iOS 18.1.1 and iOS 17.7.2 are here. Should you upgrade?
The latest iPhone software update has arrived, in two versions. If you have an iPhone that can run iOS 18, you can install iOS 18.1.1, but if you haven’t updated to iOS 18, then there’s iOS 17.7.2 at your disposal.
Both do the same job, but for different iPhones, and are aimed at fixing two security issues. Full details below.
Note that I’ll be updating this post over the coming days and will make a final assessment on Thursday, Nov. 27.
Who Is It For And How Do You Get It?
Apple iOS 18.1.1 works with all iPhones that can run iOS 18, which is the same list of devices which could handle iOS 17. This means all iPhones from the iPhone XS onwards, including the second- and third-generation iPhone SE models.
Apple iOS 17.7.2 is available for the identical list of iPhones, for users who haven’t wanted to commit to iOS 18 just yet. Apple is keen for these users to have the same security protections as those who have updated to the latest version.
What It’s About
No new features, but important security fixes abound in this update, both of which, Apple says, “may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems.” It’s the reason that a macOS update (macOS Sequoia 15.1.1) appeared at the same time as this one for the iPhone and another for the iPad (iPadOS 18.1).
Apple iOS 18.1.1 And iOS 17.7.2 Security
There are two parts to this update. The first is a fix for a vulnerability in the Javascript Core and the second is to do with WebKit, which is the engine that runs the Safari browser.
Contributor Kate O’Flaherty has details of the security issues and of a new warning from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, urging users to update.
Initial Reactions
Well, there’s been a lot of positive comment for this update. True, there have been some negative reactions but many have been along the lines of this commenter, “The release notes say it’s just for security fixes. There are so many annoying bugs in iOS 18 that need attention.” That’s not the purpose of this update, though at least one person noted that a bug for iMessage stickers was fixed, “so it’s a sunny day today,” while another said the update is “buttery smooth.”
Apple iOS 18.1 And iOS 17.7.2 Initial Verdict: Update
The big thing here is almost nobody is reporting the introduction of new issues or problems. And the even bigger thing is the advice from CISA, mentioned above, urging users to update.
