Apple’s latest mobile operating system, iOS 17, was released on September 18, 2023. This major iOS update brings new features, improvements, and changes to the iPhone user experience. But is upgrading to iOS 17 worth it?
What Are New Features in iOS 17
iOS 17 introduces several major new features and capabilities:
- StandBy Mode – Displays glanceable information like widgets, photos, and more when iPhone is charging in landscape orientation. Provides an enhanced bedside clock experience.
- Contact Posters – Allows creating customized contact images with photos, emoji, and text that appear when calling or receiving calls from contacts. Makes calls more personal.
- Live Activities – Enables apps to show ongoing real-time activities like sports scores, ride-sharing car tracking, and more on the Lock Screen. Keeps users updated at a glance.
- Collaborative Playlists – Allows Apple Music subscribers to share and edit playlists together with friends. Makes music sharing more social.
- Safety Check – Helps people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset access they’ve granted to others. A new safety feature.
- Medications Widget – Reminds users to take medications by allowing them to track medications in the Health app. Important for health management.
How iOS 17 Improves Performance
In addition to major new features, iOS 17 also focuses on improving overall system performance, especially on older iPhone models:
- Faster launch times – Apps launch faster thanks to improved CPU and GPU utilization. Particularly noticeable on older iPhones like the iPhone XR and 11.
- Smoother animations – Interface animations like opening and closing apps are smoother due to the new Metal 3 graphics framework. Results in a more responsive feel.
- Improved battery life – New software optimizations extend battery life during common tasks like video streaming. Particularly beneficial for older iPhones.
- Faster share sheet – The share sheet opens faster thanks to optimization. Makes sharing photos, links, and more quicker.
So while the performance improvements may seem minor individually, together they result in a snappier and more responsive experience – even on 4+ year old iPhones.
What Users Are Saying About iOS 17
Based on user reviews and reactions so far, iOS 17 has received generally positive feedback, with a few complaints:
Pros:
- StandBy mode is useful and integrates widgets in a new way. The customizable clock faces make it feel like a smart display.
- Contact posters add personality to calls and FaceTime. Fun way to express yourself.
- Improved performance, especially on older iPhones like the XR and 11. Faster and more responsive.
- New safety features like crash detection and Safety Check provide important protections.
- Editable and collaborative playlists in Apple Music are convenient new additions.
Cons:
- Some bugs and issues reported, like laggy keyboards, Wi-Fi connectivity problems, etc.
- Certain features like Live Activities still have limited app support.
- Disappointing that the new Journal app didn’t ship with iOS 17.
- Not as many flashy new features compared to iOS 16. More subtle improvements.
So while iOS 17 has received generally positive reviews, the upgrade is not without some complaints. But Apple is working quickly to address bugs and boost app support for key features.
The Bottom Line – Is Upgrading to iOS 17 Worth It?
Overall, iOS 17 is a worthwhile upgrade for most iPhone users. The new features like StandBy mode and Contact Posters, while not revolutionary, offer fun new capabilities. More importantly, the numerous performance improvements make iPhones feel faster and more responsive. This is especially true for older iPhones like the iPhone XR and 11.
There are some bugs and app compatibility issues, as expected with any major .0 software release. But Apple is addressing problems quickly. With iOS 17, Apple focused more on refining the user experience rather than major redesigns. For most users, upgrading to iOS 17 is recommended to get all the latest features, improvements, and security updates. However, waiting a few weeks allows Apple to smooth out any major issues first.
Thus, iOS 17 delivers incremental but meaningful improvements to the iPhone experience. While not a radical change, the faster performance and new capabilities make iOS 17 a worthwhile upgrade for most users. Pay attention to early user feedback, but overall iOS 17 represents another solid refinement of the iPhone.