For those that don't really know, Apple's latest iOS 10.3 operating system update is considered to be one of the biggest rollouts for the company as it will be changing millions of Apple devices in a very significant way. The update marks Apple's official transition from its 30-year old HFS+ file system to their more modern Apple File System (APFS) format.

According to Forbes, the company has been using the same file system that was originally launched back in 1998. The system is also based on the HFS system created in 1985. The company has long been pressured to transition from its archaic filing system in order to make sure that its products are future proof and fully optimized for the latest applications and software.

The new AFPS filing system has a lot of big advantages over its ancient predecessor as the majority of the functionalities and security features are already built in. APFS is also much more efficient, which means that there will be substantial space savings after the update.

Different Apple devices should have an increase in free space from 1 to 7 GB depending on its base storage size. As per BGR, this should be a welcomed bonus for those who are stuck using a 16 GB iPhone model as it will give them a little bit more leeway in terms of free storage space. Along with the long list of advantages, the APFS system also sports better backup functionalities, more secure data transfers, and full optimization for solid state drives and storage.

The transition from two different file systems was, of course, a big risk for the company as the update is estimated to involve almost a billion devices worldwide. Prior to the update being released, there were some concerns regarding data loss during the transition. However, there have fortunately not been any reports of corrupted drives and lost data so far.