In the rapidly evolving mobile tech space, with recent launches from Samsung, upcoming releases from Google’s Pixel 9 series, and anticipation building for the iPhone 16, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. However, let’s take a moment to shine a spotlight on Motorola. While they haven’t unveiled a new phone, I stumbled upon a hidden setting on my Motorola Razr Plus 2024 that allows you to transform part of your Motorola phone’s interface to resemble an iPhone. This unexpected feature may hint at more significant changes to come in Motorola’s future phones.
Transforming Your Motorola Phone into an iPhone
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
By default, Motorola phones feature a quick settings/notification panel that resembles Google Pixel phones, with large bubbles for quick settings, a horizontal brightness slider, and notifications below. It’s a clean and simple design familiar to Android users.
However, on any Motorola phone running Android 14, you can completely alter this design by following these steps:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap on Home & lock screen
- Tap Control center
Within this menu, you’ll find a Modern style option where you can switch from the default Classic style to give your quick settings an iPhone-like appearance.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
The new design features connectivity options in a large bubble at the top, with vertical sliders for volume and brightness, a media player, and shortcuts for setting toggles. The gesture controls mimic those of an iPhone, adding a touch of familiarity to the experience.
Aside from drawing comparisons to the iPhone, this design offers more settings visibility and customization options compared to the Classic layout.
A sign of what’s to come?
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
While the new quick settings design may seem like a small change, it hints at larger software design alterations coming to Motorola devices. Recent updates have introduced subtle visual changes, such as transparent backgrounds and updated app designs, which could signal a broader shift in Motorola’s software aesthetics. When asked about these changes, Motorola’s Jeff Snow downplayed the significance, citing a preference for Android’s existing strengths.
Despite official statements, speculation abounds about potential visual overhauls in Motorola’s future releases. The iPhone-like quick settings design, while a curious feature, may be just the beginning of Motorola’s software evolution. In an era of predictable smartphone releases, this unexpected twist adds an element of excitement to the tech landscape.
