- iOS 17 to bring big changes to Dynamic Island that will "do a lot more"
- Further improvements to Health, Wallet, Search, and Camera apps are in the works
- Interactive widgets are also planned, may not be part of iOS 17
- iPhone devices compatibility to remain the same as iOS 16
Apple plans to include changes across the board to many aspects of iOS with its upcoming iOS 17 release, according to the same source who claims a major Control Center redesign is on its way.
Going by @analyst941 on Twitter, the anonymous leaker has unveiled everything they claim to know about Apple’s iOS 17 plans. Firstly, they claim that iOS 17 will support all iPhones supported by iOS 16, directly contradicting another leak that claimed otherwise. On the iPad side, devices powered by the A9 and A10 Fusion chips may not make the cut, with the leaker adding that “it will be decided by QC in 3-4 weeks”.
The leaker also claims that “performance, efficiency, stability and long-term support for older devices are the main features of this update.” This echoes a somewhat similar sentiment to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman’s expectations for iOS 17.
Regarding features, the leaker doubles down on their expectations for Control Center, expecting significant UI changes, further customization options, and more. Apple is expected to expand the Dynamic Island to its full iPhone 15 lineup this year, and the feature is said to “do a lot more” without providing further details.
As for other changes, the leaker claims a suite of more minor updates across many aspects of iOS that include:
- Always-On display settings for iPhone 14 Pro
- New filters for Focus modes
- Notifications management options
- Further CarKey improvements to the Wallet app
- Updates to the Health app UI with emphasis on the Favorites tab
- Camera UI changes that may end up as exclusive for the iPhone 15
- “Heavily improved” Search and Spotlight
- Notable additions to ARKit’s API and frameworks described as an “absolute behemoth”
The leaker also mentions a new powerful accessibility mode that will give users “total control over the UI and layout.” This could be referencing a secret “Custom Accessibility Mode” that 9to5Mac unearthed in iOS 16.2 beta last year.
The leaker confirms that interactive widgets are in the works, allowing “one-tap buttons, sliders and more.” However, plans for interactive widgets are early and still being determined and may not ultimately be a part of iOS 17.
Apple is gearing up to announce iOS 17 during WWDC 2023 from June 5-9. Be sure to check out Supercharged’s recap of everything expected to be unveiled at the event.
