Three months after its promise, Apple has pushed out an iOS update that gives you important information about the health of your iPhone's battery. This means you no longer need tools such as Geekbench and Battery Life to determine whether or not you need a replacement battery.
The update was released to everyone as iOS 11.3 on Thursday, March 29, and you can get it by going to "General," then "Software Update" in your Settings app. Once you see the new update, follow the on-screen directions to download and install the update.
This new battery health tool is a great addition to iOS, but it comes a little too late and because of all of the wrong reasons. It's only included now to "regain the trust of anyone who may have doubted Apple's intentions" over the hidden performance-throttling update. This performance throttling began in iOS 10.2.1 after iPhones began shutting down even when charged. Phones affected are the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, and SE, and the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus received the update in iOS 11.2.
Speaking of performance throttling, iOS 11.3 also added the ability to turn off power throttling caused by weak batteries, which may help you actually use your iPhone like it's supposed to be used until you get a battery replacement.
As for negative aspects of iOS 11.3, it has caused some serious issues with taking screenshots as well as non-working 3D Touch in some cases after first unlocking an iPhone.
One really huge thing missing from iOS 11.3 is Messages on iCloud. It was supported in all of the iOS 11.3 betas but was not included in the final release for some reason. If it were included, you would have been able to finally delete a message on your iPhone and have it disappear on your iPad and Mac, too (as long as they are also running supported OS versions).
Also missing is AirPlay 2, which was included in the first couple iOS 11.3 betas, but removed thereafter. We were hoping it would make a return in the final release, but it's nowhere to be found.
However, Apple did add Health Records to its Health app so that you can view and interact with your medical information (from supported providers), the ability to finally sort reviews in the App Store, version numbers and file sizes listed for app updates, new Animojis for the iPhone X, interactions with companies in Messages with Business Chat, and more. Check out all of the new features in iOS 11.3 for iPhone in our roundup linked below.
Just updated your iPhone? You'll find new emoji, enhanced security, podcast transcripts, Apple Cash virtual numbers, and other useful features. There are even new additions hidden within Safari. Find out what's new and changed on your iPhone with the iOS 17.4 update.
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