After a month of beta testing, iOS 17.4 will be available to all iPhone users starting next week and will have several new features. Since Apple has already deployed the iOS 17.4 Release Candidate version, the official version can’t be far behind, as the company has to comply with the European Digital Markets Act by March 6, which is next week.
Several exciting new features are coming to iPhone with iOS 17.4, including big changes to how European users will experience the App Store, Wallets, and more. In addition, all iPhone users will get new emojis and a few other changes.
But that is not all. In this article, we’ve collected five hidden and useful features that will be available on your iPhone starting next week with iOS 17.4.
Changes to the game app: With big changes coming for European users, Apple has decided to allow game streaming apps on the App Store globally, meaning software like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce NOW will be available for all iPhones.
Messaging with Siri: Siri has a new option to announce the messages you receive in any supported language, so you can chat with international friends with ease.
iPhone 15 battery lasts longer: There’s another exclusive feature for iPhone 15 users. According to Apple, iOS 17.4 reveals that the latest models can last at least 1,000 full cycles before reaching 80% battery life. In comparison, previous models would reach 80% after 500 cycles. Users can also better understand the health of their battery in the Settings app, as it shows your iPhone’s cycle count, when the battery was manufactured, and when it was first used.
Protection against stolen devices has become more secure: After introducing stolen device protection with iOS 17.3, this new operating system update added the option to always require two-factor authentication, whether you’re at home or in an unknown location.
iMessage protects you from the new generation of hackers: With iOS 17.4, Apple adds a new post-quantum cryptographic protocol that improves end-to-end encryption of messages. In addition, Cupertino puts its users several steps ahead of other messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal. You can find out more about it here.
You can learn more about this upcoming operating system update below.