Unfortunately, iOS 11 has been plagued with bugs and vulnerabilities since it launched in September 2017. So much so that Apple has said it is focusing on stability in the next version of iOS – iOS 12, due later in 2018 – but luckily we don’t have to wait that long for fixes, and a few new features.

Throughout the year Apple updates iOS on a regular basis, sometimes to fix bugs and vulnerabilities, sometimes to add new features, such as fun emoji or important updates to apps. Because of this, from time to time you will see an alert in Settings on your iPhone or iPad indicating there is an update. We run through all the updates to iOS 11 in this article.

You can check which version of iOS 11 you’re running by going to Settings > General > Software Update. The most recent version as of 29 May 2018 is iOS 11.4 and we have all the details about that below.

Here, we bring you everything you need to know about iOS 11, including the latest version. If you’re wondering whether you should install iOS 11, read this. And here’s how to install iOS 11.

Problems in iOS 11

There have been a series of issues with iOS 11, from the autocorrect bug that causes the word ‘it’ to be changed to a I.T and ‘is’ to be changed to I.S, and a couple of text message bugs that could cause your iPhone to crash (more information here: How to avoid the malicious text message could crash your iPhone and Mac.)

iOS 11.3 added new Animoji and more information about battery health – but also broke third-party iPhone 8 screens that had been used to replace smashed screens. Apple has since issued an update to rectify this, although it warns iPhone users not to use “non-genuine replacement displays.”

You may want to hold off installing iOS 11.4 if you haven’t yet as forum posts on Apple’s Communities pages seem to suggest there is an issue with the iPhone battery draining faster, read more about these issues with iOS 11 here.

What is coming in the next version of iOS 11?

iOS 11.4 is out now, but there are still a few features yet to arrive on iPhones and iPads.

iOS 11.4.1 beta

At the end of May 2018, Apple released the next beta version of iOS 11 – iOS 11.4.1.To date it appears to just include bug fixes, but the following features are anticipated.

With reports claiming that iOS 4 is causing batteries to drain faster, it’s likely that the next update will address this issue.

New emoji

There should also be some new emoji coming to iOS soon.

Apple is planning to introduce 13 new emoji to represent people with disabilities.

The company has submitted a proposal to the Unicode Consortium (you can read it here) that outlines its new emojis designed to: “Diversifying the options available helps fill a significant gap and provides a more inclusive experience for all”. The emoji were created with input from American Council of the Blind, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, and the National Association of the Deaf.

Restricted Mode

If you don’t unlock your iPhone on iPad for more than a week a new USB Restricted Mode (which may have arrived in iOS 11.4, but we have been unable to verify it yet) will cause the Lightning port on an iPhone or iPad to stop working – which should mean that law enforcement and criminals alike won’t be able to use tools like the GrayKey box to access the content on your iOS device.

The new Restricted mode was discovered in a beta version of iOS 11.4 by Elcomsoft and is outlined here.

Essentially, tools like GrayKey (and whatever tools criminals may have at their fingertips) make it possible to hack into an iPhone via a box that is plugged into the lightning port on a iOS device. The box disables the usual passcode-retry and re-entry delay strategies that would normally stop anyone from accessing a phone after a number of incorrect passcode entries. Apple’s update to iOS 11 could stop this tool from working.

What is the latest version of iOS?

Below we will list the updates to iOS 11 that have rolled out since the main launch, along with any changes they bring.

iOS 11.4 

iOS 11.4 arrived on 29 May 2018 and includes AirPlay 2, HomePod stereo pairing (if you have a HomePod), Messages in iCloud, and support for the ClassKit framework. It’s also thought to include a “Restriced access” mode that shoudl make it harder to hack into an iPhone or iPad without a password. We look at each new feature in more detail below.

We’ve heard reports that iOS 11.4 is causing batteries to drain faster. Read more about battery issues in iOS 11.4 here.

AirPlay 2

AirPlay 2 brings multi-room audio playback and better buffering. AirPlay 2 is instrumental in allowing the HomePod to play multi-room stereo – a feature that wasn’t available at launch for that product.

AirPlay 2 will also allow for multi-room streaming via more than one Apple TV.

At one point the AirPlay 2 features was present in a beta version of iOS 11.3, but it was later removed and never appeared in the final version.

