iOS 16 has been released as a beta for developers and now as a beta for everyone else to download. Make sure to check out our hands-on review of the iOS 16 public beta to see what we think of all the new features coming to the iPhone this fall.
You can also look at our guide for quick tips on how to use your iPhone’s most important iOS 16 features.
During the WWDC 2022 iOS 16 preview in June, we learned that these features include a redesigned lock screen with widgets, major improvements to Messages, a shared photo library for families, and more. Even though these updates are coming to iPhones that are already out, this is also the iPhone OS that will be on the new iPhone 14 models that are rumored to come out later this year. We’d expect the final version of iOS 16 to come out right before the new iPhones do.
Some features found during the beta process could reveal features not planned for the phone coming out this fall. (For example, we’re pretty sure that the redesigned lock screen is a sign that the iPhone 14 Pro will have an always-on display.
Here’s what we know about the big changes in iOS 16 based on the betas Apple has released, plus the company’s iOS 16 preview.
iOS 16 Release Date
Both the iOS 16 developer beta and the iOS 16 public beta are now available, and there will be more updates all summer long. (These updates go out first to developers and then, a few days to a week later, to everyone else.) We have a step-by-step guide on how to get the iOS 16 beta.
On July 6, Apple released iOS 16 developer beta 3, the third version of the software. This version had a few new features that hadn’t been in the first betas. The first public beta of iOS 16 came out in less than a week.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are likely to come out in the fall, along with the final version of iOS 16. We don’t know when the iPhone 14 will come out, but Apple usually releases new phones in September. You can expect iOS 16 to come out at the same time as the iPhone 14.
What Devices Will Run iOS 16?
The last two software updates from Apple have worked on the same devices. Support goes back to the iPhone 6s, which came out in the fall of 2015. Apple is stopping support for some older phones because iOS 15 features that needed more modern hardware.
Apple says that iOS 16 will be available for the iPhone 8 and later models. Before this release, there were rumors that the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and the original iPhone SE from 2016 would no longer be able to use iOS. But we can take the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus off the list of devices that iOS 16 works with.
Owners of these phones shouldn’t be too upset if Apple stops supporting them after iOS 16. The first iPhone SE came out six years ago, and the iPhone 6s models will be seven years old this fall. Even the iPhone 7 is getting close to its sixth birthday. Since processing power has gotten better in that time, it seems likely that some iOS 16 features are too much for those devices to handle.
iOS 16 Lock Screen
During its WWDC preview, Apple spent a lot of time talking about the iOS 16 lock screen. In short, it’s a big change to the old lock screen that was getting old and boring. There are a lot of changes, and some of them are similar to what Google has done with Android.
You can change the font and color of the clock, move pictures around, try out different styles like filters, change one or more parts of the lock screen, and make more than one lock screen. You can also use big ideas, like astronomy or the weather. We have a full look at all the parts of the iOS 16 lock screen that you can change.
In iOS 16, notifications will come in from the bottom of the screen instead of the middle, which means they won’t cover up your wallpaper. During the day, you can hide them to keep your lock screen clean. And iOS 16 adds Live Activities, which makes it much easier to stay on top of notifications that change in real time, like for sports apps.
The ability to have a live screen with widgets seems to be a step toward an always-on display, which is common on Android phones but not on Apple’s. Apple hasn’t said for sure, but the iPhone 14 could change that. But code in the iOS 16 developer beta hints at a screen that stays on all the time. We think this is for the iPhone 14 Pro models, which are expected to have a refresh rate of 1Hz.
iOS 16 Messages
There will also be big changes to the messages. Many people will be glad that you will finally be able to change and delete your messages. You can also mark threads as unread in case you want to come back to them later. SharePlay, which was added to iOS 15 for the first time, is coming to Messages as well.
As of version 2 of the iOS 16 developer beta, there is a feature called “Report Junk” that lets people tell wireless carriers about SMS/MMS spam.
