The first beta of iOS 17.3 is now available. It comes a couple of days after Apple released the stable iOS 17.2 update with plenty of new features to the public.
iOS 17.3 beta 1 does not pack many changes but brings an important new security feature to iPhones. Below are all the changes we have spotted in iOS 17.3 beta 1.
iOS 17.3 beta 1: What’s new and changed
If you are on the iOS 17 beta channel, your iPhone must have already received the beta update to iOS 17.3. This is likely the last beta build from Apple for the year. So, if you avoid running into unwanted bugs, stick to iOS 17.2 on your iPhone.
Stolen Device Protection
This is the biggest highlight of iOS 17.3 beta 1. As the name indicates, Stolen Device Protection “adds an additional layer of security in the unlikely case that someone has stolen your phone and also obtained your passcode.” Stolen Device Protection should give you additional peace of mind, knowing the data on your iPhone and your Apple ID is secure from unauthorized access. The feature is disabled by default, though, and must be manually enabled.
When Stolen Device Protection is enabled, there is no way to view the passwords stored in Settings without the owner's Face ID or Touch ID authentication pic.twitter.com/moIOyvEwgs
— Beta Profiles (@BetaProfiles) December 12, 2023
Apple Music playlist collaboration
Playlist collaboration in Apple Music was a part of iOS 17.2 beta. But the feature never made it to the public release. Apple is again re-introducing playlist collaboration in iOS 17.3 beta 1. You and your friends can work together to build that perfect playlist. To share a playlist, you can generate a link or a QR code that anyone can scan to join.
Compared to previous iOS 17.x beta builds, iOS 17.3 beta 1 is light on changes. It’s possible Apple will add more features to the OS with the second beta release. But don’t expect it to drop before January 2024.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