When Apple announced AirPlay 2 it merely said it would arrive in 2018, so the failure to include it before the end of May doesn’t mean that Apple missed a deadline, but it is a significant delay given that the HomePod launched in February.

HomePod and Calenders

iOS 11.4 also gives Siri on the HomePod access to Calendars. Read more about the HomePod here.

At launch Siri on the HomePod was unable to add events to a user’s Calendar – despite Siri having access to that on the iPhone and Mac. This new version of iOS 11 opens up iCal calendars to HomePod users.

Messages in iCloud

Messages in iCloud will improve syncing of text messages so that if you delete a message on one device it will be deleted from all your devices. It will also allow users to easily download messages to a new iPhone. Another benefit is that older messages and attachments will be stored in the cloud, rather than on the device, saving space.

ClassKit

ClassKit is Apple’s framework for developers that will allow them to add support for the new Schoolwork app within their own apps. Announced at Apple’s Education event in March 2018, Schoolwork allows teachers to share handouts and assignments with their students digitally.

Bug fixes

iOS 11.4 includes a number of bug fixes, including a fix for the black dot emoji that could cause Messages to crash.

It also fixes an issue that could cause iMessages to appear out of order and a glitch that could cause an app on the Home screen to appear in the wrong location.

It also fixes the following, according to Apple:

• Addresses an issue that could prevent logging in or accessing files on Google Drive, Google Docs and Gmail in Safari
• Fixes an issue that could prevent data syncing in Health
• Fixes an issue that could prevent users from changing what apps can access Health data
• Fixes an issue where CarPlay audio could become distorted
• Fixes an issue where selecting music from your iPhone could fail when playing music over Bluetooth or when connected to USB on some vehicles

iOS 11.3.1

iOS 11.3.1 arrived on 25 April 2018, bringing with it a fix for iPhone 8 users whose screens became unresponsive after the iOS 11.3 update. The iOS 11.3 update rendered third-part screen replacements unresponsive. While Apple has fixed this issue, it has issued a warning to those who have obtained screen replacements from parties other than Apple, indicating that iPhone users should steer clear of “non-genuine replacement displays.”

Apple stated in the support notes accompanying the release:

“iOS 11.3.1 improves the security of your iPhone or iPad and addresses an issue where touch input was unresponsive on some iPhone 8 devices because they were serviced with non-genuine replacement displays.

“Note: Non-genuine replacement displays may have compromised visual quality and may fail to work correctly. Apple-certified screen repairs are performed by trusted experts who use genuine Apple parts. See support.apple.com for more information.”

iOS 11,3

iOS 11.3 arrived on 29 March 2018. It appears that the update is causing problems for some iPhone 8 users who have had their screens replaced – it was initially thought that it was only third-party screens that were affected, but it’s since emerged that some Apple screens that had been fitted to iPhone 8 models are also suffering from a bug which means they don’t automatically adjust brightness. More information on those frozen screen issues here.

Back in January 2018, Apple revealed some of the features coming in iOS 11.3 so we knew what to expect. Apple CEO Tim Cook also promised that an update to iOS in early 2018 would include information for users who want to know if the condition of their battery is affecting performance and iOS 11.3 brings this information, as we will outline below. Read more about the complaints about Apple intentionally slowing older iPhones.

Battery

Apple has fulfilled its promise of providing users with more information about the health of their battery, following the backlash after it emerged that Apple had been throttling older batteries in order to prevent shutdowns.

iOS 11.3 stops your iPhone’s processing power being throttled, something that may have been happening if you have an older iPhone, in a bid to avoid unexpected shutdowns. Apple has now added the ability in Settings > Battery to turn off this feature.

Settings > Battery > Battery Health (Beta) will give users more information about their overall battery health. You will also see if your battery needs replacing, if it does then you can use Apple’s battery replacement scheme to get it replaced for £25.

Apple will give you a “measure of battery capacity relative to when it was new”. “Lower capacity may result in fewer hours of usage between charges.” If your battery is fully functioning you will see the message “your battery is currently supporting normal peak performance”. Otherwise, you may see the warning: “This iPhone has experienced an unexpected shutdown because the battery was unable to deliver the necessary peak power. Performance management has been applied to help prevent this from happening again”.

