With the step from 4 ″ to 4.7 ″ and 5.5 inches, there is something that is undeniable: we cannot use, at least comfortably, the One-handed iPhone. Although I enjoy the advantages of having a larger screen (and the OIS and better autonomy in the case of the Plus), I have to admit that sometimes I miss the size of the iPhone 5s. It seems that Apple knows it and is evaluating the possibility of returning this comfort to us, but via software.
That's what we can understand from one of Apple's latest patents that describes how an iPhone could detect how we are holding it and, automatically, move some elements of the interface so that we can access them with the thumb. We can think that this system would move in a similar way to how the iPhone 6 screen lowers if we double tap on the Touch ID, but the movement would be automatic without requiring an action on our part.
Apple patent for us to use an iPhone with one hand
Best of all, Apple says it could use these features on existing iPhones currently, so I could do it with a software update (I wouldn't expect it until at least iOS 11). This would be possible because the device would use basic sensors, such as the accelerometer or the gyroscope, to determine how we are holding the iPhone, although it could also follow changes in the signal performance as we move our finger across the screen. On the other hand, it could also remember which thumb we have used to unlock the iPhone using Touch ID.
This patent is not new. In fact, one of the things he describes is the possibility that the slider "Slide to unlock" will change its meaning depending on the hand with which we hold the iPhone and iOS 10 It no longer has said slider, it only asks us to touch the start button to unlock the terminal.
As we always say, that a patent has been filed does not mean that we will see it one day, but it does not seem far-fetched if we consider that there is already the option to lower the iPhone screen with the touch ID. Will we see it in a future update?