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iPhone X Supports Reachability With Swipe Down Gesture on Home Screen Indicator Once Enabled

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Despite some speculation suggesting the iPhone X would not support Reachability, reviews of the device published today have confirmed that the feature can be enabled in the Settings app on the device.

iphone x reachability
Once enabled, Reachability can be invoked by swiping down on the bar that serves as a visual indicator for returning to the Home screen.

Skip to the 5:05 mark in Engadget's first impressions video to see Reachability in action. The tidbit was highlighted on Reddit by user Whert Ser Nert.


Reachability is designed to bring down the entire top portion of the iPhone's display so it is within thumb's reach for one-handed access to apps and content. The feature is invoked by double tapping the Home button on other iPhone models.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

M_Json Avatar
110 months ago
Actually a clever and intuitive way to do it..
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chucker23n1 Avatar
110 months ago
The minute someone says they haven’t had much time with a device I stop watching or reading their so-called review. I’d much rather read/see a review from someone who’s been using the device as their daily driver for a week or more.
There is no such person right now, so good luck with that, dude.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
110 months ago
Actually a clever and intuitive way to do it..
I'm pulling down, UI is coming down.
I'm pulling up, UI is going up, revealing the thing 'under it' - the home screen.

Seems natural.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zaft Avatar
110 months ago
Very nic3, I’m glad it’s still there.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
110 months ago
Intuitive and simplicity go hand and hand.
Something intuitive should be simple, but something simple isn't necessarily intuitive. Much like all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares.

Imagine a feature on the phone where if you blow into the microphone, it switches wifi on/off. Simple? Yes. Intuitive? Nooooooo.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
webquake Avatar
110 months ago
Reachability is just compensating poor ergonomic interface design. Using upside-down design instead could drastically increase smartphone usability, as outlined in my article "Ergonomics of scale ('https://medium.com/@webquake/ergonomics-of-scale-75c711dbda36')".
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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