The ability to turn off the battery throttling feature is also available at Settings > Battery > Battery Health (Beta) – but only once the throttling has been implemented. It will only be available for iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Read more about how to tell if your battery needs replacing here.

If you have one of those phones it is possible that you will notice improvements in terms of UI speed and performance.

While the battery percentage is listed as Maximum Capacity 81%, we haven’t yet seen a warning that Peak Performance isn’t being supported. However, we did see a huge change when we ran Geekbench before and after the update:

We ran the iOS 11.3 update on an iPhone 6s and saw quite a dramatic improvement in usability.

We ran the same test on an iPhone 7 and saw the Multi-Core Score increase from 3499 to 5675.

We have yet to see any warning that the iPhone is not running at Peak Performance Capability.

New Animoji

If you have an iPhone X you’ll be able to enjoy some new Animoji including a Lion and a Chinese Dragon, a bear and a skull. Apple previewed the lion Animoji in this video below.

RAM

RAM management also appears to have been improved in iOS 11.3. We will have more information about this when we have run some tests.

Augmented Reality

ARKit 1.5 recognizes vertical surfaces and “irregularly shaped surfaces like circular tables.” Previously it was limited to horizontal surfaces like floors and tables.

ARKit 1.5 real-time video view is now higher resolution and it can use the camera’s autofocus.

It can also recognise flat pictures like signs, posters and artwork now and use them to trigger AR content.

In practical terms, this should mean that museums will be able to offer interactive exhibits and movie posters could be brought to life. And you could see what a painting would look like hanging on your wall.

Business Chat

A new feature in iOS 11.3 will allow US users to have conversations with businesses in Messages, similar to how you might currently chat with businesses via Twitter.

When you search for a business in Safari, Siri, Maps or Spotlight you will see an indicator that lets you start a Messages chat. Not many businesses have signed up to date. If they have, you will see a Messages icon beside their name in the search results. Eventually, it will support Apple Pay.

Safari 11.1

Safari gets a few new features, including security improvements, improvements to Reader mode, and better password autofill.

Health Records

The new Health Records gives users a way to easily access their medical records. But don’t expect to get much use out of this feature in the UK. It’s only a few US medical centres that are onboard at the moment and we can’t see the NHS signing up.

Privacy

There is a new Privacy icon that you will see when Apple is requesting personal information. It looks like two people shaking hands. If you tap on the icon you will see more information. You will only see it when using Apple services.

You will also notice that Safari won’t autofill passwords until you have tapped the password field.

In May Apple users in European Union countries will be able to download the data Apple has on them, as well as modify it and deactivate or delete their Apple account if they choose to.

Apple Music

Apple has added thousands of music videos to Apple Music and users will be able to stream them – think MTV without the ads. Find them in Apple Music > Browse. You’ll find specific video playlists.

Apple News

Apple’s News app will get an improved Top Stories section. You’ll also see a new “most important videos of the day” section.

App Store

Reviews can be sorted by “Most Helpful,” “Most Favourable”, “Most Critical” and “Most Recent”.

Emergencies

Your phone will automatically send your location to emergency services if you call 999 (or 911) thanks to Advanced Mobile Location (AML) support.

HomeKit

New in 10.3 is HomeKit software authentication – this means that smart home gadgets no =longer need a secure authentication chip to support HomeKit, which should bring the cost down for them and hopefully result in more HomeKit gadgets becoming available.

Crucially, users will be able to see if the power management feature that dynamically manages maximum performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns, first introduced in iOS 10.2.1, is on and will be able to choose to turn it off, according to Apple.

iOS 11.3 will also allow iPhone X users to sign off app purchases by family members using the Family Sharing feature using Face ID. Until now they have had to type in the Apple ID password manually, whereas family administrators on older or cheaper phones were able to use Touch ID.

Bugs and fixes

iOS 11.3 fixes an issue where autocorrect could incorrectly capitalise the first letter of a corrected word.

It also addresses a vulnerability where a person with physical access to the device could disable Find My iPhone without entering an iCloud password.

There is also a fix for an issue that could see an attacker intercept the contents of S/MIME-encrypted email.

There are more fixes outlined by Apple here.

