diff --git a/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ios.scss b/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ios.scss
index b1cea8f18fb..697e5431f87 100644
--- a/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ios.scss
+++ b/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ios.scss
@@ -66,8 +66,6 @@ $searchbar-ios-toolbar-input-background:  rgba(0, 0, 0, .08) !default;
 
   background-repeat: no-repeat;
   background-size: $searchbar-ios-input-search-icon-size;
-
-  transition: $searchbar-ios-input-transition;
 }
 
 
@@ -87,8 +85,6 @@ $searchbar-ios-toolbar-input-background:  rgba(0, 0, 0, .08) !default;
 
   color: $searchbar-ios-input-text-color;
   background-color: $searchbar-ios-input-background-color;
-
-  transition: $searchbar-ios-input-transition;
 }
 
 
@@ -119,7 +115,6 @@ $searchbar-ios-toolbar-input-background:  rgba(0, 0, 0, .08) !default;
 
   flex-shrink: 0;
 
-  margin-right: -100%;
   margin-left: 0;
   padding: 0;
   padding-left: 8px;
@@ -127,20 +122,8 @@ $searchbar-ios-toolbar-input-background:  rgba(0, 0, 0, .08) !default;
   height: 30px;
 
   cursor: pointer;
-
-  opacity: 0;
-
-  transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);
-  transition: $searchbar-ios-cancel-transition;
-
-  pointer-events: none;
 }
 
-.searchbar-ios.searchbar-show-cancel .searchbar-ios-cancel {
-  display: block;
-}
-
-
 // Searchbar Left Aligned (iOS only)
 // -----------------------------------------
 
@@ -156,10 +139,8 @@ $searchbar-ios-toolbar-input-background:  rgba(0, 0, 0, .08) !default;
 // Searchbar Has Focus
 // -----------------------------------------
 
-.searchbar-ios.searchbar-has-focus .searchbar-ios-cancel {
-  opacity: 1;
-
-  pointer-events: auto;
+.searchbar-ios.searchbar-show-cancel.searchbar-has-focus .searchbar-ios-cancel {
+  display: block;
 }
 
 
@@ -225,3 +206,29 @@ $searchbar-ios-toolbar-input-background:  rgba(0, 0, 0, .08) !default;
   }
 
 }
+
+// Searchbar animation
+// -----------------------------------------
+
+.searchbar-ios.searchbar-animated .searchbar-search-icon,
+.searchbar-ios.searchbar-animated .searchbar-input {
+  transition: $searchbar-ios-input-transition;
+}
+
+.searchbar-animated.searchbar-has-focus .searchbar-ios-cancel {
+  opacity: 1;
+
+  pointer-events: auto;
+}
+
+.searchbar-animated .searchbar-ios-cancel {
+  display: block;
+
+  margin-right: -100%;
+
+  opacity: 0;
+  transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);
+  transition: $searchbar-ios-cancel-transition;
+
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
diff --git a/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.scss b/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.scss
index 9d68e30b5cc..0a67f402dde 100644
--- a/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.scss
+++ b/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.scss
@@ -48,3 +48,4 @@ ion-searchbar {
 .searchbar-has-value.searchbar-has-focus .searchbar-clear-icon {
   display: block;
 }
+
diff --git a/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts b/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts
index 3c77aa472d6..03377ba02b2 100644
--- a/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts
+++ b/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { NgControl }  from '@angular/forms';
 
 import { Config } from '../../config/config';
 import { Ion } from '../ion';
-import { isPresent } from '../../util/util';
+import { isPresent, isTrueProperty } from '../../util/util';
 import { Debouncer } from '../../util/debouncer';
 
 
@@ -39,16 +39,19 @@ import { Debouncer } from '../../util/debouncer';
     '</div>' +
     '<button ion-button #cancelButton [tabindex]="_isActive ? 1 : -1" clear (click)="cancelSearchbar($event)" (mousedown)="cancelSearchbar($event)" class="searchbar-ios-cancel" type="button">{{cancelButtonText}}</button>',
   host: {
+    '[class.searchbar-animated]': 'animated',
     '[class.searchbar-has-value]': '_value',
     '[class.searchbar-active]': '_isActive',
     '[class.searchbar-show-cancel]': 'showCancelButton',
-    '[class.searchbar-left-aligned]': 'shouldAlignLeft()'
+    '[class.searchbar-left-aligned]': '_shouldAlignLeft'
   },
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None
 })
 export class Searchbar extends Ion {
   _value: string|number = '';
   _shouldBlur: boolean = true;
+  _shouldAlignLeft: boolean = true;
+  _isCancelVisible: boolean = false;
   _isActive: boolean = false;
   _searchbarInput: ElementRef;
   _debouncer: Debouncer = new Debouncer(250);
@@ -115,6 +118,11 @@ export class Searchbar extends Ion {
    */
   @Input() type: string = 'search';
 
+  /**
+   * @input {string|boolean} Set the input's spellcheck property. Values: `true`, `false`. Default `false`.
+   */
+  @Input() animated: string | boolean = false;
+
   /**
    * @output {event} When the Searchbar input has changed including cleared.
    */
@@ -217,7 +225,7 @@ export class Searchbar extends Ion {
    * @private
    * After View Checked position the elements
    */
-  ngAfterViewChecked() {
+  ngAfterContentInit() {
     this.positionElements();
   }
 
