The Death of the Alarm Clock in iPhone: Fixing the Basics of Product Design

I recently shifted to iphone from android and the experience was completely delightful.

Though it appealed the premium side of attributes, there are some basics which was hard hitting.

lets ask some basic questions: what are the most frequent activity you perform in a day in your phone ?

1) Call

2) Take photos

3) Surf in your daily apps - Video, Whatsapp

4) Alarm clock & Reminders

5) Calculator

6) Calender

7) Take photos

The iPhone series comes packed with features that push the boundaries of smartphone technology—whether it's the improved performance, cutting-edge camera enhancements, or innovations in software.

However, while Apple continues to deliver on advanced features, there is an increasingly glaring issue with how basic, day-to-day functionalities are being designed, particularly when it comes to the default Alarm, Call, and Calculator apps in iOS.

Alarms: Complex and Inconvenient

For a device that most people rely on to wake up every day, the design of the default alarm clock feels unintuitive.

First, setting a simple alarm requires several steps—tapping through various menus instead of offering quick and accessible options.

You cant set an alarm for future dates. Currently you can set only for all weekdays which is not as per the need for any specific date

Changing or deleting an alarm involves a similar multi-step process that could be simplified with quicker gestures or shortcuts. You dont have a simple select all , desselect option to choosing every day in a week.

Moreover, the alarm UI doesn't offer flexibility or customization.

A significant portion of iPhone users depend on alarms daily, yet the feature hasn't seen meaningful updates in years. While Apple pours energy into features like FaceID advancements, basic utilities like the alarm app get left behind, forcing users to turn to third-party apps for better experiences.

How can we fix this ?

Android based models have done a pretty good job especially one plus. If we apply some core feature with differentiated UI , this could be a game changer in iphone instead of third party apps in IOS stores.

1) The most important feature is how many remaining hours you have for the alarm to go off This is crucial for anyone to set up the clock so that they can know in advance on their sleep hours.

2) To give options for setting in future dates with an intuitutive interface by having the caldender options inside the alarm creation interface.

3) Allow Multi select and deselect options in a single click

4) Vibration option on & off.

5) Convert an Alarm to Task to do.

Call History: An Unhelpful Log

The call log in iOS is a bit old fashioned.

For anyone trying to manage a significant volume of calls, whether personal or business-related, the call history feels outdated and underpowered. iOS's design limits the number of calls you can see in the recent history, which can be frustrating for users who need to revisit calls made earlier in the week or month.

Why do we need this ?

We are bombarded with a lot of task and calls and sometimes need to go back memory lane to connect back when we spoke to this person.

One more part is the design related to the call logs.. Not every time one clicks the call history to call back . One may like to call back , message the person or send a whatsapp. This action is not being captured. Instead, iphone gives an interface that directly makes you to call back the person when you click on the call log and you have to cancel the action everytime.

Moreover, there is no easy way to see call logs from a specific contact.

As the world becomes more fast-paced, Apple’s call log remains rooted in simplistic, archaic design. This can leave users wondering why such a basic utility isn’t evolving to meet modern-day needs.

How can we fix this ?

Introduce at least a monthly log of history specific to a contact. This can help the users know the logs on how many times they had a call record with a specific person.

Calculators: Basic, Yet Lacking

The calculator app feels like an afterthought, too. For something that should be fast, efficient, and versatile, the iOS calculator remains overly simplistic and lacks useful features that are expected in modern software.

There’s no history function to see previous calculations, no easy way to switch between basic and scientific modes without turning the phone sideways, and no customization options to fit various use cases.

While iPhones feature advanced computing power capable of performing complex tasks, the calculator app has largely remained unchanged. Something as simple as copy-pasting results or working on multiple calculations in parallel (tabs, anyone?) would drastically improve user experience but remains absent.

How to fix this ?

1) Introduce calculator history to go back whenever needed to understand the basic calculation

2) Simple display of what is being calculated on the next digit or operator being added gives the clarity to user on what is being calculated.

3) Multiple step of calculations to be performed in a single operation step is crucial.

Why the Basics Are Being Ignored

Modern product design seems to increasingly focus on fancy, attention-grabbing features rather than refining the core experience. Apple’s focus is often on eye-catching innovations—like Dynamic Island or improvements to AR functionality—while overlooking utilities that form the bedrock of daily use.

This is a trend not just seen with Apple, but across modern tech products. Companies are driven by the demand to differentiate themselves through innovation, often at the expense of essential, foundational features.

When core functionalities are overlooked, users are left to rely on third-party apps or endure frustrating experiences with stock apps that should have been polished and intuitive. A modern smartphone should offer a seamless user experience, whether users are engaging with cutting-edge technology or simply setting their morning alarm.

A Balanced Approach to Product Design

While innovation is important, it’s essential that product designers strike a balance between advanced features and core functionalities. Here’s how product teams can approach design more effectively:

1. User-Centric Research on Core Features: Start with understanding how users engage with basic, everyday features—such as alarms, calls, or the calculator. Continuous feedback loops with users can highlight pain points that may otherwise be missed in favor of more advanced innovations.
2. Iterative Updates to Basic Features: While advanced features evolve, core functionalities shouldn’t stagnate. Alarm clocks, call logs, and calculators should be updated regularly, even if the updates are small. Quality of life improvements make a big difference for users who interact with these tools daily.
3. Prioritize Usability Over Gimmicks: Fancy features might make headlines, but usability wins in the long run. Ensuring that basic utilities are intuitive and customizable should take precedence over offering new, cutting-edge options that most users won’t engage with frequently.
4. Future-Proof Core Experiences: As products evolve, so should their fundamental utilities. Designing with an eye toward future needs (like more data, customization, or deeper integrations with other apps) can help ensure that core features remain relevant even as more advanced features roll out.

Tablestake feature vs advanced functionalities

The iPhone 15 and its associated iOS software are undoubtedly at the cutting edge of smartphone technology, yet basic day-to-day features—such as the alarm clock, call history, and calculator—are being neglected.

In the race to innovate, Apple, like many tech companies, seems to be overlooking the fundamentals that most users engage with daily. As tech products continue to evolve, balancing advanced innovation with polished, intuitive core features is key to creating a truly exceptional user experience. After all, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference in our everyday lives.