Apple rolls out iOS 17.5 update with new features and important bug fixes

Apple iPhone

With the iOS 18 update set to be unveiled next month at WWDC 2024, Apple has released the next iterative update for iOS 17. The latest iOS 17.5 update focuses on bug fixes for smoother iPhone performance and has some new features as well.

While the latest iOS 17.5 update has no headline grabbing features, it still has some notable enhancements. For starters, it comes with a new offline mode for Apple News+, which automatically downloads top stories, Apple News Today audio briefings, full magazine issues, and narrated articles from different News+ publishers.

For users in the United States and Canada, Apple has introduced a new “Quartiles” word game with this update. This game prompts players to select from a grid of tiles to form words. It is the third game to be included in the Apple News+ app.

With the iOS 17.5 update, Apple will now notify users if it detects a Bluetooth tracking device is in close proximity. Apple worked with Google to develop this feature and it is also available on Android devices.

The new iOS update also has a new Pride Collection of wallpapers for iPhone and iPad users. These new dynamic wallpapers come as part of Apple’s goal to “champion global movements to protect and advance equality for LGBTQ+ communities.”

Additionally, for EU users, the iOS 17.5 update brings a big update called Web Distribution, enabling third-party downloading of apps onto iPhones directly from the web. This update also comes with various improvements and bug fixes aimed at enhancing the overall stability and performance.