The iOS 17 update cycle is on a glidepath to landing. It’s been torrid at times, with the last update landing just a week after the one before, for instance, but things are much more stable now. The latest version, possibly the last big update before we change to iOS 18, which launches in the fall, is heavy on bug fixes and security patches, and light on features. Here’s all you need to know.
Please note, I’ll be updating this post in a week, on Wednesday, August 7, so please check back for the final verdict.
Who Is It For And How Do You Get It?
You can download this update if you’re running an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Plus, iPhone XR or later. This means all models of the following series: iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14 and the latest iPhone 15. It also includes the iPhone SE second-and third-generation phones.
What It’s About
As mentioned above, the new features are sparse. Specifically, there’s a neat way to be up to date with a sports game in the Major League Soccer Pass in the Apple TV app. Catch Up works so that if you tune in to a live game and it’s started, it will show you selected snippets from what you’ve missed.
The other feature is the arrival in Japan of Emergency SOS via Satellite, to help if you’re in difficulties away from any cellular connection. You can read full details of both features here.
Apple iOS 17.6 Security
How long have you got? There are 35 security updates in this release. When there are this many, you can imagine that could be a cause for concern. Some are to do with the Kernel that is at the center of the OS, and there are plenty of WebKit issues.
Initial Reactions
I’ll start with a big reaction: the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency has issued an alert specifically encouraging users to update, mostly concerned with those issues mentioned above in the iOS Kernel. As my Forbes colleague Kate O’Flaherty points out, “On their own, these issues require a ‘local attacker’ who is within reach of your device. However, attackers could chain these together with other security holes to compromise you remotely.”
As for reactions from the rest of us, there’s not too much negative to report. Some worries about being able to download it, several comments on it being a very big file and the usual occasional note about overheating after updating. This is not uncommon, by the way, but I get that it’s alarming the first time it happens. One or two users say that a volume slider issue is fixed and another says it’s the best iOS 17 version yet.
Apple iOS 17.5.1 Initial Verdict: Upgrade
If for no other reason, the CISA’s comment is worth listening to. And there seem to very few problems introduced so, yes, please do upgrade.
I’ll be revisiting this story each day in the coming week to come up with final thoughts on Wednesday, August 7.
