iPhone X hides notification previews when screen is locked
As revealed by Steven Levy during his first impressions of the iPhone X, Apple is now hiding notification previews from the iPhone X’s lock-screen when the device is locked, meaning when a user receives a notification from Messages for example, the notification text will not be fully visible until the user unlocks their device using Face ID.
When a user receives a notification on the iPhone X, a small generic messages will say “you have a notification” from Messages. – The feature has been available for some time within settings, but has never been turned on by default.
Steven said that he used this feature as a way to confirm that Face ID had unlocked the iPhone X:
I then see if the little lock icon on the screen has released its latch. Alternatively, a good way to see when you’ve been recognized is to notice the generic messages on the lock screen saying “you have a notification” from Facebook, Gmail, or wherever. When you and your iPhone X make that turn-on connection, those flesh out with the actual content of the message. (This feature—withholding potentially private alerts until the phone was unlocked—had previously been available as an option but now is the default.)
The feature adds an extra layer of security for iPhone X users. – Of course, it can be turned off within settings.