The iOS 17 update was unveiled by Apple at WWDC 2023. The iOS 17 update includes several deserving enhancements and additions, such as NameDrop, StandBy, and Contacts Poster. The update is jam-packed with fantastic features to improve the user experience, from entertaining new additions to helpful tools. If you want to learn more about the new features in iOS 17, we have you covered. After using iOS 17 for a while, you should check out our list of the best new features. Let us get right to the list!
Top iOS 17 Features
- Contact Posters
The contact posters are the first feature we are going to look at. Emojis or images can be added to your contact card to create a contact poster that will help you communicate better with particular people. When you call the recipient, your personalized contact posters will be shown to them in full-screen mode on their iPhone. Like how the iOS 16 Lock Screen could be customized, the contact posters in this iOS 17 feature can be with various colors, fonts, and other components. Third-party VoIP applications will also be compatible with the Contacts Poster feature.
- NameDrop
I can not help but think that NameDrop is iOS 17’s best feature and my favorite. It is a brand-new AirDrop feature in iOS 17 that offers a speedy method for exchanging contact information with strangers you meet at conferences or events.
Apple Watch, iPhone, and iOS 17’s NameDrop feature are all compatible with each other. Two users can also move their iPhones closer to one another in order to share content or launch SharePlay so they can watch a movie or play a game together. Having said that, if you were AirDropping someone else and moved out of range, iOS 17 will use the internet to complete the transfer.
- StandBy Mode
iOS 17 came with a new charging mode that turns your iPhone into a smart display. Full-screen mode shows notifications, incoming calls, the time and date, and the date. It increases the functionality of your iPhones while they are charging and not in use.
In addition to other settings, iOS 17 allows you to select which photos, widgets, Live Activities, Smart Stack, and other items appear in the StandBIt suggests that there are numerous additional things you can do with your iPhone when it is far away, such as check match results and get weather updates. In light of this, Standby is a great mode for your desk, kitchen counter, or nightstand. As a result, Standby makes a fantastic mode for your desk, kitchen counter, or nightstand.
- Revamped Messages App
Numerous enhancements have been made to the Messages app with iOS 17. Thanks to the expanded menu and enhanced user interface of the software, iMessage apps can now be viewed with just one tap. You can rearrange or remove the iMessage apps as needed for better organization. The next option, Search Filters, speeds up and simplifies the process of finding anything originating from a contact. You can find the information you need by typing the contact’s name and your search term into the Messages app.
The Catch Up feature of iMessage is another new addition. It displays the most recent unread messages in a particular conversation. A new arrow pointing to the most recent unread message will appear when you open an unread conversation.
- FaceTime Audio and Video Messages
When you called someone on FaceTime in the past, the only thing they could see was a notification. It is intriguing that iOS 17 includes a brand-new feature. If no one picks up your FaceTime call, you can record and send a unique audio or video message instead. It will be very helpful if you do not want to miss a priceless moment.
Additionally, you can add reactions like hearts, balloons, fireworks, and more to your FaceTime calls to make them more expressive. Apple 4K TV compatibility is one of the significant FaceTime updates. Yes, iOS 17 lets you use FaceTime on the largest screen in your house. As a result, you can now initiate FaceTime calls from Apple TV 4K or place calls on your iPhone before transferring them to your big screen.
- Faster Siri Experience
It goes without saying that Siri will function more quickly and easily in iOS 17. In iOS 17, the “Hey” is taken out of “Hey Siri,” giving Apple’s virtual assistant a much-needed boost. You no longer need to say “Hey Siri” to activate Siri—just say “Siri.” As a result, iOS 17 will activate Siri much faster than previous iOS versions. Additionally, Siri now supports back-to-back commands on iOS 17.
- Ping your Apple Watch with iPhone
Another new feature of iOS 17 is the ability to ping an Apple Watch directly from an iPhone without using the Find My app. That which you have just heard is accurate. Until recently, you could only ping your Apple Watch using the Find My app on your iPhone. The most recent iOS version allows your Apple Watch to emit an audible tone thanks to the “Ping My Watch” option that has been added to the Control Center on the iPhone. It is simpler for you to quickly locate your watch if it is lost close by.
- Live Stickers
If you regularly use iMessage, you will adore this new iOS 17 feature. The current stickers feature in the Messages app has been completely updated bYou can add any emoji or photo cutout as a sticker to your iMessage messages to spice them up. This is not all. Live Photos can be made into stickers and customized with fun effects at your discretion. So it is time to stop using standard stickers and start using your iPhone to make customized live stickers.
- Live VoiceMail
In iOS 17, a brand-new function called Live Voicemail is available that shows a real-time transcription of the voicemail message. This new iOS 17 feature will be particularly useful if you are in a crucial meeting. You can choose whether or not to answer the call based on what was left on the voicemail. The calls will be flagged as spam by your network provider, which will prevent them from appearing in Live Voicemail. Rather, they will be automatically declined.
- Shared AirTags
Regardless of the reasons for the delay, shared AirTags are now a reality. With iOS 17, up to 5 users can view the location of AirTags. Since your family can find your house keys using the Find My app if they have an AirTag, you can let them know where it is if you have one. Naturally, you have the option to stop granting access at any time.
iOS 17 Supported Devices
All iPhone XS and more recent models are compatible with the most recent iOS 17. Understanding that Apple no longer supports the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X is crucial. The upcoming iPhone 15 models will ship with iOS 17 already set up. This is a list of every iPhone that is compatible with iOS 17:
- iPhone 15 series
- iPhone 14 series
- iPhone 13 series
- iPhone 12 series
- iPhone 11 series
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone SE (2020 & 2022)
Which feature of iOS 17 did you like best? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.