The public beta of iOS 16 is now available for download, after a developer beta that was released to the public earlier this month. Get a taste of what Apple has in store this autumn by checking out the iOS 16 public beta hands-on.
iOS 16 preview from WWDC 2022 revealed many new features, such as widgets on the Lock Screen and a shared picture library for families. The new iPhone 14 versions reported to be released later this year will also come pre-installed with the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system. As soon as the new iPhones go on sale, we anticipate iOS 16 to be released.
Unannounced capabilities may have been revealed during the beta testing phase, which unearthed several functionalities. If the iPhone 14 Pro has an always-on display, for example, the new lock screen is a definite clue.
Based on Apple’s iOS 16 betas and the company’s iOS 16 preview, here’s what we know about the major changes in iOS 16.
iOS 16 cheat sheet: The biggest new iPhone features
- In iOS 16, the lock screen undergoes a big revamp. All of these options are available to you. Widgets may be added, and pictures can be repositioned.
- The lock screen may now be focused on as well. A separate lock screen for each of your Focus modes — working or playing — may be created, each with its own set of personalized widgets.
- Editing and deleting messages is now possible with the addition of messages. You can collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and more right from inside the chat app using SharePlay.
- Using Apple Pay, you may now make contactless purchases at shops that only accept iPhones as a form of payment. A purchase may be divided into four equal payments over six weeks, with no interest or fees, using Apple Pay Later.
- Sharing photos in a different iCloud library is easy with iCloud Shared Photo Library.
- Family sharing has been improved to make it simpler for parents to set up their children’s devices.
We’ve also taken a look at some of the lesser-known iOS 16 features that haven’t received as much attention in the build-up to the release.
iOS 16 release date
This summer will see a number of upgrades to both the iOS 16 development and public betas. It takes a few days or a week for such changes to reach the general public (developers get them first). The iOS 16 beta is available for download, and we’ve got instructions on how to get it.
Apple’s iOS 16 developer beta 3 was published on July 6 and includes various new capabilities, some of which were absent from the first two betas. The first public beta of iOS 16 was released less than a week later.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are expected to be on sale this autumn, along with the final release of iOS 16. When the iPhone 14 is expected to arrive, Apple typically aims for a September release date. iOS 16 is expected to be released at the same time as the iPhone 14.
What devices will run iOS 16?
As far back as the iPhone 6s, which was originally released in the autumn of 2015, support has been provided for Apple’s most recent two software upgrades. As a result, certain outdated phones will no longer be supported by Apple when iOS 15 was released.
iOS 16 will be available for the iPhone 8 and above, according to Apple. It was previously reported that Apple will no longer support iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and the original iPhone SE, all of which were released in 2016. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, on the other hand, are no longer supported by iOS 16.
If iOS 16 marks the end of Apple’s support for such devices, they won’t be too upset. It’s been six years since the first iPhone SE was released, and the iPhone 6s models will be seven years old this September. Even the iPhone 7 is nearing its sixth birthday. It’s only logical to presume that certain of iOS 16’s features aren’t compatible with older devices due to improvements in processing power since then.
iOS 16 lock screen
During Apple’s WWDC preview, the iOS 16 lock screen received a lot of attention. In a nutshell, this is a major redesign of the dated lock screen. A wide range of improvements, some resembling what Google has done with Android, have been implemented.
You may modify the text and color of the clock, move pictures around, experiment with other styles like filters, and create several lock screens. Astronomy or weather may also be used as a topic, for example. We’ve taken an in-depth look at all of the customizable components on the iOS 16 lock screen.
Notifications on iOS 16 will no longer obscure your wallpaper’s center, but instead appear at the bottom of the screen. It is possible to conceal them during the day so that your lock screen is clearer. iOS 16 offers Live Activities for alerts that continually change in real time, like as for sports applications, making it much simpler to keep track of things.
For Android phones, an always-on display is commonplace, but Apple’s devices don’t have the ability to show widgets at all. Though Apple hasn’t officially said anything, this might change with the iPhone 14. It is possible that Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro models, which are projected to have a refresh rate of 1Hz, will have an always-on display, as code in the iOS 16 developer beta suggests.
iOS 16 Messages
A significant amount of work will be done on messages as well. This is a long-overdue feature that many people will enjoy having access to. You have the option of marking threads as unread if you want to return to them at a later time. A feature that debuted in iOS 15 is now coming to Messages as well: SharePlay.
A new Report Junk feature was added to the iOS 16 developer beta version 2 that allows users to report spam SMS and MMS messages to telecom providers.
Dictation’s new features allow you to easily switch between speech and text. When you’re speaking, the keyboard remains open and you may use your finger to pick text and replace it with dictation. Punctuation and emojis will likewise be automatically terminated while dictating.
This functionality only works with other iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 devices, which is a shame. When changes are made, duplicate notifications are sent to iPhones running outdated software.
iOS 16 Focus
Focus was one of our favorite new features in iOS 15, allowing you to focus on whatever you were doing, whether it work or pleasure, without being distracted. It’ll become much better with iOS 16 as well.