@@ -227,26 +235,31 @@ export class Searchbar extends Ion {
    * based on the input value and if it is focused. (ios only)
    */
   positionElements() {
-    if (this._config.get('mode') !== 'ios') return;
+    let isAnimated = isTrueProperty(this.animated);
+    let prevAlignLeft = this._shouldAlignLeft;
+    let shouldAlignLeft = (!isAnimated || (this._value && this._value.toString().trim() !== '') || this._sbHasFocus === true);
+    this._shouldAlignLeft = shouldAlignLeft;
 
-    // Position the input placeholder & search icon
-    if (this._searchbarInput && this._searchbarIcon) {
-      this.positionInputPlaceholder(this._searchbarInput.nativeElement, this._searchbarIcon.nativeElement);
+    if (this._config.get('mode') !== 'ios') {
+      return;
     }
 
-    // Position the cancel button
-    if (this._cancelButton && this._cancelButton.nativeElement) {
-      this.positionCancelButton(this._cancelButton.nativeElement);
+    if (prevAlignLeft !== shouldAlignLeft) {
+      this.positionPlaceholder();
+    }
+    if (isAnimated) {
+      this.positionCancelButton();
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * Calculates the amount of padding/margin left for the elements
-   * in order to center them based on the placeholder width
-   */
-  positionInputPlaceholder(inputEle: HTMLElement, iconEle: HTMLElement) {
-    if (this.shouldAlignLeft()) {
+  positionPlaceholder() {
+    if (!this._searchbarInput || !this._searchbarIcon) {
+      return;
+    }
+    let inputEle = this._searchbarInput.nativeElement;
+    let iconEle = this._searchbarIcon.nativeElement;
+
+    if (this._shouldAlignLeft) {
       inputEle.removeAttribute('style');
       iconEle.removeAttribute('style');
     } else {
@@ -273,23 +286,26 @@ export class Searchbar extends Ion {
    * @private
    * Show the iOS Cancel button on focus, hide it offscreen otherwise
    */
-  positionCancelButton(cancelButtonEle: HTMLElement) {
-    if (cancelButtonEle.offsetWidth > 0) {
-      if (this._sbHasFocus) {
-        cancelButtonEle.style.marginRight = '0';
+  positionCancelButton() {
+    if (!this._cancelButton || !this._cancelButton.nativeElement) {
+      return;
+    }
+    let showShowCancel = this._sbHasFocus;
+    if (showShowCancel !== this._isCancelVisible) {
+      let cancelStyleEle = this._cancelButton.nativeElement;
+      let cancelStyle = cancelStyleEle.style;
+      this._isCancelVisible = showShowCancel;
+      if (showShowCancel) {
+        cancelStyle.marginRight = '0';
       } else {
-        cancelButtonEle.style.marginRight = -cancelButtonEle.offsetWidth + 'px';
+        let offset = cancelStyleEle.offsetWidth;
+        if (offset > 0) {
+          cancelStyle.marginRight = -offset + 'px';
+        }
       }
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * @private
-   * Align the input placeholder left on focus or if a value exists
-   */
-  shouldAlignLeft() {
-    return ( (this._value && this._value.toString().trim() !== '') || this._sbHasFocus === true );
-  }
 
   /**
    * @private
@@ -399,4 +415,8 @@ export class Searchbar extends Ion {
   registerOnTouched(fn: () => {}): void {
     this.onTouched = fn;
   }
+
+  focus() {
+    this.getNativeElement().focus();
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/components/searchbar/test/basic/main.html b/src/components/searchbar/test/basic/main.html
index 02309d58241..682b34e8aed 100644
--- a/src/components/searchbar/test/basic/main.html
+++ b/src/components/searchbar/test/basic/main.html
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
   <h5 padding-left> Search - Default </h5>
   <ion-searchbar [(ngModel)]="defaultSearch" showCancelButton debounce="500" (ionInput)="triggerInput($event)" (ionBlur)="inputBlurred($event)" (ionFocus)="inputFocused($event)" (ionCancel)="onCancelSearchbar($event)" (ionClear)="onClearSearchbar($event)"></ion-searchbar>
 
+  <h5 padding-left> Search - Animated </h5>
+  <ion-searchbar animated="true" showCancelButton debounce="500" (ionInput)="triggerInput($event)" (ionBlur)="inputBlurred($event)" (ionFocus)="inputFocused($event)" (ionCancel)="onCancelSearchbar($event)" (ionClear)="onClearSearchbar($event)"></ion-searchbar>
+
   <p padding-left>
     defaultSearch: <b>{{ defaultSearch }}</b>
   </p>
diff --git a/src/components/searchbar/test/nav/search.html b/src/components/searchbar/test/nav/search.html
index 8aa8be3a5bd..6daff2c3716 100644
--- a/src/components/searchbar/test/nav/search.html
+++ b/src/components/searchbar/test/nav/search.html
@@ -14,8 +14,9 @@
 
 <ion-content>
 
-  <ion-searchbar (ionInput)="getItems($event)"></ion-searchbar>
-
+  <form>
+    <ion-searchbar (ionInput)="getItems($event)"></ion-searchbar>
+  </form>
   <ion-list>
     <button ion-item *ngFor="let item of items" (click)="showDetail(item)" class="e2eSearchbarNavItem">
       {{ item }}