Hopefully, iOS 11.3 also address some newly emerged issues. Apple confirmed that a privacy issue that means Siri can read notifications even if an iPhone is locked, will be addressed in an upcoming software update. Apple told MacRumors: “We are aware of the issue and it will be addressed in an upcoming software update.” You can read more about this privacy issue below.

It is likely that another bug will also be addressed. Although Apple hasn’t confirmed that it is aware of a bug where text messages would appear outside of a speech bubble, it has re-submitted a YouTube video that it had posted which actually demonstrated the issue. More information on this new text message bug here.

Older iOS 11 versions

We’ve got a complete rundown of the various versions of iOS 11 here, including the bugs and fixes that arrived with them.

iOS 11.2.6

This version of iOS 11 fixes a bug that caused iPhones and iPads to crash if a character from the Telugu was viewed on the device.

Read more about the Telugu crash bug here.

The update also fixes an issue where some third-party apps could fail to connect to external accessories, according to Apple’s release notes.

iOS 11.2.5

Apple skipped a couple of point versions to jump from 11.2.2 to 11.2.5, which became available for download on 23 January 2018.

This version of iOS includes some features that will support the HomePod when Apple’s smart speaker ships on 9 February. An up-to-date iPhone will be able to automatically transfer Apple ID, Apple Music details, Siri and WiFi settings to the HomePod. Here’s the latest information about Apple’s HomePod.

As promised by Apple, the update also includes a fix for the ChaiOS text bomb which we discuss here. A malicious link sent in iMessages was capable of crashing iOS and macOS if you click on it from within the app.

Another new feature will enable Siri to read news summaries. In the UK the news will be provided by podcasts from the BBC, Sky News, or LBC. While in the US the news is provided by NPR, Fox News, CNN, or The Washington Post. In each case you can select your preferred news channel. To invoke the feature you need to say “Hey Siri” or ask Siri about the news when using CarPlay or headphones.

This audio news feature will also be available on the HomePod when Apple launches its smart speaker.

iOS 11.2.5 also addresses:

• An issue that could cause the Phone app to display incomplete information in the call list.
• An issue that caused Mail notifications from some Exchange accounts to disappear from the Lock screen when unlocking iPhone X with Face ID.
• An issue that could cause Messages conversations to temporarily be listed out of order
• An issue in CarPlay where Now Playing controls become unresponsive after multiple track changes
• And adds the ability for VoiceOver to announce playback destinations and AirPod battery level

iOS 11.2.2

Apple issued iOS 11.2.2 on 8 January 2018 to protect against the high-profile Spectre vulnerability. It’s believed that this patch may result in a very small reduction in speed, but this should be less than 2.5 percent in even the most affected areas, and undetectable in most others.

The company confirmed that, just like the rest of the industry, Macs and iOS devices were affected by the Intel processor flaws known as Meltdown and Spectre.

iOS 11.2.2 patches Safari and WebKit so that the Spectre vulnerability can’t be exploited. This will also patch other web browsers and any apps that display web pages on iOS because they use Apple’s WKWebView API to display content.

There have been claims that once this Spectre patch is installed some iPhone users are experiencing slowdowns. We ran Geekbench before and after the update and saw no significant difference.

Prior to the update the single-core score was 4223 and the Multi-core score was 10179, and after the score was 4248 and 10103. We tend to see varied results in testing and these numbers are close enough for us not to be worried.

We also tried running JetStream, which is a browser test, but couldn’t get any results after the update – which may be due to it being a Java-based benchmark script. We’ll feedback if we learn anything more.

We discuss Meltdown in the next section as Apple confirmed that iOS 11.2 patched that flaw.

iOS 11.2.1

Issued on 17 December 2017, iOS 11.2.1 fixed bugs and addressed some security issues.

There were complaints that it caused issues with battery life.

iOS 11.2

iOS 11.2 was rushed out by Apple after a bug in iOS 11 started to cause iPhones to crash at midnight on 2 December. iOS 11.2 fixed that bug – which we discuss in more detail below.

In January 2018 Apple confirmed that iOS 11.2 also protects users from the Meltdown bug associated with flaws in Intel chips. The company issued a statement saying: “Apple released mitigations for Meltdown in iOS 11.2, macOS 10.13.2, and tvOS 11.2. watchOS did not require mitigation.” Read more about Meltdown and Spectre here.

