by the iOS 17 / iPad OS 17 enhancements - as there simply aren’t enough slots. Also (the related) Standby - as the need to use MagSafe charging seems restrictive.
I never use them either. The information-at-a-glance function is served well enough by my Apple Watch and the tiny flick of my thumb required to unlock my phone isn’t enough friction to get me to set up any lock screen widgets. I’m happy that they’re there for the people who want. them though
The only one I use is the iPhone battery level. I don’t have the percentage displayed in the top menu bar (if that’s what it’s called) so it’s a useful place to find how charged it is at a glance.
I use it for watch battery, activity rings and weather. I find it useful to tap the phone and see these things, particularly when my watch is on charge.
