At WWDC23, Apple unveiled an exciting software upgrade for our iPhones. Once again, Apple has demonstrated its commitment to innovation by pushing the boundaries with iOS 17. True to form, Apple pleasantly surprised us by introducing a multitude of new features and enhancements that significantly enhance the power of our iOS devices.
From improved communication capabilities to seamless multitasking and ingenious user experiences, we have compiled a list of the 12 Best iOS 17 Features You Should Know that will take your iOS device to new heights.
Which devices are compatible with the latest iOS 17?
With the exception of the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X, the following list showcases the supported devices in iOS 17:
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
#1. Personalize Calling with iOS 17’s “Contact Posters”
In iOS 17, a new feature allows you to personalize your calling experience like never before. Apple introduced Contact Posters – customizable visuals that people will see when you call them. With this feature, you have the freedom to select a photo or Memoji, choose your preferred font, customize the font color, and more. The best part? Contact Posters are not only available for the Phone app but also extend to third-party applications.
#2. “Check-In” Feature
Apple Messages app has received notable enhancements to make your messaging experience even more convenient. One of the significant features of iOS 17 is the intro of “Check In.” This feature authorizes you to let your friends or family know when you have safely reached your location, such as your residence. By enabling Check-In, the app will automatically notify the designated person, equipping them with the assurance that you have reached your intended location without any issues.
Also Read- 18 Tips To Keep Your iOS Device Battery Healthy
#3. Read Your Voicemails
The Live Voicemail feature in iOS 17 revolutionizes the way you interact with voicemail messages. Now anytime you get a call that you select to send to voicemail, this feature takes it a step ahead by equipping you with a live transcript of the voicemail message in real time. Instead of attending the standard audio recording of the voicemail, you can presently read a text version of the message as it is being transcribed. This authorizes you to quickly get a sense of the content without having to listen to the entire recording.
#4. Search Specific Messages
Now you have the “Search filters” feature in iOS 17 aims to streamline your search process within messaging apps by offering advanced filtering options. When searching for a particular text or conversation, you can presently utilize search filters to quickly narrow down the results and locate what you’re looking for faster.
#5. Express Yourself with “Live Stickers”
Now you can personalize your messaging experience by using your own photos to create dynamic stickers called Live Stickers. With this feature, you can access your stickers drawer directly from the emoji keyboard, allowing you to use these customized stickers anywhere you can access emoji, including various apps from the App Store.
#6. Facetime Features
In iOS 17, The “Leave a message” feature enhances the FaceTime experience by permitting you to leave video or audio messages when someone misses your FaceTime call. If your call proceeds unanswered, you have the choice to record a personalized video message or leave an audio message for the recipient. This feature enables you to convey your thoughts and share important information even when the other person is unavailable for a live call.
Another exciting addition to FaceTime in iOS 17 is the ability to react with your hands using fun 3D augmented reality effects. During a FaceTime call, you can decide to add a reaction that fills the camera frame with entertaining effects such as hearts, confetti, fireworks, and additionally more.
#7. Capture Your Daily Reflections in “Journal App”
Another convenient addition to iOS 17 is the Journal app which allows you to effortlessly capture your thoughts and experiences throughout the day. With this nifty service, you can readily jot down your reflections and add accompanying pictures to create a comprehensive record of your daily activities.
#8. Keyboard Feature- Enhanced Autocorrect and Predictive Typing
Another amazing feature of iOS 17 is now you can experience an even higher level of accuracy with autocorrect in iOS 17. As you type, autocorrect provides improved support, assuring that your text is rectified more effectively. To give you better visibility, autocorrected words are now temporarily underlined, creating it clear which words have been modified. With just a simple tap, you can easily revert back to the original word if needed. In addition to that, iOS 17 took predictive typing to the next level. With predictions inline as you type, you’ll receive dynamic suggestions for your next word or phrase in real time.
#9. The “StandBy” Feature
The StandBy feature in iOS 17 introduces an immersive full-screen experience when you turn your iPhone on its side while charging. This orientation unlocks a range of useful functionalities, enhancing the utility of your device. With StandBy, you can effortlessly showcase your favorite photos and widgets, turning your iPhone into a captivating visual centerpiece. But that’s not all. StandBy enriches your prevalent iPhone experience by offering a larger and more visible view for incoming calls, Siri activation, and notifications.
#10. Contact Sharing with “NameDrop”
The AirDrop feature in iOS 17 introduces a convenient functionality called NameDrop, which allows you to seamlessly exchange contact information with others. By holding your iPhone near someone else’s iPhone or Apple Watch, you can utilize NameDrop to initiate the sharing process. When using NameDrop, both parties have the ability to select the specific phone numbers or email addresses they want to share. This level of customization ensures that you only share the relevant contact information that you and the other person wish to exchange. Along with sharing the contact details, you can also include your Contact Poster—a personalized visual representation that can be associated with your contact information.
#11. Improve iPhone’s Functionality with “Interactive Widgets”
The “Interactive Widgets” feature in iOS 17 introduces a convenient way to interact with various actions or controls directly from widgets on your device’s home screen or in the Today View. This feature authorizes you to take action with just a tap, without requiring you to open distinctive apps or navigate via menus. Besides that, with Interactive Widgets, you can execute tasks such as playing music, controlling smart home devices to turn off the lights, and more, all instantly from the widget interface.
#12. Enhance Your Exploration with “Visual Look Up”
The “Visual Look Up” feature in iOS 17 enhances your capability to gather information and discover more from photos and videos utilizing visual recognition technology. This feature authorizes you to explore further details and acquire relevant information about subjects portrayed in your media content.
Furthermore, when you lift a subject from a photo, such as selecting a specific object or item, Visual Look Up facilitates you to access information about that subject directly from the callout menu. This allows you to gather details, facts, or related content about the lifted subject without leaving the photo-viewing interface.
In addition, Visual Look Up extends its capabilities to videos. You can pause a video on any frame and tap the info icon to activate the feature and obtain information about the subject present in that specific frame.
Frequently Asked Questions
What phone do you need for iOS 17?
iPhone models from iPhone 14 to iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) are compatible with iOS 17. Also, if you want to know all the devices compatible with iOS 17 and the 12 Best iOS 17 Features, you can check out our guide.
Is iOS 16 not for iPhone 7?
If you have an iPhone older than the iPhone 8, then unfortunately, Apple no longer provides support for models such as the iPhone 7 and older. Consequently, you won’t be able to update your iPhone’s software to iOS 16.
Will iPhone 8 get iOS 17?
With the release of iOS 17, Apple has made the decision to discontinue software support for certain devices, including the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. So the answer is No, iPhone 8 will not get iOS 17.
