‘Feel so betrayed’: iPhone design quirk leaves many baffled
iPhone users are reeling after a viral post revealed a surprising design quirk in the Apple alarm clock - one that’s been hiding in plain sight for years.
iPhone users are reeling after a viral post on X revealed a surprising design quirk in the Apple alarm clock — one that’s been hiding in plain sight for years.
For anyone who’s ever set an alarm on an iPhone, the process seems straightforward. The time picker — the rotating wheel of numbers — gives the impression of a spilling wheel users can scroll through endlessly as the numbers continue to loop.
However, a user on X recently shattered this long-held assumption by revealing that the alarm time picker isn’t truly circular at all. Instead, it’s just an extremely long, linear list of times made to look like a rotating wheel.
“The time picker on iPhone’s alarm app isn’t actually circular — it’s just a really long list,” the user posted on X, along with a video to prove it.
In the video, the time picker is quickly scrolled through until the end of the list is hit — which took several seconds to achieve — landing at 4:39.
Curious users tested it out for themselves — and to their amazement, it did end.
The “random time” cut-off has left many baffled.
“Why is this such a disturbing discovery?” someone asked. Another added, “I feel so betrayed.”
Many were equally surprised by the design, noting that they’d used the alarm function for years without ever realising it wasn’t an infinite scroll.
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However, others defended the interface, pointing out that no one really needs to scroll endlessly — the UI is designed to make time selection quick and seamless.
“The important question here is, what were you trying to do?” a person replied to the original tweet.
“How do you even figure these things out lol,” another asked.
Still, the fact that the illusion fooled even the most seasoned iPhone users has raised eyebrows.
Apple has not commented on the revelation, but this isn’t the first time the tech giant has been called out for hidden features or unexpected design quirks.
Another X user revealed that the Apple Calendar app also uses a long list that ends. The last date iPhone users can currently set a calendar reminder for is April 18th, 10000.
And earlier this year, Apple fans were divided over a surprisingly polarising change introduced in the latest iOS 26 Beta redesign of the Clock app icon.
These inconsequential but shocking discoveries have struck a chord with users, who are both amused and annoyed that such a basic function harboured such a secret.
This story originally appeared on NY Post and is republished here with permission
Originally published as ‘Feel so betrayed’: iPhone design quirk leaves many baffled
