If it feels like there was a big iPhone update (the feature-packed iOS 17.4: full details here) less than a week ago, that’s because there was. But that doesn’t mean the plans for another update aren’t in motion already. In fact, it looks like the next update will be very soon, and followed by a bigger release.
According to the reliable Joe Rossignol at MacRumors, which has form in accurately predicting the arrival of new software updates there is—already—evidence that iOS 17.4.1 is on its way.
What’s Coming
You can tell from the numbering that it won’t be as big an update as the last one, though as that was the biggest mid-cycle update ever, that’s hardly surprising. In fact, MacRumors suggest it will be “a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities.”
It looks like work is already underway on iOS 17.5. Again, there’s no surprise, Apple has a plan, you know. But what is a surprise is that there should be an update to iOS 17.4, and so soon.
Initial reactions to iOS 17.4 have been highly positive, with very few complaints of problems caused. So, you might have expected that all would be well until iOS 17.5 is released, likely in April or early May.
But MacRumors is clear, something else is coming, and soon.
Release Date
As to when, exactly, the suggestion is that it could be a lot sooner than you think. MacRumors says this: “It is unclear when iOS 17.4.1 will be released, but the update’s appearance in our logs suggests it will likely be available this week or next week.”
This week! Are you kidding me? I’ve only just finished downloading the last one. Of course, we don’t know what might be in the release, but it’s obviously urgent if it needs to pre-empt iOS 17.5.
Apple likes to release its software updates on a Tuesday if it can. But, while Tuesday, March 12 is a possibility, I don’t think it’s likely. There doesn’t seem to be an urgent need to rush something out—I’ve been monitoring reactions to offer an opinion on whether you should update—and there doesn’t seem to be widespread problems.
So, my guess is we’re looking at Tuesday, March 18, or just possibly the day before, Monday, March 17 for the next update. More as we have it.