For starters, you’ll be able to customize your iPhone’s lock screen with a focus mode-specific lock screen. There are a variety of ways to customize your phone, such as setting one for work and another for when you’re at home.
To further customize your focus mode, you may set it up for just certain applications, such as Safari or Messages or Mail or Calendar, to only display alerts relating to your chosen focus. It would be as easy as swiping left or right to choose between the Focus modes on the lock screen.
iOS 16 Wallet
The Apple Wallet app in iOS 16 now has a new function called “Apple Pay Later.” Using the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) option, Apple Pay customers will be able to divide any purchase into four installments over the course of six weeks. If the user pays on time, there are no fees or interest charges, and the payments should be accepted anyplace in the United States where Apple Pay is accepted. Consumers who want more time to complete bigger transactions will have a plethora of choices now that PayPal has unveiled its own BNPL service, Pay in 4.
To make it easier for you to keep track of your purchases, Apple Pay has included an Order Tracking function that provides you with full receipts and order tracking information right inside Apple Wallet.
Finally, Wallet’s Keys and IDs now have a few enhancements. Use your Apple ID to authenticate identity and age in applications, and you can now send home, hotel, or workplace or vehicle keys in Wallet using Apple’s messaging apps. Everything will be kept safe and secure, of course.
iOS 16 Maps
Apple’s navigation app has added 11 more nations to its list of supported countries. Besides Chicago and Sydney, the 3D city map network is expanding to include six other locations as well as the fantastic-looking Las Vegas.
Apple Maps now allows users to add up to 15 stops to a route, making it easier to go around several locations. You may add more while you’re out and about by asking Siri, or you can plan out a route in advance on your Mac and then transmit it to your iPhone when you’re ready to leave..
Now, if you take public transportation, you can check rates for your journey on Apple Maps and see whether you have enough credit to get there using the Apple Wallet app.
You can see all these improvements and more in our review of the iOS 16 Maps app.
iOS 16 Live Text and Visual Lookup
Also in iOS 16, a few updates are coming to Live Text and Visual Lookup. You’ll be able to extract text from videos using Live Text. The text may be highlighted and paused at any point in the video. For significant volumes of foreign language, you’ll be able to highlight it using Live Text in Translate.
You may use Visual Lookup to make your query stand out. Just press and hold the topic, raise it up, and drop it into the app of your choice. Messages was Apple’s recommendation.
iOS 16 Family Sharing and Photos
Family Sharing has gotten an update in iOS 16 and is now even more useful for families. Most importantly, the Quick Start option transfers current settings to a new phone, making the process of setting up a child’s phone more quicker and more straightforward than before. This is especially helpful for children, who aren’t exactly renowned for their patience. Although the option to accept requests for more screen time straight from Messages may be even more beneficial than having to go into Settings.
iCloud Shared Photo Library is another new feature that Apple debuted with the new iCloud Photo Library. In the same way that Google Images allows you to collaborately share photos with your friends and family, iCloud Photo Library lets you do the same. There is a maximum of five persons that may be added.
You may choose which images to share, whether it’s a selection or the whole of your collection. You can even organize your photos by date or by specific people. You have the option of adding photographs manually or automatically via the new sharing shortcut in the Camera app. It’s possible to have this switch automatically activated if that’s what you like.
The For You option in Photos even suggests photos to share. Everyone has the same level of access to the shared library.
iOS 16 News and Sports
A new Sports area will be added to Apple News, allowing you to stay up to speed on all the latest news and articles about your favorite teams and leagues. You may access schedules, results, and highlights in the My Sports area. The Apple TV app keeps track of everything you own.
In the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, this will be completely free. Subscribers to Apple News+ will be able to watch their favorite sports teams in high definition.
Apple’s new iOS 16 security check
iOS 16 will have a feature called Safety Check as part of Apple’s commitment to user security. Victims of domestic violence may simply remove their account’s capabilities, such as location sharing or app permissions, using this feature. All privacy permissions may be adjusted and communications can be protected using Safety Check.
iOS 16 Health
The watchOS 9 upgrade, which will be released at the same time as iOS 16, will bring a few new features to Health. You can monitor your steps and other physical activities on your iPhone using the Apple Watch’s Fitness app, for example. Without an Apple Watch, fitness on your iPhone may still be used to monitor and track progress (though Apple would certainly appreciate it if this addition inspires you to buy one.)
A new area in Health will allow you to keep track of and manage your prescription drugs. It’s now possible to keep track of the medications you’re taking and set up automatic reminders to take them at particular times with the new iOS 16 Medications feature.
iOS 16: Other features
What we’ve seen so far from Apple’s presentation is only a taste of what’s to come. However, as WWDC progresses, we should expect to learn more about Apple’s mobile operating system. Everything we learn will be compiled in one location.