4 Fantastic iPhone Features Almost No One Uses

3 Min Read Published: Mar 1st, 2017

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By now, you probably know that your iPhone is capable of quite a lot. So much, in fact, that some of the functionality packed into your Apple flagship is basically hidden. On the other end of the spectrum, there are quite a few built-in or easily added features that aren’t quite hidden, but are definitely underused or underappreciated. Here’s a list of four such features (that you should start using if you don’t already.)

4. Bedtime

First introduced in iOS 10, Bedtime is a clever little feature that Apple added to its stock Clock app. It’s part of a greater emphasis that Apple has placed on the health of its users. It allows users to set how much sleep they want to get, and what time they need to wake up. In turn, the app will send a notification when it’s time for bed.

Sure, some of us might not need help knowing when to go to bed or wake up in the morning, but for others, it could be an invaluable feature and a great way to ensure that you’re getting your much-needed eight hours of rest. As an added bonus, Bedtime adds new pleasant alarm tones to wake up to — and Apple has cleverly made the Clock app darker, making it easier on the eyes late at night. Learn more about Bedtime, here.

3. Apple TV Remote App

Sure, the fourth-generation Apple TV comes with an upgraded Siri remote. But despite the improvements, the remote still lacks a native keyboard — making typing in text fields a bit cumbersome.

That’s where Apple’s proprietary — and free — iOS Remote app comes in. When downloaded onto an iPhone, Remote allows users to type in text files easily using their familiar iOS keyboard. Best of all, the app will send a rich notification to your phone if a text field is triggered using the Siri Remote on your fourth-gen Apple TV. Get the Apple TV Remote app, here.

2. AirDrop

Perhaps one of the most underused and under-appreciated iPhone features is AirDrop. What is AirDrop? Put simply, it’s a way to instantly share content between your various Apple devices — including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac. And it’s so easy and effortless that we’re not sure why it isn’t a more popular option.

Anything from photos and videos to locations and contacts can be shared between Apple devices via AirDrop, and it’s a good alternative to emailing or texting content. Located in the iOS Share options, it’s a clever, simple and virtually seamless way to move your content between devices. As an added bonus, as of iOS 10, the ability to share apps has also been added. Learn more about AirDrop, here.

1. Time-Lapse Video

It’s no secret that the iPhone is capable of some exceptional feats of photography and videography. But beyond slow-motion recordings and high-quality portraits, the iPhone is also capable of recording time-lapse video footage. Time-lapse videos are captured at high frame rates and are played at a rapid speed to show long-term environment changes in a short period of time. And it’s a feature that probably hasn’t gotten the attention it’s deserved since it was first released in iOS 8.

That may be in part due to the fact that some time-lapse videos might end up looking shaky or unimpressive — but that’s no fault of the feature itself. Some pro tips to recording better time lapses? Use a tripod, and keep the iPhone recording for longer than you think you need it to.

To start a time-lapse video, follow these steps.