Apple is considering using its iconic logo as a notification light, patent application suggests

Apple has applied for a patent to use the logo on the back of its phones as a notification light. The patent application, which was first spotted by Apple Insider, outlines how the “adjustable decoration” could respond to events such as “incoming communication” or “a calendar reminder” by changing its appearance or flashing to attract your attention.

It’s not an entirely new idea. We saw a similar feature make an appearance on the Razer Phone 2 last year, and the Motorola One Zoom uses its rear Motorola logo as a notification light rather than a fingerprint sensor as in previous models. It’s not a huge feature, but it’s helpful if you want to know you’re not missing anything important while your phone is facedown on a desk or table.

The feature makes sense for Apple’s products. After all, the company has a history of illuminating its logo on its older MacBooks, even if it dropped the design feature with the laptop’s 2015 redesign. It wouldn’t be a massive leap for it to bring back its illuminated logo with a little practical functionality added.

The application makes frequent references to “cellular telephone” calls as part of its description, which heavily suggests that Apple is considering using the feature on a future iPhone. However, the patent also includes images showing a series of “illustrative electronic devices” including a laptop, a tablet, and what appears to be an iMac.

As is always the case with Apple patents, it’s best to read this with a healthy degree of skepticism. Just because Apple has considered a feature doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll include it in any of its products in the near future. That doesn’t mean we don’t want this to happen, if only to see the company’s glowing logo make a long-overdue return.