By
Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor
Last updated

Hot off its iPhone 15 event, Apple has confirmed that iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 - the latest versions of its mobile operating systems - will be available on September 18. watchOS will also drop on the same day, available to anyone with an Apple Watch Series 4 and up. 

We don't know exact timing, but given Apple works in California time, there's a chance the new software won't go live until September 19 for Australians. 

Announced in early June, iOS 17 includes new features such as improved communication functionality across Messages and AirDrop, live voicemail, and a standby mode that effectively turns your iPhone into a smart display when it's not being used. On the iPad front, iPad will get customised lock screens, similar to what iOS 16 brought to iPhone last year. 

The iPhone XS and newer will be able to upgrade to iOS 17. This means the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus will be stuck on iOS 16.

You can install iOS 17 on the following iPhones:

iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13, Phone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2022), iPhone 12, Phone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2020), iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR

The iPhone 15 family will naturally run iOS 17 out of the box. 

Meanwhile, these are the oldest iPad models that will support iPadOS 17: 

6th generation iPad, 5th generation iPad mini, 3rd generation iPad Air, 2nd generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, 1st generation 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and 1st generation 11-inch iPad Pro.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros
Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

Read full bio

Save on your phone plan

On average, WhistleOut visitors save over $160 a year when they switch telco services. Start saving now.

Compare phones and plans from the following carriers...

Latest Mobile Phone Deals

Pay just $14/mth for the first 6mths for the Swoop 30GB 5G SIM.

40GB for $15/mth for first 4mths! Ultd data banking, $200 international calls & no excess data charges!

iPhone 18 Pro 256GB, 220GB data, $108.30/mth + $200 Bonus Trade In Credit!

50% off plan fees for 4mths. $15 for 30GB with international call inclusions!

50% off first 3mths when you switch to Felix, $17.50 for 50GB for 3mths!

See our Editor's Pick choices for the Best Mobile plans this month