iOS 17: What's new in Apple's latest update

Each year, Apple releases a major update for iOS. The current version, released last year, is iOS 16, and iOS 17 is expected to be released in September. The free update will bring several interface changes, bug fixes, and new features, like a new iPhone without any additional cost.

The release of iOS 17 will be announced and demonstrated at WWDC 2023 in June and subsequently made available to iPhones worldwide in the autumn of 2023, likely in mid-September. Several beta versions of iOS 17 will be released before then, starting with the first developer beta, which we predict will be released on the first day of WWDC 2023.

While Apple doesn't follow a strict system where iPhones stop receiving updates after a specific number of years, considering the history of previous releases, we believe that the iPhone XS and later will receive the iOS 17 update, while the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X may or may not receive this update. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will definitely not be compatible with iOS 17, as they already did not receive the iOS 16 update released in 2022.

iOS 17 is predicted to have "fewer significant changes" than usual, focusing on system stability and efficiency. Some improvements include changes to the Control Center, the App Store, and new features for the lock screen. There will also be changes to the camera, the Health app, and notifications, as well as significant improvements to Search and Spotlight.

Other improvements include support for custom folders in the App Library, song lyrics on the locked screen, improvements to the Apple Music interface, new lock screen customization options, and improvements to flashlight brightness.