Apple Highlights 6 New Features Coming to iOS 11.3

Apple on Wednesday previewed its upcoming iOS 11.3 software update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, showcasing a number of features including new Animoji characters, battery management tools, ARKit updates and more, coming later this spring. Press the Right Arrow to Browse 6 New Features Coming to iOS 11.3.

6 New Animoji

iOS 11.3 will bring four new Animoji characters to iPhone X — skull, dragon, lion, and bear — bringing the total character count, which already includes favorites like smiling pile of poo, fox, pig and robot, to 16.

5 ARKit 1.5

iOS 11.3 will also bring a notable update to Apple’s burgeoning augmented reality platform, ARKit, which enters version 1.5.

ARKit 1.5 will allow users to place their virtual AR objects on vertical surfaces (such as walls and doors), in addition to horizontal surfaces (like tables and floors) at present. Additionally, the update will enable AR-capable devices to more accurately map “irregular surface areas” (like a circular table).

4 Business Chat

Briefly highlighted during last year’s WWDC, version 11.3 of the mobile software will finally enable support for Apple’s Business Chat feature. Touted as an entirely new way to communicate with businesses, the feature will allow customers to chat live with customer service reps via the iOS Messages app.

“With Business Chat,” Apple explains, “it's easy to have a conversation with a service representative, schedule an appointment or make purchases using Apple Pay in the Messages app. Business Chat doesn’t share the user’s contact information with businesses and gives users the ability to stop chatting at any time.”

The feature will reportedly launch in a beta form shortly after the final build of iOS 11.3 is released, with select businesses including Wells Fargo, Hilton, Discover, and Lowe’s already slated to offer support at launch.

3 Health Records

iOS 11.3 will also allow users to view an advanced compilation of their medical records via Apple’s native iOS Health App. Patients will be able to access their encrypted and password protected medical files, as uploaded by Johns Hopkins, Cedars-Sinai, or any other of Apple’s partnering health institutions.

2 New Battery Management Tools

As promised, amid the company’s latest and ongoing battery fiasco, Apple will be introducing a new suite of battery management tools as part of the iOS 11.3 update, providing users with clearer and more detailed information into the health of their device’s battery.

While they’re reportedly coming alongside a later beta version of iOS 11.3, Apple’s new battery management tools will include a number of helpful indicators, such as instant notifications when battery service is recommended, as well as a menu of additional tools including the option to view power management and turn it On or Off at your discretion.

1 Advanced Mobile Location

Another notable feature expected in iOS 11.3 include support for Advanced Mobile Location (AML), allowing users to automatically and discreetly share their current location with emergency service operators during a distress call.

iOS 11.3 Release Date

Apple is expected to begin seeding the first beta of iOS 11.3 to developers this afternoon, while a public beta will follow in the coming days/week. The official public release, meanwhile, is expected later on this spring, according to the company.

iOS 11.3 will be available as free download for devices including iPhone 5s and newer, iPad Air, Air 2 and all iPad Pro models, the fifth-generation iPad, iPad mini 2, 3, 4 and the sixth-generation iPod touch.