iOS 17 to Launch on September 18, Featuring StandBy Mode, NameDrop, Interactive Widgets, and More

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 4:55 PM

Apple today at its "Wonderlust" event announced that iOS 17 will be available to all users with compatible iPhone models starting on Monday, September 18.

General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple
‌iOS 17‌ adds a new StandBy option for the ‌iPhone‌, allowing it to serve as an information hub when it is in a horizontal position and connected to a charger. StandBy mode displays the time, Live Activities, incoming notifications, and tons of widgets.

StandBy iOS 17
Staying on the topic of widgets, widgets you use on the Lock Screen and Home Screen are interactive, so you can do things like control a smart light or check off a Reminder without opening an app. Autocorrect is smarter than before, and it's easier to correct mistakes with a quick tap.

AirDrop has a new NameDrop feature for quickly sharing contact information with a person nearby, and the Phone app has customizable Contact Posters that let you choose what people see when you call them. 

ios 17 namedrop
Live Voicemail shows the voicemail that someone is leaving right on your Lock Screen so you can pick up if it's important, and the Messages app has a refined look and a Check-In feature that's meant to help you get to your destination safely.

Live Voicemail iOS 17
FaceTime supports video messages so you can leave a video voicemail if someone misses a call, plus you can use it on the Apple TV. Safari has a locked private browsing window and a password sharing feature, and better tracking prevention. The Maps app now works offline, the Photos app can recognize your pets, and Visual Look Up works with food, symbols, videos, and more.

facetime video messages ios 17
There's a new mood tracking feature available in the Health app, and later this year, Apple also plans to add a journaling app.


‌iOS 17‌‌ is compatible with the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ XS and newer, meaning that support has been dropped for the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ 8, ‌‌iPhone‌‌ 8 Plus, and ‌‌iPhone‌‌ X. 


iOS 17 Compatibility

‌iOS 17‌ is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ XS and newer, meaning that support has been dropped for the ‌iPhone‌ 8, ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus, and ‌iPhone‌ X. For a full list, ‌iOS 17‌ supports the following ‌iPhone‌ models:

  • 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