Apple on Monday, June 15 at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) shocked the world as it unveils Apple iOS 17 supported devices, its highly anticipated upcoming operating system. With an impressive showcase of exciting features and enhancements, the news delivered a mixed bag of emotions for certain iPhone owners who were left feeling disappointed.
Ordinarily, the release of new software brings a wave of excitement and anticipation. However, this time around, it was a whole different show as some older devices face the harsh reality of being left behind in the ever-evolving world of technology.
Checkout: Apple iOS 17 overview here
As the curtains draw to a close on iOS 16, all eyes are now focused on the compatibility of older iPhones with the much-anticipated iOS 17.
iOS 17 features
The newest version of iOS, Apple iOS 17 has new enhancement ranging from Phone, Messages and FaceTime. It also has some other improvement in the area of Apps.
There are new features for Phone, FaceTime, and Messages, along with small improvements for other apps and an all new app that’s coming later this year for journaling.
- Contact posters to allow users customize their appearance on the screens of ther iPones during calls
- Standby lock screen to provide useful information while the phone is charging and placed on it’s side
- Journaling and mode tracking
- Namedrop for convenient contact transfer details between iPhone simply by bringing them close together
- An improved shared AirTags and AirPods
- Live voicemail to enable immediate transcribing of voicemails into text right on your lock screen in real time.
- Siri activation that needs no “Hey”
This is an unfortunately disheartening for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus owners as this set of iPhones could make the list.
To provide clarity and peace of mind, Apple has released the complete list of iPhones that will be eligible for the iOS 17 update when it becomes available this fall.
Apple iOS 17 supported devices
- Apple iPhone 14 series (iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max)
- iPhone 13 series (13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max)
- iPhone 12 series (iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max)
- 11 series (iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max)
- XS series (XS and XS Max)
- XR
- Apple iPhone SE (2nd generation or later).
Models left behind
Set to launch this fall, iOS 17 will unfortunately leave three models behind, as they no longer meet the system requirements. The affected devices include the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the groundbreaking iPhone X, which introduced the revolutionary Face ID and marked the beginning of full-screen Apple phones.
These iPhones will continue to function as usual and receive security updates but will not be able to enjoy the exciting enhancements that iOS 17 brings to the table.
When is iOS 17 coming out?
Apple iOS 17 release date is not certain, but it rumored it will be available for download in second or third week of September 2023
Apple iOS 17 updates
1. Lock screen updates
The major improvement made to iOS 16 lock screen to give iOS 17 that useful lock screen as follows:
- Standby
- Interactive widgets
2. Airdrop updates
The AirDrop comes with a new feature responsible allowing a user to hold his or her iPhones close to another person’s Apple watch or iPhone to exchange contact information.
3. Keyboard changes
With iOS 17, the autocorrect is improved and predictions are far better than before. Users wont need to reach up and tap to insert a word, he or she will just have to tap on the space bar to do that. Now autocorrected words are underline so, what you previously typed can be revisited with a quick tap.
4. Airpods updates
Apple iOS 17 comes with an enhanced AirPods whose features will work on all devices on iOS 17. Some of the notable AirPods update include:
Adaptive Audio
This will help tailor noise control from the environment and all interactions. That is this option will blend the transparency and active noise cancellation modes to one thing.
These features will be responsible for taking out unwanted sounds from your environment, leaving you with the important conversations. It also has a personalized volume to enable you adjust the sound of whatever you are playing to your desired preference while learning about your preferred volume. It also comes with a conversation awareness, which will always lower the media volume, reduce background noise whenever someone is speaking. Only the newest version of AirPods Pro will function with this.
Other AirPods features include mute and unmute, automatic device switching and dark mode.
Apps updates
Just like every iOS update, iOS 17 has new features from Phone, Messages, Notes, Photos, reminders App Store app, Camera, Wallet app, Music, Find My, Mail, Maps, FreeForm, Journal, Padcasts app, Facetime and Safari and Password.
Update to Airplay
Which iPhone suits your needs best?
Aside from compatibility, iOS 17 promises an array of exciting updates. Notable features include downloadable maps for offline use, a boon for travelers looking to avoid hefty roaming charges, and significant enhancements to the Health app, recognizing the importance of mental health alongside physical well-being.
Furthermore, a simple “Siri” command will now be sufficient to grab the attention of Apple’s virtual personal assistant, eliminating the need for the familiar “Hey Siri” phrase.
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In light of iPhone enthusiasts eagerly launch of iOS 17, the revelation of the compatibility list has brought a mix of anticipation and disappointment.
While some devices will embrace the future of Apple’s software, others must bid farewell to the latest features and innovations.
Is it fair to limit the availability of new features to newer iPhone models? Drop a comment below and share your perspective. 🗣️💬
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