This Monday, September 18th, iPhone users will finally get their hands on iOS 17 after over three months of beta testing. Announced by Apple in June, the highly anticipated software update packs in a couple of new and exciting features.
The iOS 17 update will roll out around 10AM PT/8PM EAT for iPhone XS models and newer. Once available, head to Settings > General > Software Update to install.
Below we highlight the 10 most exciting features iPhone users can expect in iOS 17, with more to come later this year. From a contact posters to interactive widgets, Apple is bringing meaningful improvements across the entire iPhone experience.
1. StandBy: Glanceable Information at Your Fingertips
StandBy is a game-changer, offering a full-screen view of glanceable information when your iPhone is charging on its side. Designed for your nightstand, kitchen counter, or desk, StandBy can display a clock, calendar, favorite photos, weather forecasts, music controls, widgets, and more. It’s not just static; StandBy supports Live Activities, Siri, incoming calls, and larger notifications. Plus, it plays nice with the iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on display.
2. Contact Posters: Personalize Your Calls
iOS 17 introduces Contact Posters, allowing you to customize your incoming phone call screen when calling someone. You can include a photo or Memoji, and even tweak the font and background colors. This feature works seamlessly with the built-in Phone app and third-party calling apps, ensuring your calls have a personal touch.
Also Read: iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max now official
3. NameDrop: Sharing Made Easy
NameDrop simplifies contact sharing. By bringing two iPhones close together, users can select specific phone numbers or email addresses they want to share. You can also exchange your Contact Posters, adding an extra layer of personalization to your contacts.
4. Live Voicemail: Real-Time Transcription
Live Voicemail offers real-time transcription as callers leave voicemails. If a voicemail seems important, you can pick up the call while the message is being recorded. Say goodbye to spam voicemails—iOS 17 will instantly decline calls identified as spam by carriers.
5. Swipe to Reply in iMessage: Effortless Messaging
In the Messages app, you can now swipe right on any message to send an inline reply, making messaging more intuitive and efficient.
Also Read: Apple Watch Ultra 2 goes official
6. Interactive Widgets: Enhanced Functionality
iOS 17 brings interactive widgets to your Home Screen, Lock Screen, and the StandBy view. These widgets offer a range of capabilities, from marking reminders as completed to controlling accessories in the Home app. Expect more possibilities as third-party apps update to support these widgets.
7. Improved Autocorrect: Smarter Typing
Say hello to a smarter autocorrect! iOS 17 boasts a state-of-the-art language model for word prediction, making autocorrection more accurate than ever. It provides inline predictive text recommendations as you type, allowing you to effortlessly insert words or complete sentences with a simple tap of the space bar. Autocorrection also comes with an updated design that briefly underlines corrected words for easy reference.
8. Apple Maps Offline: Navigate Offline
Apple Maps catches up to Google Maps with offline map downloads. You can now download specific map areas for offline use, complete with turn-by-turn navigation, estimated time of arrival, and the ability to find places, all without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection.
9. Stickers Drawer: One-Stop Sticker Shop
Say goodbye to sticker clutter! iOS 17 introduces a stickers drawer that houses all your stickers, including Live Stickers, emojis, Memojis, and iMessage sticker packs. Live Stickers can be created by touching and holding an object in a photo, unleashing your creativity.
10. “Hey Siri” Shortened to Siri in iOS 17
Apple simplifies voice commands with a minor yet impactful change. Instead of saying “Hey Siri,” you can now activate Siri by simply saying “Siri.” This streamlined approach allows you to issue multiple commands in succession without repeating “Siri.”
