iOS 17, the iPhone’s upcoming software update, has big additions, especially for communication apps such as Messages and FaceTime. I’m most excited about transcription for audio notes and a simplified way to AirDrop content just by bringing two phones close together. Other intriguing new capabilities include a journaling app and—to the joy of nearly everyone online—the ability to set multiple timers.
Unfortunately, older devices, including the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X, won’t get the update. For the models that do support iOS 17, here’s what stood out from the keynote—and what’s still missing.
iMessage
Tell loved ones you’re safe: Check In is a new feature that tells a designated iMessage contact when you arrive at your destination. If you stop moving and don’t respond while on your way, it can share information such as your route, battery level and cell-service status.
Read audio messages: I’m a big fan of voice notes. They’re easier to send than typing out a text. Listening to a minutes-long audio message can be a pain for recipients, though. In iOS 17, those recordings are now transcribed, such as visual voice mail, so you can read a message if you don’t care to listen.
Make and send stickers: When words or the designated “tapback” reactions (heart, “HAHA,” etc.) won’t suffice, you can send a more expressive sticker in Messages. You can already use your Memoji as a sticker. In iOS 17, you can make your own from your photos and use all available emojis as stickers.
Sort messages old and new: Too many incoming texts to sort through? A catch-up arrow will take you to the last message you read in a conversation. You can also quickly reply to any message by swiping on it. And if you need to find an old message, you can add filters to narrow your search. For example, you can search in conversations with a specific person.
FaceTime and Phone Calls
Screen calls: Can’t answer the phone or don’t recognize the number? When a caller leaves a voice mail, you will see a live transcript of the message on your home screen as the person is leaving it. You’ll see an option to accept the call, so you can decide if you want to pick up.
Leave a message: If someone isn’t joining your FaceTime, you can leave a video or audio recording.
FaceTime on the big screen: You can video-call contacts from your Apple TV by using your iPhone as a webcam. Other videoconferencing apps, such as Zoom and WebEx, are coming to Apple TV, too.
Personalize what shows up when you call: You can now design a full-screen poster that appears on your call recipient’s iPhone screen when you are ringing them by phone. They’re called Contact Posters, and only you can customize what recipients see: your photo or Memoji and your name in the font and color of your choice.
Productivity
Set multiple timers: You will be able to set more than one timer on an iPhone or iPad. I repeat: More! Than! One! Timer!
Interact with widgets: Widgets are convenient because they display useful, bite-size pieces of information right on your home screen. Instead of opening the weather app, I can just glance at the widget for the latest outside temperature. On the iPad and iPhone, you’ll be able to do more directly from the widget, such as marking off a checklist item or controlling lights.
Fixing autocorrect: We have a few gripes with the iPhone’s smart-typing software. Apple said autocorrect in iOS 17 will be able to fix more types of grammatical errors and predict words as you type.
Turn your iPhone into a smart display: Rotatethe phone on its side to activate a new full-screen StandBy mode, which can show info such as a big clock, the latest game scores or your favorite photos. If you have an iPhone 14 Pro, you can always view this screen. If not, you can tap to see StandBy.
Sharing
Communal Find My items: Attach an AirTag or third-party Find My accessory to a communal item such as house keys or a family bike, and share its location with up to five other people. You can also now use your iPhone to find your second-generation Siri Remote for Apple TV.
Bringing phones close to share: AirDrop is a convenient way to wirelessly share media with other Apple users…when it works. Fiddling with settings can make AirDrop a pain. In iOS 17, you can bring two phones (and later this year, a phone and an Apple Watch) close together to share contact information. You can also use that gesture for sharing photos and videos or initiate a SharePlay shared video-watching session. It sounds great, but my big question is: Will it simplify AirDrop?
What I’m looking forward to testing
Automatic noise-cancellation for AirPods Pro: The second-generation Pros introduced a new adaptive capability that automatically reduces loud sounds in your surrounding environment. iOS 17 brings more software advancements to the earbuds, including a conversation mode that lowers media volume and turns down background noise when it detects you’re speaking to someone.
Journaling on my phone: A new app called Journal will come later this year. The app will suggest photos, workouts and other things to add to entries. I don’t love the idea of spending even more time on my phone, but could the smart prompts convince me to ditch my paper diary?
Track your mental health: In the Health app on the iPhone or Apple Watch, you can now log your state of mind and see how it correlates with other health data, such as sleep and exercise.
What’s missing?
Many items on my long wish list for iOS 17 remain pipe dreams. There’s still no calculator app for the iPad, and we didn’t hear any announcements around Apple ID account security, addressing the rash of iPhone thefts my colleague Joanna Stern and I have reported on. Apple still has time to add more features before the software update drops in a few months, and I’ve got my fingers crossed.
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Write to Nicole Nguyen at nicole.nguyen@wsj.com