The update also adds support for Apple Pay Cash in the US – the mobile to mobile payment system will be available in the UK sometime in 2018, we assume. In fact, with Apple Pay Cash appearing on some of our iPhones already we think the launch could be imminent.

While Apple Pay Cash was available on US iPhones, it didn’t actually launch in the US until the following day. As a result, some people deleted the redundant applet from Messages. The problem is that having deleted the Apple Pay cash applet from Messages, they were then unable to reinstall it once the service launched in the US. It seems that the only way to bring the applet back is to reset the device.

For now, Apple Pay Cash is available only in the US. When it launches in the UK iPhone users will be able to send and receive cash via the Messages app. We have more information about using Apple Pay Cash here.

The 11.2 update also adds support for faster 7.5W wireless charging on the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. You’ll need a Qi-compatible charging pad to take advantage of the new feature. Apple intends to launch its own charging pad at some point in 2018. Read more about the AirPower here.

Another change in iOS 11.2 is a pop-up that appears when you turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth indicating that the services haven’t actually been switched off.

And iOS 11.2 fixes the I.T. autocorrect bug mentioned below.

Unfortunately, after the iOS 11.2 update, some iPhone X users found that Face ID was no longer working. Apparently turning the device on and off again fixed the issue. (If you are wondering how to turn off and restart your iPhone X here’s a tutorial).

iOS 11.1.2

Apple released iOS 11.1.2 on 16 November.

According to the release notes iOS 11.1.2 fixes an issue where the iPhone X screen becomes temporarily unresponsive to touch after a rapid temperature drop. It also addresses an issue that could cause distortion in Live Photos and videos captures with the iPhone X.

iOS 11.1.1

Apple issued version 11.1.1 on 12 November. This includes bug fixes for the autocorrect issue described here..

Apple’s accompanying notes say that the update:

• Fixes an issue with keyboard auto-correct (the issue that caused the letter I to be displayed as a box)
• Fixes an issue where Hey Siri stops working

iOS 11.1

iOS 11.1 was released on 31 October 2017. It fixes:

• A vulnerability to the KRACK Wi-Fi hack
• Brings back the 3D Touch app switcher from iOS 10

It also added a raft of new emoji, which is obviously the most important thing.

Unfortunately, it also appears to have introduced a weird bug that changes the letter i to a question mark in a box (although some reports claim this bug arrived in iOS 11.0.3). We address the fix for this autocorrect bug below.

Apple has addressed the issue in the latest beta update (detailed above) and says that a fix should arrive by 10 November.

iOS 11.0.3

iOS 11.0.3 was released on 11 October 2017. It fixes:

• An issue where audio and haptic feedback would not work on some iPhone 7 and 7 Plus devices
• An issue where touch input was unresponsive on some iPhone 6s displays because they were not serviced with genuine Apple parts

However, those who have already installed the update are reporting poor performance and degraded battery life, as well as problems with stability, Bluetooth and TouchID.

iOS 11.0.2

Apple released iOS 11.0.2 on 3 October 2017. The update addresses the following:

• An issue with crackling sounds that could occur during calls
• An issue that caused some photos to become hidden
• An issue where attachments in S/MIME-encrypted emails wouldn’t open

The build number is 15A421.

iOS 11.0.1

iOS 11.0.1 was the first update to iOS 11. It was issued on 26 September and fixes a few known problems with iOS 11 including the following:

• Fixes the Microsoft Outlook/Exchange Server issues that were stopping emails from sending.
• Changes to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings help alleviate battery problems.

Which iPhones & iPads can get iOS 11?

The devices that’ll be able to update to iOS 11 are:

iPhone X	iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2017)
iPhone 8 Plus	iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2015)
iPhone 8	iPad Pro 10.5-inch
iPhone 7 Plus	iPad Pro 9.7-inch
iPhone 7	iPad Air 2
iPhone 6s Plus	iPad Air
iPhone 6s	iPad 5th generation
iPhone 6 Plus	iPad 4th generation
iPhone 6	iPad mini 4
iPhone SE	iPad mini 3
iPhone 5S	iPad mini 2
iPod Touch 6th gen

We look in more detail at iOS 11 compatibility in more depth in a separate article: Can my iPhone and iPad run the new version of iOS?

