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Apple releases iOS 11.3 with iPhone battery tool, new Animoji, and more

Updates are also available for the Apple Watch, HomePod, and Apple TV.
Written by Jason Cipriani, Contributing Writer

Video: iOS 11.3 beta adds battery health settings

You can now check your iPhone battery's health and see if your phone is being throttled or slowed down due to an older battery. This feature is included in iOS 11.3, which Apple released on March 29.

Must read: iOS 11.3: Get your iPhone and iPad ready for the biggest update yet

Apple also released the first software update for its smart speaker, the HomePod. The Apple Watch and Apple TV received updates, too.

In addition to the new battery checking tool, iOS 11.3 introduces a new privacy icon to help users identify when Apple is requesting private information and not a third party.

Apple's augmented reality platform, ARKit, has also been updated to support horizontal surfaces. New Animoji in iOS 11.3 includes a lion, dragon, bear, and skull.

Messages in iCloud, a feature first announced at WWDC in 2017, was removed from the final release of iOS 11.3. The feature had been present throughout the entire beta program for iOS 11.3.

ios-11-3.jpg
(Screenshot: Jason Cipriani/ZDNet)

Additionally, starting in May in select EU countries -- and later worldwide -- Apple will release four new privacy tools.

From a user's Apple ID page, the following actions will be available:

  • Get a copy of your data
  • Request a correction to your data
  • Deactivate your account
  • Delete your account completely

You can update your iOS device over the air. Just go to Settings > General > Software Update.

iPhone Battery Health: How to use iOS 11.3's new settings

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