Apple’s Dynamic Island has been a defining feature of iPhones for over two years, blending notifications and live updates into an interactive space around the camera cutout.
Now, Samsung has entered the scene with the Now Bar, a fresh take on the concept introduced with the Galaxy S25 series. But which one does it better?
Design & Visibility
Both Apple and Samsung use a pill-shaped bubble to house their widgets, but the placement and accessibility differ.
Apple’s Dynamic Island is always present at the top of the screen, while Samsung’s Now Bar only appears on the lock screen and notifications shade.
This means Apple’s approach is more persistent, while Samsung gives users more control over its visibility.
Samsung also allows multiple widgets to be stacked, letting users switch between them, while Apple limits users to just one full-size widget at a time.
However, Apple’s Live Activities can display more details on the lock screen, making it feel more integrated into the experience.
Functionality & Features
In terms of what they can do, both offer similar capabilities like tracking live sports scores, showing navigation directions, monitoring timers, and managing media playback.
However, there are a few differences:
- Dynamic Island supports third-party apps, making it much more versatile at the moment. Apps like Uber, food delivery services, and task managers already take advantage of it.
- Now Bar lacks third-party support, meaning only Samsung’s built-in apps can use it for now. This is a major limitation that may change in future updates.
- Samsung gives users more control, allowing them to disable the Now Bar entirely or turn it on/off for specific apps, whereas Dynamic Island is a core part of iOS and can’t be disabled.
Which One Wins?
Right now, Dynamic Island is the clear winner due to its mature third-party support and constant availability.
However, Now Bar shows promise, especially with its customization options and stackable widgets.
If Samsung expands its app support, it could eventually match or even surpass Apple’s implementation.
For now, iPhone users enjoy the better experience, but Samsung’s Now Bar has the potential to evolve into something even more powerful. With future updates, this battle is far from over.
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