New features in iOS 11

Here we have a summary of some of the biggest changes and enhancements in iOS 11. Many are exclusively for the iPad, but first we’ll talk about the universal features. Read our full review of iOS 11 here.

Augmented reality

Apple announced ARKit as part of iOS 11 at WWDC. This allows developers to offer high-end augmented reality (AR) capabilities in their apps without having to develop the AR system themselves and also improves existing AR solutions such as Pokemon GO.

Apple’s ARKit page on its website claims that ARKit is a “cutting-edge platform for developing augmented reality apps for iPhone and iPad” and offers “powerful capabilities for positional tracking and scene understanding”. During the Q3 announcements, Tim Cook said that ARKit “will help the most creative minds in the industry tap into the latest computer vision technologies to build engaging content”.

During the 12 September event, Apple and its developers demonstrated the AR capabilities of the new iPhones with a demo of a game called The Machines where you can battle friends online or locally in AR. The Machines will be released later in September only on iOS.

Redesigned App Store

One of the biggest iOS 11 updates is the redesigned App Store. Launching the app will first take you to the new Today tab, which is designed to help with app discovery. You’ll see new Collections, a Daily List centred around a particular theme, and even tutorials that show you how to do particular things in new apps.

A second new tab is called Games, and is a dedicated place to discover both new and popular games, as well as in-app purchases for games you may already own which are available to view and download right there within the App Store. You’ll see previews, tips and gameplay videos within the Games tab too.

Apps also gets its own, similarly designed tab for the rest of the content available on the App Store.

Here’s how to use the App Store in iOS 11.

Control Centre, Lock Screen and Notifications

Lock Screen and Notifications have now been combined into one screen, but more excitingly Control Centre has been redesigned and is finally more customisable.

It now packs all of the features into one page and has new sliders. It also has 3D Touch to allow quick access to more settings and features, which looks like it’s going to make life a lot easier.

New Messages features

iOS 11’s Messages app has been updated with several new features including a new app drawer, which contains stickers, the new Apple Pay peer-to-peer feature that lets you pay contacts via iMessage, and lots more.

Apple Pay’s new feature still uses the TouchID fingerprint sensor, and money received will go into your Apple Pay Cash Card, which you can use for further Apple Pay payments or to transfer money back into your bank account. At the Q3 2017 announcement Tim Cook said: “With the launch of iOS 11 this fall, our users in the US will be able to make and receive person-to-person payments quickly, easily, and securely.”

There’s also new Messages in iCloud that’ll automatically synchronise all of your conversations across all of your iOS and macOS devices.

Apple has added a new QuickType keyboard too, which on iPhone will mean you can use the device easier one-handedly. It will move the keys closer to your thumb for one-handed typing.

Siri improvements

Siri has a new, more natural-sounding male and female voice (Cook called this “an even more intelligent and natural Siri”), as well as a new visual interface.

Apple also added new features to Siri including the ability to translate what you say into German, French, Italian, Chinese or Spanish, with further languages being added soon. It also works better with Apple Music to help suggest songs you might like.

Siri is also becoming more intelligent in iOS 11. It will now use on-device learning to discover more about you, and therefore improve suggestions when you’re in particular apps. For example, if you’re looking at a particular place or topic in Safari, Siri can suggest related words and items in Mail, Messages and other apps.

For developers, SiriKit is coming to bring its capabilities into more apps.

Additionally, although Apple didn’t talk about it during the keynote, it looks like you’ll be able to type to Siri rather than always being forced to speak out loud.

Smart Invert

Something exciting that we learned about when dev beta 6 (and public beta 5) landed was smart invert. This a long-awaited feature that some would call dark mode, where whites in the OS become black, giving a darker, slicker feel.

On iOS 10, the invert mode inverted too much; app colours, webpages and even the camera. But smart invert, while still in beta and not running perfectly, looks to be Apple’s version of dark mode. This has been a long time coming!

