iPhone 17 market launch: Day-one update absolutely necessary

With the iPhone 17 launch on September 19, Apple is not only shipping the new models with iOS 26, but also requiring users to install an update on day one. All four versions of the iPhone 17 series are affected: the iPhone 17, the iPhone Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Apple released a new version of iOS 26 (Build 23A345) on Monday. Reviewers who received their devices in advance were able to upgrade to the newer software immediately. Starting with the official launch, all buyers will also be required to update. The reason for this is that although the devices ship with iOS 26, they still have an older build number.

Different builds for the iPhone 17 models

All four models come with iOS 26 version 23A330 out of the box. This makes them technically up-to-date, but not the latest. Apple differentiates between the standard and Pro models. The iPhone 17 and iPhone Air must be updated to iOS 26 with build number 23A341 after setup. Only then are the devices fully compatible with the latest updates. The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max require an even more specific update. Both models require build number 23A345, which Apple released separately on Monday.

What does iOS 26 (23A345) bring?

It remains unclear exactly what changes the update will bring to the Pro models. Apple itself hasn't provided any details. It's possible that bug fixes or optimizations for the new hardware have been integrated. The only thing that is certain is that iPhone 17 models without this update won't run at the final version.

Time of delivery

The iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will begin shipping to customers on Friday, September 19. All devices will launch with iOS 26, but will require an update immediately upon launch.

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Mandatory update for all iPhone 17 models

The iPhone 17 will launch with a mandatory day-one update. While the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air require build number 23A341, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max require the specially released version 23A345. While it's unclear which improvements are specifically included for the Pro models, there's no way for all buyers to install the update immediately. The best products for you: Our Amazon Storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Apple)