iOS 11.3 release date, features news: Update highlights improved battery management, new Animojis

Apple has released the iOS 11.3 update for supported iPhone and iPad devices. For many users, the iOS 11.3 is the most important major update as it includes the necessary fix for the battery performance throttling issue. To recall, Apple was seen in a bad light after admitting to intentionally reduce the device's battery performance. This time around, the users will have the control over the throttling of battery performance.

iOS 11 preview in different Apple devicesApple

Per the latest reports, the iOS 11.3 update contains an important feature that gives users an option to disable battery performance throttling on older iPhone models. With this, there will be a new battery health setting placed under the "Battery" section in the device's settings. The actual value of battery capacity can be viewed, in which the users will be notified if his or her device has a healthy battery. 

For those devices with batteries that have already started degrading, shorter period of usage between charges can be expected due to the lower capacity of the battery cell. The iOS 11.3 update also gives the peak performance capacity feature, showing how much of the battery capacity is being used for every process. The device will display a message stating that the battery has normal peak performance, that is if the battery is still in good condition.

Meanwhile, the device may experience an unexpected shutdown when the battery fails to delivery to required peak power. The new performance management feature will enter the picture, so that sudden shutdowns will be prevented in the future.

The iOS 11.3 update also includes a new batch of Animoji characters. The latest software update is the first to add more Animoji characters. Some of the new Animoji characters include a lion, a bear, a dragon, and a skull, making the current total of Animoji characters up to 16. 

The iOS 11.3 update is now available for download. The Apple devices that support this software version are the iPhone 5S and newer models, iPhone Mini 2, Mini 3, Mini 4 and the sixth-generation iPod Touch.