We also found that we couldn’t screenshot it – screenshots came out normally, meaning this is a filter applied over the UI, rather than changing the makeup of the UI itself. Here’s a look:

This is great news, but people have been waiting for a Dark Mode viewing mode on their iOS devices for some time. In fact, it was widely expected that iOS 10 would feature a new viewing mode called Dark Mode, with black backgrounds designed to easier on the eyes when viewing at night.

Dark Mode was even seen as early as the iOS 10 beta 1 released back in June 2016, but it never materialised when iOS 10 launched.

If you want to know more about Dark Mode see How to enable Dark Mode on Mac & Apple TV.

New Camera features

The camera software also has lots of improvements, including improved image quality. Portrait Mode in the iPhone 7 Plus can be taken with Optical Image Stabilisation, True Tone flash and HDR, for example.

A new Depth API is being released for developers, which means they’ll be able to use the iPhone 7 Plus’s camera to add more depth information to their app.

Apple has also added a new technology called High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) that reduces the file size of your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus photos.

The camera is also getting a built-in QR scanner, and possibly the ability to pause and resume video recording without saving two separate video clips.

Live Photo Effects

You can now choose just the frame you want from a Live Photo to make your Key Photo, and there are also new ‘Effects’ available to use with Live Photos.

The new Loops effect will turn your Live Photo into an infinite video loop, Bounce will play and then reverse the clip. And a really cool feature means you can combine Live Photos to create a Long Exposure effect, perfect for waterfalls or city shots, for example.

Improved data tracking

While it may not be as glamorous as other features in iOS 11, there’s a new addition to iOS that’ll make it much easier to manage your mobile data. Within the Mobile Data section of the Settings app, you’ll find a bunch of new options and menus.

We’re not sure if it’s compatible with all carriers at this time, but we can confirm that EE customers in iOS 11 will be able to find out how much data they have used and how much they have left in the Settings app.

It doesn’t end there, either – you can even change your data plan from within the Settings app. It provides an easier way to keep an eye on your mobile data without the need to download a third-party app from the App Store.

This should make managing data on an iPhone much easier.

Indoor Maps and Lane Navigation

Maps of airports and shopping malls are coming soon, and we’re also about to get information about your speed, and lane navigation.

iOS 11 will bring Do Not Disturb While Driving, too. When activated, it’ll send people trying to get in touch with you a note to say that you’ll see the message when you arrive at your destination.

AirPlay 2 & Apple Music improvements

A new AirPlay protocol brings lots of new features for speakers including multi-room support, and there’s an AirPlay 2 audio DPI for developers.

You’ll also now be able to see what your friends have been listening to in Apple Music thanks to new public profiles.

Plus, developers will get access to a new Apple Music API to introduce its library to other apps such as Nike+ Run Club and Shazam.

Apple has also redesigned the Podcast app.

iPad-exclusive features in iOS 11

We mentioned earlier that there are also lots of features coming in iOS 11 that will be exclusive to iPad users. These features are all quite simple and focus on productivity, but they’re key to making the iPad a more powerful and useful device.

It feels like Apple is slowly but surely creating a tablet that can take on a laptop, and with this update and its new iPad features, it’s certainly getting there.

Better multitasking

The new Dock in iOS 11 for iPad means that you’ll be able to access your favourite and most frequently used apps or files quickly and easily from any screen. It’s demonstrated in this cute advert:

In addition to the Dock, a new App Switcher design is going to make life easier when you want to quickly change apps or open new ones.

Plus, system-wide Drag and Drop means you can move pretty much anything between any app for much quicker and easier ways of working. An image, for example, can be dragged and dropped directly into an email. This sounds very simple but was a tedious process before so is a much-welcomed addition.

A new Files app

iOS 11 features a new app called Files. Like the multi-tasking features, it’s designed to make life easier for power users.

Files will keep all of your documents in one easy-to-use place. You’ll be able to drag-and-drop attachments from Mail or any other app into a particular folder, or create folders to help stay organised and find what you’re looking for faster. It’s going to make multitasking so much quicker, and brings the iPad Pro a lot closer to an alternative to a laptop.

As with the Dock, Apple has made an advert to explain how it works:

Apple Pencil

For iPad Pro models, the Apple Pencil has become better than ever thanks to new integrated support for inline drawing, and a new Instant Notes feature that lets you open the Notes app directly from the Lock Screen with a simple tap.