Upcoming iOS 17.1 Update: What's in Store for Your iPhone

The release candidate for iOS 17.1 is now in the hands of developers and beta testers, signaling that a general release is imminent. Let's dive into what this update has in store.

French Regulator Spurs iOS 17.1 Release

A French regulator's concerns about excessive radiation from iPhone 12 devices led to a commitment from Apple to deploy a hotfix. This fix is set to be available to all users, not later than October 24. Consequently, we can expect iOS 17.1 to drop around the same time, as it's designed to address these concerns for iPhone 12 users in France.

Radiation and "Screen Burn-In" Fixes

iOS 17.1 is not just about radiation issues. It also addresses "screen burn-in" problems experienced by some iPhone 15 Pro Max owners, characterized by a ghosting effect on OLED panels. While details of this fix are scarce, we'll see its effectiveness as iOS 17.1 rolls out.

Enhancements and New Features

Beyond bug fixes, iOS 17.1 introduces a range of enhancements and features:

AirDrop Improvements

Apple initially announced enhancements to AirDrop in iOS 17, allowing large file transfers even when devices are not in close proximity. However, the feature to complete transfers over the internet was reserved for iOS 17.1. AirDrop settings now include the option to complete transfers over cellular networks.

Apple Music Enhancements

While the Favorites Playlist is still in the works for the Music app, iOS 17.1 paves the way for this feature. You can now designate songs as favorites by tapping a star on the Now Playing screen. Additionally, there's an option to add cover art to your playlists, with various choices provided by Apple.

StandBy Mode Controls

For devices with always-on displays, such as the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro series, iOS 17.1 offers more options for StandBy Mode duration, including 20 Seconds, Never, and Automatically, which activates at night.

Action Button Refinements

The update refines the controls for the Action button on select models like the iPhone 15 Pro. Using proximity sensors, your phone can determine if it's in your pocket, requiring a longer press to trigger shortcuts, reducing accidental activations.

Flashlight Controls

iPhones with a Dynamic Island cutout, including the new iPhone 15 models and last year's iPhone 14 Pro, display a flashlight icon in the Live Activities area when the flashlight is on, simplifying turning it off.

What's Missing

While iOS 17.1 brings significant improvements, it does not include the Journal app, which is designed to encourage users to log memories based on photos, location data, and prompts stored on their iPhones. Apple has promised this feature in a subsequent iOS update later this year.