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Since the iPhone Duo's launch, standby mode has offered significantly more features than on any other iPhone. With iOS 27.3, this gap is set to narrow: Calendar, weather, and more customizable clocks will be available on all models that receive the update. However, the Duo will retain one advantage.
Apple is rolling out the standby improvements from the iPhone Duo to the rest of the iPhones. This isn't mentioned in the developer release notes, but the update is already included in the first beta of iOS 27.3, which Apple released to developers today.
Apple unveiled the new features on September 9th as a major upgrade for the iPhone Duo. Apple has announced a December release date for iOS 27.3, but has not specified a date. It is the third point update in the iOS 27 series.
Key Facts at a Glance
- iOS 27.3 brings the standby innovations of the iPhone Duo to all compatible iPhones.
- New features include calendar and weather views, redesigned clocks, split albums in the photo view, and multiple versions per view.
- Standby mode without a charger remains exclusive to the iPhone Duo.
- The new features are included in the first developer beta; the final version is expected in December.
These four new features are coming to the other iPhones
The analog and digital watches are being redesigned and will receive more options for colors and complications. The „Photos“ view will now also display shared albums, which can be selected individually.
In addition, there are new calendar and weather views. Furthermore, multiple versions of each view type can be created, which can be switched between, for example, two clocks with different colors.
So far, the interface on other iPhones is much more limited. According to Apple's user manual, you can switch between widgets, photos, and clocks by swiping left or right, and between the styles of the respective view by swiping up or down. The manual currently only describes how to add, customize, and delete custom views for the iPhone Duo.
What changes with iOS 27.3 and what doesn't
| Standby | Other iPhones today | Other iPhones with iOS 27.3 | iPhone Duo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | on the charger, lying on its side | on the charger, lying on its side | as a tent or book, without a charger |
| Calendar and weather view | no | Yes | Yes |
| Shared albums in „Photos“ | no | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple versions per view | no | Yes | Yes |
The cable remains the difference that no software can close. The iPhone Duo stands on its own when half-folded and therefore needs no charger for StandBy, while every other iPhone, according to the user guide, has to be connected to a charger and lying on its side.
The extent of this functionality is evident when looking at my own iPhone Duo. The gallery there includes, among other things, weather, photos, memories, analog, digital, and calendar. The „Analog“ clock offers tabs for style, color, numbers, and widgets with seven color swatches and two small widget slots. Calendar, weather, both clocks, and shared albums are all part of this selection.
Included from the iPhone 11 onwards, but not visible everywhere in the same way
The new features apply to all iPhones compatible with iOS 27.3, meaning from the iPhone 11 onward. iOS 27 also runs on the iPhone SE (2nd generation), which therefore also belongs to this group.
The practical difference lies in the display. Standby mode only shows information permanently on models with the „Always On“ option. According to Apple, on all other iPhones, standby mode can be activated at any time by tapping the display, gently nudging the table, or using Siri.
What became of the findings in the code
In September, five additional standby views appeared in the code of iOS 27.1, including one for home cameras and one featuring Snoopy. They do not appear in the list for iOS 27.3.
The duo loses their lead, but not their advantage
I think this is the right move, especially since standby mode doesn't require any hardware from the Duo as long as the iPhone is plugged into the charger. The iPhone Duo has been on the market since October 23rd, so calendar and weather features will only be exclusive to it for a short time: I expect iOS 27.3 around mid-December, which would be about seven weeks.
The duo doesn't lose much in the process. On my iPhone, standby reliably starts as a tent without a cable, something the other iPhones don't get. With iOS 27.3, standby becomes more versatile on those iPhones, but remains tied to the charging port. Those who already charge their iPhones via MagSafe will likely benefit the most, as standby remembers the preferred display for each MagSafe charging port.
If you still have an iPhone 11 or another model without „Always On“, your daily routine will change less, because the new views will not remain visible continuously.
What else does iOS 27.3 bring?
Standby is not the only new feature in the beta. Others include vertical tabs in Safari, the returning Health app, and the launch of Apple Intelligence in China.
Does your iPhone already stay plugged in on standby at night, or would you only be tempted to do that with custom calendar and weather views? Let us know in the comments which view would stay on your nightstand.
