If you’re hoping that Apple will help enhance the security of your iOS device and protect your files from authorized access, then the upcoming iOS 10.3 update might be something to look forward to. This is because iOS 10.3 will finally be bringing APFS (Apple File System) to your iPhone/iPad.
For those who are unfamiliar with APFS, this is a file system that has been designed to improve support for solid-state storage as well as encryption and to safeguard data integrity, meaning that the files and information stored on your iOS device should be more secure than ever. It will also replace the HFS+ system that Apple has been using for the past 20 years or so.
Apple actually announced their plans to introduce AFPS to its products during WWDC 2016. In fact Apple kind of released a limited version of AFPS in the macOS Sierra beta, but like we said it was very limited in nature which we guess was simply for developers to test it out, but it seems that 2017 is when it will be rolling out in earnest.
There’s no word on when iOS 10.3 will be released, but according to Apple, “When you update to iOS 10.3, your iOS device will update its file system to Apple File System (APFS). This conversion preserves existing data on your device. However, as with any software update, it is recommended that you create a backup of your device before updating.” More information on APFS can be found on Apple’s developer website.