Apple has released iOS 17.2 beta 3 to developers, bringing back improvements to the Dynamic Island animation along with new caller ID controls, Notes collaboration via AirDrop, and more.
One of the most noticeable changes in iOS 17.2 beta 3 is a smoother, less glitchy animation for the Dynamic Island on iPhone, odd slide-in effect and bouncing from previous betas is gone, making Dynamic Island more closely resemble its fluidity in iOS 16.
In the Phone and FaceTime settings, Apple has introduced options to limit sharing of contact names and photos for caller ID. Users can disable sharing entirely, restrict to contacts only, or keep the default of asking permission each time.
A new warning will also alert beta 3 users if a blocked contact tries to join a FaceTime call, this prevents awkward situations where a blocked person suddenly appears on a group video chat.
For easier Notes collaboration, iOS 17.2 beta 3 enables sharing notes with other nearby iPhone users via AirDrop. Rather than emailing notes back and forth, you can now AirDrop them instantly.
The Music app sees changes too in iOS 17.2 beta 3. A new setting lets you automatically add songs to your library when favoriting them. Predictive text can also be disabled fully in the keyboard settings.
Once updated, iOS 17 will ask permission for the Photos app to access your Apple Music library, allows using Apple Music songs as background music for Memories highlight reels, iOS 17.1 focused on music app enable cellular data AirDrop.
Beyond the notable new user-facing features, iOS 17.2 delivers an array of behind-the-scenes refinements. These include performance boosts, UI polish, and bug fixes ahead of the anticipated public launch.
Developers can provide feedback to Apple on the changes in iOS 17.2 beta 3 to help guide fine-tuning before general availability.
The return of smooth Dynamic Island motion shows Apple is still refining the headline iPhone feature. Meanwhile, thoughtful additions like caller ID controls and AirDrop Notes collaboration demonstrate Apple’s commitment to enhancing the iOS experience.
