Daily Times

Apple could be working on an iPhone that tweaks the home screen, depending on which hand you’re holding it in.

A patent from the Cupertino tech company describes a handset that can detect how it is being held and move the on-screen interface around so that it’s easier to reach.

This could make screens on larger handsets more accessible for those with smaller hands. As well as moving apps around the screen, the feature could also swap the direction of on-screen sliders to better suit left-handed users.

The new feature may be introduced on the firm’s future iPhones, and Apple says it could even be used on existing handsets, following a simple iOS software update.

While technology already exists to make this possible, Apple is considering adding new hardware feature for extra accuracy, including touch, proximity, fingerprint and motion sensors. Apple’s software already includes a handy feature that drops down the top icons on the phone screen with a double-tap of the home button.

While, this is a useful workaround, a feature that moves around the entire screen to suit the user’s grip could prove more useful, especially for those that struggle with larger handsets like the iPhone 6s Plus. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 7 in September and is rumoured to be dropping the headphone jack, a move that has proved unpopular so far.

The tech giant’s iOS 10 software is also due to land in the autumn, following its announcement at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month.