Apple iOS 17.3: Roundup of New Features Coming to Supported iPhones Soon

December 21, 2023

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Apple has made available to public beta testers the first beta version of iOS 17.3 operating software. “Stolen Device Protection” and “Collaborative Playlists in Apple Music” are two new features in the beta version. These features are currently being tested with a small group of opted-in beta users and will be available in the coming months with a stable iOS 17.3 update for all eligible iPhones. Here are the specifics:

Stolen Device Protection

The upcoming security feature provides additional protection for iPhone users. When the “Stolen Device Protection” feature is enabled, the iPhone can only be unlocked if both the passcode and Face ID authentication meet the requirements. Features such as saved passwords in iCloud Keychain, factory reset options, saved payment methods, and the option for “Lost Mode” are hidden for opted-in users. These are then only accessible through biometric authentication.

Other sensitive actions, such as changing the iPhone passcode, Apple ID password, or disabling Find My iPhone, will also necessitate Face ID unlock. If the iPhone is not close to a frequently visited location, it will wait an hour before repeating the authentication process.

Collaborative Playlists in Apple Music

This feature, which was announced at Apple’s WWDC 2023 event in June, would allow multiple people to create, edit, and control shared playlists in Apple Music. Users can also use emojis to react to songs in collaborative playlists. The collaborative playlist feature was initially included in early beta versions of iOS 17.2, but was removed before the update was made available to all users.

Apple recently released iOS 17.2 to eligible iPhone models. The update included a number of new features, including the new Journal app and the ability to record Spatial videos on iPhone 15 Pro models. The Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro models now includes a ‘Translate’ option that quickly translates phrases and allows users to converse in another language. With the iOS 17.2 update, new widgets for the Weather app were also added.