What you need to know
- iOS 17 introduces StandBy Mode for iPhone models, providing a smart display-like experience when charging.
- While some Android phones offer a similar interface, it’s not as feature-rich as what iOS 17 brings.
- StandBy Mode Pro emulates this iOS 17 feature but includes a lot more customization than even what Apple will offer.
When Apple introduced iOS 17, there really weren’t a lot of “game-changing” features unless you’ve never used an Android phone before. But in my time testing out the iOS 17 beta on my iPhone 14 Pro Max, I’ve come to thoroughly enjoy the “new” StandBy Mode.
Basically, this turns your iPhone into a smart display of sorts, complete with a digital clock and various widgets to show things like your calendar, upcoming tasks, or the weather. This is nothing new in the Android space, as Samsung phones offer something similar thanks to the always-on display, but it doesn’t really “hit the spot.”
As you might suspect, a bunch of apps hit the Play Store shortly after iOS 17 was unveiled, which aimed to bring StandBy Mode to all Android phones. But there’s one app that I’ve been relying on for a while now, and it’s slowly turning into one of my favorite apps of the year.
Aptly named StandBy Mode Pro, the app “turns your phone or tablet into a Smart Display while it charges.” But instead of just imitating the different clocks and widgets that you’ll find on the iPhone running iOS 17, there are quite a few more options to choose from. You can opt for the “Duo” mode, which splits your screen in half and places scrollable widgets on either side.
Taking things even further, StandBy Mode Pro borrows the “night mode” from iOS 17, putting a red tint on