Apple’s newest software program replace for the iPhone — iOS 18 — is a giant deal. Between extra customizable house screens, a huge Control Center update, and all the new Apple Intelligence options, this yr’s iOS replace has rather a lot to love.
Nonetheless, as I’ve been utilizing my iPhone 16 over the previous few weeks, I’ve realized that one of many iOS options I exploit probably the most has nothing to do with the iOS 18 replace. As an alternative, it’s an iOS function that was launched over three years in the past and stays one in every of my favourite iPhone options yr after yr. Sure, I’m speaking about Focus modes.
How I exploit Give attention to my iPhone
Apple launched Focus modes to the iPhone as a part of its iOS 15 replace in 2021. The concept behind them is easy: You should utilize completely different Focus modes relying on what you’re doing all through the day. For instance, you might have a Gaming Focus mode, a Studying one, a Trip one, and so on.
You possibly can have a number of Focus modes and customise them nevertheless you need. There’s no proper or incorrect manner to make use of Focus modes, however after religiously utilizing the function for the final three years, I’ve discovered a way that works completely for the way I exploit my iPhone.
What’s it? My Work Focus mode is routinely enabled between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each weekday. Whereas it’s on, I solely obtain notifications from three contacts (my accomplice and my mother and father), and I solely enable notifications from a choose handful of apps — together with Microsoft Groups, Outlook, and my banking apps. Up to now, fairly easy stuff. Nonetheless, the actual magic of my Work Focus is the way it adjustments my iPhone house display screen.
As soon as my Work Focus kicks on, my iPhone house display screen adjustments utterly. As an alternative of my common house screens full of time-wasting apps like NFL Fantasy, Letterboxd, and Duolingo, it’s changed with a single house display screen devoted to my job.
I’ve eight apps (Groups, Asana, Parse.ly, Apple Information, Notes, Feedly, Authy, and X/Twitter) on my single work-focused house display screen, plus two widgets, with one displaying my day by day reminders. I even have a clock widget displaying the assorted time zones wherein completely different Digital Traits staff/contributors are positioned.
Apple has allowed you to tie house screens to Focus modes for the reason that function’s introduction over three years in the past, and in the event you ask me, it’s the only finest a part of utilizing Focus modes on iOS. Having my work apps/widgets proper the place I want them throughout the workday is incredible, and as soon as the clock strikes 5, my iPhone returns to the same old, non-work-centric setup I favor after I’m off the clock.
It’s such a easy factor, however I additionally discover it invaluable. When it’s worktime, I can take a look at my cellphone and have rapid entry to work messages, emails, and so on. When it’s time to sign off for the day, all of my work apps disappear, and my house display screen once more reveals all my favourite non-work apps. It’s nice.
Android doesn’t have something prefer it
Some Android phone producers have tried to repeat Apple’s Focus modes over time, however annoyingly, none of them have copied the half I discover most helpful.
Samsung, for instance, has a Modes function that, not less than visually, appears prefer it was pulled straight from iOS. You possibly can customise notification preferences throughout Modes and affiliate particular wallpapers with them. Nonetheless, you can not hyperlink a Mode to a custom-made house display screen.
OnePlus finds itself in an analogous boat. OnePlus telephones have a Zen Area app that lets you arrange “areas” with allowed functions and customised wallpapers/backgrounds you see whereas an area is lively. As soon as once more, nevertheless, these can’t be tied with house display screen layouts.
Frankly, it’s stunning that nobody within the Android house has but to repeat this. So many Android telephones attempt to have their very own model of iOS Focus modes, however they neglect so as to add the one facet that makes it so helpful to me.
Nonetheless one in every of my favourite iOS options
I don’t actively take into consideration Focus modes after I use my iPhone all through the day. After I’m working, I’ve my work house display screen. After I’m not, I’ve my “regular” house display screen setup. All of it works flawlessly within the background with out fail, so it’s not one thing I pay a lot consideration to.
That may make Focus modes not all that thrilling to speak about, however I believe that’s exactly why they’re such a useful function. I spent about 20 minutes configuring my Work focus how I wished three years in the past when my iPhone obtained iOS 15, and ever since then, it’s been an integral a part of how I exploit my iPhone every day.
That is the kind of function I hope to see extra of from Apple. The corporate is throwing a lot on the wall proper now with Apple Intelligence — be it Writing Tools, Genmoji, or one thing else. Not all of that is going to stay, however I hope this rush of recent AI options results in one thing as sensible and useful as Focus modes. All these years later, it stays one in every of my favourite issues about my iPhone.
