April 18 update: We have adjusted the paragraphs on sideloading and features. Also, the paragraph regarding the developer beta has been removed. The coupling with the Apple ID to the beta profile was already integrated with iOS 16.4.
In the next few months Apple will announce the next major update for iOS: iOS 17. We have summarized all known information for you in this article and will update it if there is new information, so check back regularly.
iOS 17 Release: When is the big iPhone update coming?
The official announcement is expected in June at WWDC 2023 (Worldwide Developer Conference) and the release later in September along with the iPhone 15 range.
Which iPhones will get iOS 17?
There is no concrete information on this from the official side, but Apple is known for providing its devices with updates for a particularly long time. Based on how long previous iPhones have been supported (6 years), the following should get the update to iOS 17:
- All iPhone 15 models (with iOS 17 preinstalled)
- iPhone 14 / 14 Plus / 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max
- iPhone SE 3
- iPhone 13 / 13 Mini / 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 / 12 Mini / 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max
- iPhone SE 2
- iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS / XS Max
The iPhone 8 series as well as the iPhone X were released in 2017 and will soon be six years old.
There is still a glimmer of hope that Apple will be generous, given that the iPhone 6S and the first iPhone SE have been supported for seven years – of course, these could just have been exceptions.
iOS 17 should be similar in size to iOS 16
Mark Gurman Bloomberg, which has proven to be a very reliable source in the past, assumed in January that there would be fewer new features for iOS this year.
The future belongs to the mixed reality headset, it was said. Later, Gurman did a U-turn: Apple is planning the “most requested features” for the iPhone. What that is, is currently still in the stars.
There are rumors that the Cupertino-based manufacturer is taking control center to heart. Furthermore, the Apple expert assumes a comprehensive update with “nice to have” features that will be implemented in iOS 17.
Support for the new Mixed Reality Headset
(Image: vrx.vr-expert)
The autonomous headset: Of course, iOS needs to get an update to support the new headset. According to initial information, the headset should work autonomously, i.e. even without an iPhone. It will also have its own app store. However, it will certainly be able to interact with Apple’s smartphones somehow.
Next-gen CarPlay in iOS 17
(Image: Apple)
Last year, Apple announced that it would integrate CarPlay even more deeply into vehicles, showing it on all screens in the car (like the dashboard).
In addition, more car functions should be controllable via iOS, such as temperature or radio. The first cars with next-gen CarPlay support are expected by the end of the year. So we can assume that iOS 17 will deliver the compatibility for it.
Sideloading and Third-Party App Stores
This isn’t really a feature that Apple will advertise. Why? Because Apple is required by European law to allow alternative app stores and sideloading from 2024. What is meant by this is: downloading apps from other sources.
Support is said to come with iOS 17, as the latest rumors suggest:
Finally third-party apps on the iPhone? The EU and iOS 17 make it possible
The iPhone users are quite divided under the (GameStar) comments, should this change actually come for the Apple smartphone. Many long to break out of the cage, while others express concerns about safety and stability.
Third-party browsers without WebKit
Currently, all browsers in iOS have to use Apple’s own WebKit, making them more or less Safari clones. Here, too, European laws put a spanner in the works for the Californians and will no longer allow this in the future – at least in Europe.
So it remains to be seen whether Apple will make a global adjustment to their policies or only the European version of iOS 17 will allow alternative browsers without Webkit.
SiriGPT for iOS 17?
Many see Apple’s voice assistants in trouble since ChatGPT was released. Therefore, there is already a lot of speculation on the net that Apple wants to secretly bring Siri to the level of current chatbot AIs.
So far there is no concrete information, but it is definitely a conceivable step that Apple could take.
What features do you want for iOS 17? And what do you think of the rumor that Apple wants to bring Siri to the level of ChatGPT? And anyway: Do you get all wuschig at the mere thought of Apple? Tell us in the comments!
