Apple's 10.2 iOS update has been a few weeks old but there are news online that the Apple's operating system may be replaced earlier than expected. The upcoming iOS 10.3 update might be in the horizon and Apple insiders said that the patch will be coming this month that will include a new feature.

According to Daily Mail, there was a Twitter post saying that iOS 10.3 will be hitting on January 10. The source also stated that the new iOS update will also have the new "Theater Mode", presented as a popcorn shape icon the dims the display and disables all incoming calls and messages, making the device more suitable for movie theaters.

The publication further reports that Apple owns a patent for the said mode that it had published a while back in 2012. The patent doesn't list Theater Mode but describes the functions and technology that would automatically activated by specific GPS coordinates and cellular triangulation.

The patent published in 2012 states that when users enters movie theaters, the smartphone automatically settles in silent mode. And when the user leaves that movie theater, the device then will enables incoming calls and messages.

Meanwhile, 9to5Mac reports that the Theater Mode is an enhanced version of Apple's Dark Mode. It is currently available on existing macOS and tvOS devices.

Dark Mode alters the software color balance and reduces the overall light output of devices to be less distracting. Unlike the propose Theater Mode, users can check their messages and calls when enabling Dark Mode without making noise in the cinemas.

The Theater Mode from the upcoming patch was leaked by Sonny Dickson, who is a well-known insider for Apple and sharing details. However, if Dickson's beta release date predictions are true, then iPhone users won't expect to see a full release of iOS 10.3 until mid-February at the earliest.