Ever experienced the frustration of acquiring a brand-new iPhone, only to realize it’s not running the latest iOS version upon returning from the Apple Store? Apple might have a uniquely Apple-esque fix in the works.
According to Mark Gurman, a seasoned Apple expert at Bloomberg, Apple is gearing up to deploy wireless pads for in-store iPhones. These pads will seamlessly activate, update, and power down iPhones without requiring employee intervention, ensuring that every device leaves the store with the most current iOS.
Apple aims to distribute these wireless pads to its stores before the year’s end, potentially expediting the implementation of this hands-free update technology. However, it remains uncertain if Apple will collaborate with mobile carriers on this initiative.
Acquiring an iPhone without the latest iOS may appear trivial, but it can be a concern for customers who overlook the significance of post-launch updates or are unsure how to access them. Although new iPhones usually feature the latest iOS version upon purchase, subsequent updates often contain critical security patches for issues discovered later.
For example, if you buy an iPhone 15 from an Apple Store today, it likely comes with iOS 17 (specifically, iOS 17.0). However, iOS 17.0.1, iOS 17.0.2, and iOS 17.0.3 have been released after the iPhone 15’s launch. These updates include essential fixes, but individuals unfamiliar with manual updates won’t benefit from them right away.
While newer iPhones receive automatic updates (introduced with iOS 16.4), these automatic downloads may not trigger immediately after Apple releases a new iOS version.
In summary, soon-to-be iPhone purchasers can be reassured that their new devices will not only be the latest and greatest in terms of hardware but will also run the most current software.
