StandBy is a new iPhone feature that could be great for Apple Home users

StandBy will turn your iPhone into an always-on display when charging. | Image by Dan Siefert / The Verge

Apple has announced StandBy — a new feature that turns the iPhone into a sort of smart display when it’s docked on its side. The company announced this new trick onstage at WWDC 2023 while debuting iOS 17, which is expected to arrive this fall.

StandBy comes with iOS 17 and kicks in automatically when your iPhone is charging and on its side. It’s designed to be seen from a distance and can display the time with customizable clock faces, Apple Home controls, the weather, music controls, app smart stacks, and other features. At night, StandBy adapts the screen to lowlight, taking on a red tone to avoid being disruptive at night.

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

StandBy can adapt to low light to work as a nighttime...