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iPhone Q&A
Update Published July 15, 2023
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Which iPhone models support iOS 17? Do some models "partially" support iOS 17? Which ones?
Apple first previewed iOS 17 on June 5, 2023 and it was released as a public beta on July 12, 2023. The "final" consumer version is expected to be released in the autumn.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iOS 17)
Apple provides basic iOS 17 compatibility in the company press release, but specific feature support is buried in fine print elsewhere. Accordingly, independent documentation can be especially helpful to sort out all the details.
New iOS 17 Features
In the official press release, Apple explains that iOS 17 provides "major updates to communications apps, easier sharing with AirDrop, more intelligent text input, and new experiences with Journal and StandBy."
In greater detail, Apple chooses to emphasize these additions to iOS 17:
- Contact Posters: A custom screen with your selected emoji or photo that will appear to others when you call them.
- Live Voicemail: Real-time transcription of voicemails to make it easier to screen calls and give you the option of answering.
- Improved FaceTime: Makes it possible to coordinate a FaceTime call on the iPhone to display on an Apple TV 4K-equipped television. Callers also have the option of leaving an audio or video message if you are unavailable on FaceTime.
- Improved Messages: A new "Check In" feature that automatically notifies a party of your safe arrival at a destination upon your request. "Live Stickers" and other interface enhancements, too.
- Easier Sharing: AirDrop makes it easier to share files or photos and a new "NameDrop" feature makes it easy to share contact info by proximity.
- More Accurate Autocorrect: Uses Machine Learning to improve the accuracy of autocorrect and predictive text.
- StandBy: Like Android's "Ambient Mode," this displays information on the iPhone display when it is charging in a horizontal position.
- Journal: "A new app that helps iPhone users reflect and practice gratitude through journaling, which has been shown to improve wellbeing."
There are dozens of other small improvements and tweaks that you also may find worthwhile, but these are the ones that Apple has chosen to highlight. However, not all features are supported on all compatible devices, though.
Compared to its predecessor -- iOS 16 -- iOS 17 drops support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X.
A full list of iPhone devices supported is below. However, there are some substantial differences in terms of feature support documented further below, as well.
Identification Help (Skip)
If you are not certain which iPhone you have, a relatively convenient way to identify your device precisely is by Model Number.
Regardless of the age of your device, you can find this Model Number in the iOS "Settings" app on your iPhone under General > Regulatory > or General > Legal & Regulatory, depending on the version of the iOS. You also can find a general "Model Name" under General > About that is precise enough for this purpose.
These specific iPhone models support iOS 17:
iPhone Model |
Model No |
If your iPhone isn't listed above -- and it wasn't released after the final version of iOS 17 shipped but before the next major version of the iOS (iOS 18) -- it isn't compatible with iOS 17.
Although it is much more complicated (and precise), you might also consider using the Order Number for identification, which is specified as "Model" within the iOS "Settings" app under General > About.
For example, in the United States, this "Model" within the iOS looks like MPXT3LL/A, which specifically refers to an iPhone 14 Pro (US/A2650) in "Space Black" with 128 GB of storage.
Everyi.com's Ultimate iLookup feature can identify these devices by order numbers from around the world and by other identifiers, too.
All of the above iPhone models support iOS 17, but in fine print, Apple specifies that some models only support certain features -- "React with Your Hands" for augmented reality effects in video; more accurate autocorrect in English, French, and Spanish; Inline Predictions in English; and "Point and Speak" accessibility for the vision impared.
Only the iPhone 12 Pro/Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max, and iPhone SE 3 support all of these new features. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS/XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and iPhone SE 2 do not support any of these features.
Finally, the iPhone 12/12 mini, iPhone 13/13 mini, and iPhone 14/14 Plus support "React with Your Hands"; more accurate autocorrect in English, French, and Spanish; and Inline Predictions in English, but not "Point and Speak."
This, perhaps, can be most easily summarized accordingly:
| XR | XS* | 11* | 12/mini | |
| React with Your Hands | No | No | No | Yes |
| More Accurate Autocorrect (EN, FR, ES) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Inline Predictions (EN) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Point and Speak | No | No | No | No |
| 12 Pro† | 13/mini | 13 Pro† | 14 | |
| React with Your Hands | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| More Accurate Autocorrect (EN, FR, ES) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Inline Predictions (EN) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Point and Speak | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| 14 Plus | 14 Pro† | SE 2 | SE 3 | |
| React with Your Hands | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| More Accurate Autocorrect (EN, FR, ES) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Inline Predictions (EN) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Point and Speak | No | Yes | No | Yes |
* Support is the same for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the entire iPhone 11 line (iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max).
† Support is the same for the iPhone 12 Pro/iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro/iPhone 13 Pro Max, and iPhone 14 Pro/iPhone 14 Pro Max.
It is hoped that this chart makes specific feature support for iPhone models that partially support iOS 17 straightforward. If you are visually impared and "Point and Speak" is of interest, be very sure to choose your iPhone carefully because even many current models do not support it.
iOS 17 Summary
Ultimately, iOS 17 provides new features that are worthwhile, but hardly groundbreaking. For us, the Live Voicemail and NameDrop features alone are worth the upgrade, but your preferences may vary.
As always, Everyi.com recommends that for those who use their iPhone for important tasks, it is wise to skip any public beta version entirely. It even is a good idea to resist the temptation to immediately upgrade to the "final" release to allow for a couple of "bug fix" updates, as well.
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