iOS 17.2 is out now: Journal app and 6 fresh surprises

iOS 17.2 is packed with enhancements to core functionalities like iMessage and the Action Button

Edward Collins - Dec 12, 2023

The image shows iOS 17.2 giving the ability to record 3D spatial videos on your iPhone. — Apple

Apple enthusiasts, the wait is over. iOS 17.2, the second in line of updates following the groundbreaking iOS 17, is now available for download on iPhones newer than the iPhone XR. If you haven't already updated to iOS 17, here's your chance to experience the latest innovations from Apple.

This latest iteration arrives within a short span of two months since the introduction of iOS 17.1. Packed with enhancements to core functionalities like iMessage and the Action Button, iOS 17.2 also introduces a slew of new applications, including the exciting and much-awaited "Journal" app.

iOS 17.2 features

Let's dive into seven standout features of iOS 17.2 that every iPhone user should explore:

1. Journal app:

iOS 17.2 has launched "Journal", an innovative app that transforms your iPhone into a personalised diary. Record your thoughts as text, photos, videos, or audio, while the app's machine learning generates prompts based on recent activities, encouraging seamless documentation of your experiences. Sync your entries with iCloud for access across all your Apple devices.

2. Enhanced Action Button:

Building upon the customisable Action Button introduced with iPhone 15 Pro models, iOS 17.2 brings Translate functionality, enabling instant translations in the Dynamic Island without launching a separate app. Using the iPhone's Neural Engine ensures privacy by processing translations on-device.

3. Spatial video capture:

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users will appreciate the new capability to capture 3D spatial videos using the main and ultra-wide cameras. This enhancement sets the stage for the forthcoming Apple Vision Pro headset, promising an immersive mixed-reality experience.

4. Contact Key Verification:

With Contact Key Verification (CKV), iOS 17.2 fortifies iMessage security, particularly benefitting individuals facing digital threats like journalists and activists. This feature ensures added verification beyond end-to-end encryption, securing conversations from potential eavesdroppers.

5. iMessage updates:

The Messages app receives improvements like a catch-up arrow for easy navigation, a new sticker option, and the ability to adjust the body shape of your Memoji, enhancing the messaging experience.

6. Weather App improvements:

Enjoy an upgraded Weather app experience with hourly precipitation details, new widgets displaying diverse weather conditions, wind patterns, and an interactive moon calendar for lunar phase visualisation.