Apple iOS 17 New Features, Supported iPhone Models, and Release Date
Apple has once again raised the bar with its latest operating system, iOS
17, set to be released on September 19, 2023 (September 20 here in the Philippines).
Packed with a slew of exciting features and improvements, iOS 17 promises to
take your iPhone experience to the next level. In this article, we'll delve
into the key features of iOS 17 and the iPhone models that will receive this
highly anticipated update.
Personalize Your Phone Calls
With iOS 17, Apple is putting the power of personalization in your hands.
Now, you can customize what people see when you call. This feature adds a
touch of uniqueness to your phone calls, allowing you to express yourself
like never before.
All Your iMessage Apps in One Place
iMessage enthusiasts will rejoice with iOS 17's revamped Messages app. It
brings all your iMessage apps into one convenient place. A simple tap on the
new plus button reveals your most frequently used message elements, such as
photos, audio messages, and your location. Additionally, you can now swipe
up to access the full array of iMessage apps.
Safety and Convenience with "Check In"
iOS 17 introduces "Check In," a feature designed to enhance your safety. It
automatically notifies a friend or family member when you arrive at a
designated location, like your home, providing peace of mind to both
parties.
Streamlined Message Navigation
Message management becomes a breeze with the new catch-up arrow, allowing
you to jump to the first unread message in a conversation. Plus, you can
swipe right on any message to send a quick reply, making your messaging
experience more fluid and efficient.
Revolutionary Stickers
Stickers are given a major upgrade in iOS 17. They're now stored in a
convenient drawer, accessible from your emoji keyboard, so you can use them
anywhere emoji are supported. Additionally, you can create your own Live
Stickers using your photos and apply effects like Shiny, Puffy, Comic, and
Outline to stylize them.
FaceTime Gets Fun and Functional
FaceTime enthusiasts will love the new features in iOS 17. You can now leave
a video or audio message when someone misses your FaceTime call, ensuring
you can always convey your message. The addition of 3D augmented reality
effects like hearts, confetti, and fireworks adds a playful dimension to
your FaceTime calls. Furthermore, you can use your iPhone as a camera for
FaceTime on Apple TV, taking your video calls to the big screen.
Enhanced StandBy Experience
When your iPhone is charging, you can now turn it on its side for a
full-screen experience, making it even more useful while it's set down. Live
Activities in full screen lets you stay updated on real-time information,
such as game scores or food delivery progress, with ease. Interactive
Widgets allow you to take actions directly from widgets, like playing music
or controlling smart devices.
AirDrop Innovations
Sharing content with others is simpler than ever with iOS 17. NameDrop lets
you quickly swap contact information with nearby iPhone or Apple Watch
users. You can also initiate SharePlay by holding two iPhone devices close
together for instant content sharing. Additionally, AirDrop transfers now
continue over the internet, even if you step away.
Journaling App (Coming Soon)
iOS 17 introduces a new app called Journal, which provides an innovative way
to capture and preserve life's moments. Using on-device machine learning, it
offers personalized journaling suggestions based on your photos, music,
workouts, and more.
Improved Keyboard and Autocorrect
iOS 17 enhances the keyboard experience by offering even more accurate
autocorrect suggestions. Autocorrected words are temporarily underlined,
allowing you to revert to the original word with a simple tap. Predictions
now appear inline as you type, making typing more efficient.
Safari and Passwords
Safari in iOS 17 introduces the ability to create profiles, allowing you to
keep your browsing separate for different purposes. It also delivers faster
and more relevant search results and enhances private browsing. You can now
autofill verification codes received in Mail and share passwords and
passkeys with trusted contacts.
Collaborative Music Playlists (Coming Soon)
Music lovers will appreciate the upcoming ability to collaborate on
playlists, where friends can add, reorder, and remove songs. Emoji reactions
add a fun element to song choices in Now Playing.
AirPlay Expansions
AirPlay becomes smarter with on-device intelligence learning your
preferences over time. Plus, AirPlay will soon be available in supporting
hotel rooms, allowing you to securely share content from your iPhone to the
TV.
AirPods Evolution
AirPods Pro (2nd generation) users will enjoy Adaptive Audio, which
dynamically blends Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation to tailor the
noise control experience as you move between environments. Additional
updates improve muting, device switching, and reliability.
Maps Get Offline
You can now download maps for offline use, making navigation more reliable
even without an internet connection.
Spotlight Enhancements
Spotlight now offers App Shortcuts in Top Hit, making it easier to access
specific app actions quickly. Visual Look Up enhances the ability to
discover information from photos and videos.
Health App Advances
iOS 17 brings new mental health and vision health features to the Health
app, providing valuable insights for users.
Privacy and Security Improvements
Communication Safety now extends its protection to sensitive videos and
photos and covers content sent and received through various apps. Users can
also choose to blur sensitive content before viewing it. Enhanced
permissions provide more control over data sharing, and Lockdown Mode
enhances security.
And Much More
iOS 17 also includes numerous other improvements, including accessibility
enhancements, new Memoji stickers, enhanced Reminders and Notes apps,
improved PDF handling, detailed fitness activity history, and much more.
Compatible iPhone Models
iOS 17's wide compatibility ensures that a broad spectrum of iPhone users
can enjoy its exciting features and improvements. Whether you're sporting
the latest flagship models or holding onto your trusty older device, iOS
17 has you covered. This commitment to inclusivity is a testament to
Apple's dedication to delivering a seamless and consistent user experience
across its diverse range of iPhones.
For those who have embraced the cutting-edge technology of the Apple
iPhone 15 series, iOS 17 continues to enhance your device's capabilities.
Whether you own the sleek iPhone 15, the larger-than-life iPhone 15 Plus,
the powerhouse iPhone 15 Pro, or the feature-packed iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS
17 will elevate your smartphone experience to new heights. These devices
represent the pinnacle of Apple's design and engineering prowess, and iOS
17 ensures that they remain at the forefront of innovation.
However, Apple's commitment to its users extends beyond the latest
models.
iOS 17's compatibility with devices as old as the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR,
and even the second-generation iPhone SE demonstrates the company's
dedication to supporting a wide user base.
Basically, if own an iPhone that was released after Apple iPhone SE 2nd
Gen, you will get iOS 17.
To be specific, here are all the Apple iPhone models that support iOS 17:
iPhone SE 2nd Generation or later
iPhone XR
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XS
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15
This inclusivity ensures that users with older iPhones can still enjoy the
benefits of a modern and feature-rich operating system, enhancing the
longevity and value of their devices. Whether you're an early adopter or
have been with Apple for years, iOS 17 is designed to cater to your needs
and preferences, regardless of your device's age.
