Apple Blurs iOS 26 Lock Screen Wallpapers by Default on iPhone 14 Pro Always On Display
Updated
Updated · 9to5Mac · May 22
Apple Blurs iOS 26 Lock Screen Wallpapers by Default on iPhone 14 Pro Always On Display
4 articles · Updated · 9to5Mac · May 22
iOS 26 now shows a blurred Lock Screen wallpaper by default on Apple’s Always On Display instead of the dimmed full image used before.
Apple appears to have made the change to improve legibility, making the clock and widgets stand out more when the iPhone is locked.
Settings in Display & Brightness still let users turn blurred wallpapers off, restoring the previous full-clarity Lock Screen behavior.
The Always On feature otherwise works much as before on supported models starting with iPhone 14 Pro, with options to hide wallpapers or notifications entirely.
What does Apple's new default blurred wallpaper reveal about its future design priorities for the iPhone?
Does the new iOS 26 blur effect for the Always-On Display consume more battery than the previous dimming feature?