Apple’s just-announced iOS 17 isn’t coming to the iPhone X, the device that ushered in the era of Face ID. It was announced in 2017 along with the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, which will also miss the next iOS upgrade. That makes the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR the oldest devices there will be suitable for iOS 17 when it becomes available this fall, but that doesn’t mean they’ll get every new feature.
Any phone eligible for iOS 17 will get the biggest benefits: the new design-driven contact cards, the StandBy display for quick information while you’re charging, and the Check-in feature to let someone know you’ve arrived home safely . But a few features are reserved for newer iPhones. For example, gesture-based responses with AR effects in FaceTime require an iPhone 12 or later.
You’ll also need an iPhone 12 or later for some keyboard autocorrect improvements and in-line autocomplete suggestions. There’s also a new accessibility feature called Point and Speak that helps visually impaired people interact with text in their environment, but it’s limited to the Pro models of the iPhone 12, 13, and 14 only.
That said, older devices like the iPhone XS and 11 get the lion’s share of the new features coming to iOS 17. That’s great news if you own one of those phones; just be on the lookout next year when they’re on the chopping block for iOS 18.
Janice has been with businesskinda for 5 years, writing copy for client websites, blog posts, EDMs and other mediums to engage readers and encourage action. By collaborating with clients, our SEO manager and the wider businesskinda team, Janice seeks to understand an audience before creating memorable, persuasive copy.