iOS 17.3: All the new features and improvements

UPDATED: JAN 10, 2024, 8:40 AM 

It's totally normal to expect a brand-new iOS beta right after Apple releases a major update to its popular mobile OS. That's precisely what happened right after iOS 17.2 was officially released––Apple pushed out the very first iOS 17.3 beta. Now, it's early to say if iOS 17.3 will be a major or a minor update, but judging from the new features, it's definitely on the intriguing side. 

As far as minor iOS updates go, it's usually challenging to give a specific release date, but based on our expectations, iOS 17.3 could be released sometime in late January or possibly early February.

Currently, Apple has the pulled the latest iOS 17.3 beta 2 because it seemingly makes iPhones that have the Back Tap feature set up and enabled to get stuck into bootloop. No matter if you had a Double Tap or a Triple Tap set up, the feature would always bootloop your device. This issue once again goes to show that beta software is quite unstable and can easily lead to problems for your device.

You can pull yourself by the bootstraps is to roll back to a previous iOS version like iOS 17.3 beta 1 or iOS 17.2.1, provided that you have a recent backup available to restore your data and apps (you always should have one).

iOS 17.3: All new features

Stolen Device Protection

This new feature will be adding a slew of protection layers to iOS which will make it harder for wrongdoers to change essential security settings. Enabling the feature will require a positive biometric authentication when you're attempting to change your iCloud password, turn off Lost Mode, or erase an iPhone when at an unfamiliar location. 

This is done so that thieves who have somehow obtained both your iPhone and your passcode can't completely lock you out of your device. 

Enabling Stolen Device Protection is as simple as flipping a switch by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and flicking the respective switch to enable Stolen Device Protection. Disabling it, however, logically requires a successful Face ID authentication, so that even if the thieves are familiar with the new feature, they wouldn't be able to disable it. 

Collaborative playlists on Apple Music

Collaborative playlists that allow multiple people to edit public Apple Music playlists is missing from the official iOS 17.2 release, having been promised as a new feature. However, the first iOS 17.3 beta includes the upcoming Apple Music functionality and will hopefully this time make it to the final release. The ill-fated iOS 17.3 beta 2 also featured collaborative playlists, indicating that these are on their merry way.