Why iOS 17 Is a Game-Changer for Your Mobile App Testing Strategy

With the release of iOS 17, there are a number of new features and changes that you need to be aware of when testing apps.

From new APIs to security enhancements, iOS 17 introduces several important changes that may affect how your mobile apps perform. To maintain app stability and deliver a seamless user experience, it's essential to update your mobile app testing strategy for iOS 17. This includes adapting to UI behavior shifts, privacy controls, and performance updates introduced in the new OS version.

In this article, we’ll walk through the key features and changes in iOS 17 that impact mobile app testing. We’ll also offer actionable tips to help you realign your testing approach. Whether you're testing manually or using an iOS testing framework, aligning with the latest tools and strategies ensures your apps remain compatible and high-performing on all Apple devices.

iOS 17: New Features and Enhancements

Widgets and Live Activities:
With WidgetKit, you can now add interactivity and animated transitions to your widgets, so users can take action without leaving the widget. Live Activities built with WidgetKit and ActivityKit are now available on iPad, so users can stay up-to-date on what’s happening in your app in real time, right from the Lock Screen.

Accessibility:
Assistive Access is a new feature that makes technology more accessible to users with cognitive disabilities. The new advancements in speech synthesis and accessibility APIs further enhance the user experience

Passkeys:
Passkeys offer a secure and straightforward way for users to sign in to apps and websites without the need for passwords. The iCloud Keychain now allows users to share passwords and passkeys with trusted contacts.

In-app Purchase:
With the new StoreKit views, developers can present users with a clear and concise overview of each in-app purchase offer, including the description, price, and duration. This helps users to make informed decisions about whether or not to purchase.

iOS 17 also includes updates to the App Store Server API and enhancements to StoreKit testing in Xcode, the Apple sandbox environment, and TestFlight. These updates make it easier for developers to test and deploy their in-app purchase implementations.

Maps:
The new MapKit for SwiftUI simplifies the integration of Maps into apps. Developers can create Maps Snapshots that allow them to capture high-resolution images of maps, including the Detailed City Experience, which provides users with unprecedented detail for neighborhoods, commercial districts, marinas, buildings, and more. See this video to understand more on this update

Voicemail enhancements:
iOS 17 includes several enhancements to the voicemail experience. With the new voicemail button on the home screen, you can send calls to voicemail immediately. And with live transcription, you can see what the voicemail message is about before you decide whether to answer it.

Visual Look Up support
Users can use Visual Look Up to discover similar recipes from photos of food, map routes to stores identified in photos, and learn the meaning of signs and symbols. You can also lift multiple subjects from the background of photos and videos, and look up information about objects in paused video frames.

iMessage Improvements:
Access all your iMessage apps in one place, automatically notify a friend when you arrive at a destination, and use the new catch-up arrow to jump to unread messages. Additionally, you can now share and view locations directly within conversations and read transcriptions of audio messages.

TipKit:
TipKit is a new framework that helps developers educate users about their apps’ features. TipKit provides a variety of tools for creating informational tips and tutorials, which can be displayed to users at the right time and place.

iOS 17 Compatible Devices

iOS 17 is compatible with these iPhone models

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Here are some essential mobile app testing considerations for iOS 17:**

• Focus on new features and changes: iOS 17 introduces a number of new features and changes, so it is important to focus your testing on these areas. For example, you should test your app’s compatibility with new widgets, App Shortcuts, and in-app purchase features.

• Test your app’s performance and stability: iOS 17 includes a number of performance and stability improvements, so it is important to test your app to make sure that it is running smoothly and reliably. You should also test your app’s performance under different conditions, such as when it is running in the background or when it is under heavy load.

• Test your app’s accessibility: iOS 17 includes a number of accessibility improvements, so it is important to test your app on iOS to make sure that it is accessible to everyone. You should use the Accessibility Inspector to test your app’s accessibility features.

• Test your app on a variety of devices and iOS versions: iOS 17 is compatible with a wide range of devices, so it is important to test your apps on all iOS 17 compatible devices to ensure that they work properly.

You can start testing your apps today by accessing different iOS 17 compatible devices in our real device cloud.

TestGrid’s Real Device Cloud gives you access to a wide range of real iOS devices, including the new iPhone 15 series that are compatible with iOS 17. This helps you to test your apps on the latest iOS version and to ensure that they are ready for release

This blog is originally published at Testgrid : Why iOS 17 Matters for Your Mobile App Testing Strategy

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