
We’re counting the times till Apple unveils the iPhone 15 sequence. That’s additionally when the ultimate iOS 17 model will roll out to most iPhones. We’ve already mentioned the assorted adjustments in nice element, together with the highlights and the not-so-great ones. iOS 17 StandBy is among the nice issues about this yr’s iPhone replace, in keeping with some individuals. I’m within the a lot smaller camp of customers who won’t use StandBy in any respect. Not even by mistake.
My preferences apart, I’ll level out three massive points with StandBy which are hiding in plain sight. When you notice what they’re, you would possibly query the necessity for StandBy enabled on iPhone.
Why I don’t need StandBy
Earlier than I get to the problems with StandBy, I’ll first deal with the elephant within the room. My bias. I don’t need StandBy on iPhone for numerous causes, and nothing the function has to supply will persuade me in any other case.
First, I wish to cut back my display screen time, not increase it, by having the iPhone appeal to my consideration whereas charging and displaying data in StandBy mode.
Secondly, I don’t need it to eat any vitality when charging. And I particularly wouldn’t need StandBy to light up my bed room at evening. Even when it’s the crimson gentle impressed by the Apple Watch Extremely.
Talking of wearables, I do put on an Apple Watch. It’ll get me all of the notifications I would like in the course of the day with out glancing on the iPhone in StandBy mode. I additionally use a Mac, so many of the issues I would like are in entrance of me after I’m at work.
Lastly, StandBy requires devoted MagSafe charging stands to work. You’ve in all probability observed some goal points in my subjective tackle StandBy. However, if not, I’ll level them out individually beginning with the latter.
You’ll want to purchase StandBy equipment
Should you hate the iPhone’s sky-high value and are already nervous concerning the rumored iPhone 15 value hike, you received’t wish to spend more money on pointless equipment. I’m not speaking display screen protector and case, which you’ll be getting anyway. I’m referring to the StandBy case. Should you’re already utilizing an iPhone, you’ve bought these. However you would possibly nonetheless not wish to spend extra for a StandBy accent.
That’s one thing Apple usually reveals in its movies and pictures however doesn’t deal with clearly. StandBy wants the iPhone to be positioned on a type of MagSafe stands and the handset must be charging to work. You shouldn’t prop the iPhone in a StandBy-like place. You’ll fear concerning the iPhone tilting. As an alternative, you want a stand that doubles as a wi-fi charger for the iOS 17 function to work.
If you would like StandBy at work, house, and nightstand, you’ll want separate MagSafe equipment for every expertise.

UPDATE: As some BGR readers noticed, StandBy doesn’t require a MagSafe stand. And it really works with wired charging. No person is disputing that. You may even prop up the iPhone like my colleague José Adorno did above, and StandBy would work. The purpose is you’d nonetheless want to purchase that accent, whether or not it’s a MagSafe stand or an everyday dock. And also you’ll have to recharge the iPhone to have StandBy working.
Additionally, Apple made a giant deal about MagSafe charging with the photographs it used and with the official iOS 17 announcement. Right here’s a MagSafe-only function for StandBy, as described by Apple:
When charging with MagSafe, StandBy remembers a person’s most popular view.
The unique article follows.
What about battery life
We’ve simply mentioned an iPhone 14 Professional battery well being concern. Some iPhone customers have observed their batteries have degraded quicker on the 2022 flagship telephone than earlier fashions. My iPhone 14 Professional continues to be at 99% after practically a yr. And that’s as a result of I do a number of issues otherwise.
Initially, I don’t have the All the time-on function enabled. Secondly, I recharge solely when wanted, normally each different day. Additionally, I’ve Optimized Battery Charging enabled. All of this optimizes charging and reduces waste as a lot as attainable. Meaning fewer cost cycles and higher total battery healy.
With StandBy, I’d fear about utilizing vitality whereas the telephone fees to show stuff I won’t be involved in. The vitality consumption could be minimal, and I belief Apple to be very environment friendly about how StandBy works. But it surely nonetheless makes use of vitality.
Meaning the iPhone would possibly take slightly longer to achieve a full cost, whereas iOS 17 reveals data in StandBy. Additionally, what occurs as soon as that full cost is reached? Will StandBy proceed to work whereas in its cradle? This might set off charging as soon as the battery drops beneath 100%.
The purpose right here is that StandBy will eat vitality pointlessly.

The All the time-on show isn’t all the time on
I did point out the All the time-on show function is turned off for my iPhone 14 Professional to save lots of vitality. Once more, I don’t want glanceable data on my iPhone. All it takes is a Face ID authentication to get contained in the handset.
However in case you are a fan of StandBy in iOS 17, it’s best to know your handset won’t present data routinely except it’s one of many iPhone 14 Professionals or iPhone 15 Professionals.
StandBy will work on iPhones with out All the time-on show help. You must faucet the display screen to see the widgets. Solely iPhone customers who personal one of many 2022 or 2023 Professional fashions get the All the time-on StandBy performance.
Meaning, more often than not, your iPhone can be turned off whereas in StandBy. That’s nice for the well being of the show and the battery. But when it’s not all the time on, it type of defeats the aim of StandBy. In any case, Apple reveals iPhones with shows turned on whereas in StandBy to show how superior the function is.