Widgets have been available on the iPhone since iOS 14, but if you’re not using them much, you’re not alone. While Android users have been using widgets for a long time, it’s a fresher experience for iPhone users, so you may not know where to start with widgets.
Keeping updated on current events is one of the best uses of widgets, but which should you pick? We’ve got several options, depending on where you like to get your news and what exactly it is you’re looking for news about. This isn’t an exhaustive list of every option, but it will get you pointed in the right direction.
We’ll start with one of the most obvious. By default, Apple News is installed on your iPhone, along with its widget. If you’re only looking for the latest headlines, you don’t even need to customize the app, just wait for it to pull the latest news for your area.
That said, if you’re looking for a more custom news feed, Apple News is quite capable. The app lets you select your various interests and the type of news you want to see. Now, this will be reflected in the widgets, which show the “For You” feed by default.
Customize your feeds, and you can get news on everything from the biggest headlines to your favorite sports. The only downside is that some features require an Apple News+ subscription.
Google News
Even if you’re not a big fan of the Google ecosystem, Google News is a great source for the latest news on almost anything. As with any widgets on iOS, before you can use the widget, you’ll need to download the app from the App Store.
By default, Google News will offer up top stories. Assuming you use the Google News website, you may have already customized your interests. If you haven’t, you can always do so within the Google News app to customize the information you’ll see in the widget.
In addition to major headlines, Google News is capable of providing local news, sports information, and deeper dives into major stories with multiple perspectives and sources.
The New York Times
The above two apps gather news from all over the internet, which is often exactly what you’re looking for. That said, if you’re the type that prefers to follow one publication, the New York Times widget is one of the best options available.
Unlike the other apps on this list, some features of the New York Times app require a subscription, starting at $14.99 per month via in-app purchase. That said, you can also use it without even setting up an account, so you can take the app and its widget for a test run before you commit to a subscription.
The widget displays breaking news, live blogs, feature stories and more. The widget only displays two headlines at a time, but it does a good job focusing on the most important at any given time.
Sports Alerts
What if you aren’t looking for breaking news in general, but want to keep tabs on what’s happening in the sports you follow? The widget included with the Sports Alerts is one of the best if you take your sports seriously.
Reading the App Store reviews of Sports Alerts, you’ll notice that the widget is often the main draw for people using the app. This makes perfect sense, as the widget can display live scores, stats, and information for a wide array of sports on the widget, all at the same time.
The app follows MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, CFL, soccer, tennis, golf, NCAA football and basketball among others.
Apollo for Reddit
Many people on the internet these days turn to Reddit for not just news, but information on nearly any subject you can think of. If you’d rather see updates from the subreddits you follow than breaking headlines, the Apollo for Reddit widget is tough to beat.
Developer Christian Selig is obviously a Redditor, as the app’s features are inclined toward heavy users of the site. When it comes to the widgets, you can choose from either featured posts from across the sites, or simply displaying the latest from your favorite Subreddits.
If you use Reddit for wallpaper suggestions or other images, the widgets are perfect from bringing a new look to your home screen.
Kris Wouk is a writer, musician, and whatever it’s called when someone makes videos for the web. He’s an Apple nerd with a fondness for hi-res audio and home theater gear.
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