iOS 11 Introduces Two New Screen Effects Within Messages Called 'Echo' and 'Spotlight' - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 11 Introduces Two New Screen Effects Within Messages Called 'Echo' and 'Spotlight'

Messages users sending texts in iOS 11 this fall will be able to share iMessages with two all-new Screen Effects in Apple's texting app.

Specifically, a new "Echo" option sends any selected piece of text to friends by multiplying the message all over the screen. The second, "Spotlight," puts an emphasis on your message by placing a large spotlight on the text as it's sent over to your friend's iOS device.

No new Bubble Effects have been added to iOS 11, at least not in the first developer beta of the software.

ios 11 screen effects
Screen Effects and Bubble Effects made their debut in iOS 10 last year, where Messages as a whole received a major overhaul thanks to the addition of the Messages App Store. On the new platform, apps have become available to download as miniature versions within Messages, including apps for payments, games, dinner reservations, and stickers.

Messages will be getting another overhaul in iOS 11, although one that's not as big as last year's update. This fall, the app's main new addition will be a redesigned App Drawer for your Messages apps, which are placed as a scrollable toolbar below the texting field. Apps should be easier to access in comparison to iOS 10's user interface, which requires one tap to get into the App Drawer, and another to go to Recents to find the app you want.

Check out the full MacRumors iOS 11 roundup for more features coming to Messages, including peer-to-peer payments using Apple Pay and full chat archive synchronization in iCloud, so transferring over to a new iPhone retains all of your old conversations.

(Thanks, Koohyun Y!)

Related Forum: iOS 11

Popular Stories

iPhone Handoff Feature

iOS 27 Introduces New 'iPhone Handoff' Feature

Wednesday September 2, 2026 12:35 pm PDT by
Apple has added a new "iPhone Handoff" feature to iOS 27 that will allow you to switch between two iPhones while using the same phone number on each device. This functionality was briefly mentioned during the WWDC 2026 keynote in June, on a slide that listed hundreds of new features coming in iOS 27 and corresponding software updates, but Apple never shared any further details at the time. ...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Thursday September 3, 2026 3:41 am PDT by
Less than a week before Apple debuts new iPhone 18 Pro models, research firm TrendForce has estimated the prices of the devices based on the latest hardware cost environment. TrendForce's price estimates compared to last year's models look like this: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 17 Pro $1,099 iPhone 18 Pro $...
Apple Foldable Thumb

iPhone Ultra's Very High Price and Features Revealed in New Report

Thursday September 3, 2026 7:33 am PDT by
Ahead of Apple's event on Wednesday, September 9, where it is expected to unveil its first-ever foldable iPhone, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce today outlined the device's estimated price range, features, and some other key details. In the U.S., TrendForce estimated that the foldable iPhone will have a starting price of $2,099 to $2,299 and said the highest-end configurations could...

Top Rated Comments

Joe Rossignol Avatar
121 months ago
Imagine the poop emoji sent with Echo lol


Attachment Image
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordQ Avatar
121 months ago
Imagine the poop emoji sent with Echo lol
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
121 months ago
I'd be interested in seeing the full effect rather than just a couple screenshots.

EDIT: An hour later, beta installed, and…



EDIT EDIT: Damn, beaten by a few other posters.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zaft Avatar
121 months ago
I enjoy all these effects iMessage is awesome, my friends/family and I enjoy group iMessage as well. A lot of fun.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yanki01 Avatar
121 months ago
i forgot about those features.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iObama Avatar
121 months ago
MacRumors if Apple doesn't do fun stuff / "Why doesn't Apple compete with Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp? It's 2017, they should at least have x, y, and z feature. I love this company, but they've lost their magic."

MacRumors when Apple does fun stuff / "THIS IS SO STUPID." "I just want to send a text." "More bloatware to slow down iOS 11." "These got old so fast." "Maybe instead of spending time on this, they should update the Mac mini because clearly you can only work on one of those at the same time." ":rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:" "Watch bands!!!!!"
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)