iOS 17.4 released: These new features are included in the iPhone update

Apple has released iOS 17.4 as the new iPhone operating system. The update brings with it numerous new features. Probably the most important is support for alternative app stores, which means Apple is complying with the new provisions of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

iOS 17.4: The most important new features

iOS 17.4 is now available for download and can be downloaded in the system settings on the iPhone under General -> Software update. The download weighs a whopping 1.74 GB, which speaks for numerous new features.

With the introduction of sideloading, Apple is bowing to the EU’s Digital Markets Act. In future, alternative app stores can be installed on the iPhone. Setapp had already announced that it would be releasing its own solution on iOS, and the Epic Games Store is also set to return soon, meaning that Fortnite Battle Royale will also find its way back onto Apple devices.

Alternative payment options will also be offered for apps in the App Store and in-app purchases in future. Apple Pay will also be expanded to include alternative NFC and wallet apps.

The 1.74 GB iPhone update also allows the default browser to be set outside of Safari. From now on, these can use their own browser engine, for example Chromium in the case of Google Chrome – previously they ran on Apple’s WebKit.

Further new features and improvements

With iOS 17.4, models in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro series also have the option of displaying additional details about the battery status, the number of charging cycles, the production date or the date of first use in the battery settings.

Protection for stolen devices has also been further expanded. The option for increased security is now available regardless of location, and additional biometric unlocking via Face ID or Touch ID is now mandatory in order to view and change sensitive data.

Apple’s voice assistant now also only listens to the call “Siri” in Germany. Similar to Google, the “Hey” in front of it can now be omitted.

Apple Podcasts also has a new transcript function that allows you to read the highlighted text in German, English, Spanish or French while listening to podcasts. The text of episodes can be read as a whole or searched for words or text. Apple has published a comprehensive introduction to this new function in its own newsroom.

Furthermore, iOS 17.4 introduces numerous new emojis such as mushrooms, phoenix or lime, 18 person and body emojis are now available in both directions. Music recognition now allows recognized tracks to be added to the Apple Music playlist, the media library or Apple Music Classical.

In addition, iOS 17.4 makes some bug fixes, adjusts the address bar of the Safari browser and adds a new function including live activity to the stopwatch in Dynamic Island.

iOS 17.4: Which iPhones will receive the update?

Apple is known for providing older smartphones with new updates for a long time. All smartphones that have already received the major update to iOS 17 will also benefit from the new update. Specifically, the models go back to the iPhone X. The following iPhones will receive the update to iOS 17.4:

• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 Mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 Mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone SE (2nd gen and newer)