Apple has updated the Podcasts app with iOS 17, adding a new, modern Now Playing screen to match that seen in the Apple Music app, with the podcast’s cover artwork becoming the Now Playing screen’s background, instead of a white or gray background as seen in iOS 16.
With the update, users will see some of the podcast controls relocated, with the playback speed control moved closer to the fast forward and rewind buttons, and the sleep timer control also moved to a new position.
As well as improvements to the Now Playing screen, iOS 17 also introduces changes to the chapter list for podcasts, with the Now Playing screen able to change its image when a chapter has its own separate artwork.
The new Podcasts app updates are coming to both iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, in addition to iOS 17.