Not Neurodivergent-Friendly — Too Rigid
I wanted to love this phone. I’ve been an Apple user for many years, and I bought this model with the hope that it could serve as both a phone and a camera for my small business. But after giving it an honest try, I realized the iPhone’s interface simply isn’t designed for how some of us process visual information. The two forced screens — the Today View on the far left and the App Library on the far right — cannot be removed, reorganized, or customized. Both use Apple’s mandatory “blurred background” effect, which creates constant visual noise. If you have a neurodivergent brain that needs clean lines, clarity, and order, this is extremely overstimulating. The App Library is especially difficult to use. Apps are grouped into vague categories inside boxes that cannot be edited, renamed, rearranged, or alphabetized. There is no way to create a simple, logical A–Z list of apps on the home screen. You must organize everything manually. For people who rely on structure and visual consistency, this becomes frustrating very quickly. The hardware is beautiful, and the camera is excellent — but the software design is rigid and inflexible. If you are neurotypical, this may not matter. But if you are neurodivergent, sensory-sensitive, or prefer a highly organized layout, be aware that the iPhone interface offers very limited control. I ultimately returned the phone. Not because it’s “bad,” but because it simply isn’t built for the way my mind works.
