iOS 7 Helvetica bold - not original?

Mike Anderson

I don't know if this fits any category on this site but I'm just curious as to this--> they say that the base iOS font is helvetica right? Well then what kind of helvetica bold is this?? I've never seen the letter 'a' with a curly spur like this. I like it though I own the latest iPad mini and noticed it nearly everywhere. Do you think they just artificially bolded the Regular style which has a similar spur only thinner?

Stephen Coles

Looks like Neue Helvetica Medium to me. It’s the weight between Roman and Bold.

Mike Anderson

right! weird! up to medium weight the spur is there and strong, then falls off at the bold level. why? anyway, thx for noticing. the spur (medium) definitely looks better!

http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/linotype/neue-helvetica/helvetica-65-medium/glyphs/533834/66

vs

http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/linotype/neue-helvetica/helvetica-75-bold/glyphs/533496/66

kupfers

If you want a Helvetica with an a with tail across all weights (or without), try Neue Haas Grotesk. Includes a number of stylistic alternates. http://www.fontbureau.com/nhg/features/#stylistic_alternates