With the new updates to Dictation, you can switch between voice and text without any trouble. While you talk, the keyboard stays open, and you can use your finger to select text and replace it with what you say. Dictation will also end punctuation and emojis on its own.
The only bad thing about this feature is that it only works well with other devices that run iOS 16 or iPadOS 16. When changes are made to messages, iPhones with older software get two copies of each message.
iOS 16 Focus
One of our favorite new features in iOS 15 was focus, which blocks off unnecessary distractions so you can focus on whatever you’re doing, whether it’s work or play. And it will get much better with iOS 16.
For starters, it will now extend to your iPhone’s lock screen, with the ability to create custom screens tied to a specific focus mode. For instance, you may configure one for work, complete with widgets, modifications, and business-related wallpaper, and another for when you’re unwinding at home.
Additionally, the Focus customizations will extend to a few apps; for example, if you have Work Focus mode chosen, Safari, Messages, Mail, and Calendar will only display notifications relating to that. On the lock screen, switching between Focus modes would be as easy as swiping.
iOS 16 Wallet
With iOS 16, the Apple Wallet app now has a new function called Apple Pay Later. Users will be able to split any Apple Pay purchase into four payments over the course of six weeks using the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) service, all through the Apple Wallet app. If the user pays on time, there are no fees or interest charges, and the payments should be accepted everywhere in the United States that accepts Apple Pay. In case they require extra time for some larger purchases, customers won’t be without options thanks to PayPal’s recent announcement of its own BNPL service Pay in 4.
Apple Pay now adds an Order Tracking tool, which will provide you with thorough receipts and order tracking details all within Apple Wallet, to help you manage your payments more effectively.
Finally, there are some new features for Keys and IDs in Wallet. You can now share your house, hotel, office, and car keys in Wallet using Apple’s iMessage apps and use your ID in Wallet to authenticate your identity and age within apps. Naturally, all of this information will be maintained securely. Read More; Google Pixel 7: Everything We Know So Far
iOS 16 Maps
For the second time in a year, Apple’s Maps app has added 11 new countries to its coverage area. As part of this expansion, it’s also adding six more cities to its 3D city map network: Chicago, Sydney, and Las Vegas.
Apple Maps now allows you to add up to 15 stops to a route, allowing you to effortlessly navigate through various locations. There are a number of ways to customize your iPhone’s navigation system, including asking Siri for help or preparing a route on a Mac and sending it to your iPhone.
Via order to see how much it will cost you to travel by public transportation, you can now do so in Apple Maps and the Apple Wallet app, which both integrate with the service.
In this review of iOS 16 Maps and its new features, we summarize all of these alterations.
iOS 16 Live Text and Visual Lookup
iOS 16 will include enhancements to features like Visual Lookup and Live Text. To begin, you can extract text from videos with Live Text. You can pause at any point in the video and select the text you wish to focus on. You can use Live Text to highlight vast volumes of foreign text in Translate.
With Visual Lookup, you can easily draw attention to the query’s primary focus. You only need to hold down the tap and lift the subject to move it to the desired app. It was suggested by Apple that we use Messages instead. Read Also; Nothing Phone (1) — Everything We Know So Far
iOS 16 Family Sharing and Photos
Family Sharing has received an upgrade in iOS 16, which already boasts a slew of family-friendly features. The Quick Start option, which transfers existing settings to a new phone, makes it more faster and simpler to set up a device for a child. This is a good thing, given that youngsters aren’t famed for their patience. Although the option to approve requests for additional screen time directly from Messages may be even more valuable.
iCloud Shared Photo Library was also introduced by Apple at the same time. In the same way that Google Images allows you to collaborately share photos with friends and family, iCloud Photo Library allows you to do the same. Please note that the maximum number of participants is 5.
You can choose to share just a few or all of your images, and you can also organize them by date or person. You have the option of adding images manually or automatically via the new sharing shortcut in the Camera app. If you’d prefer, you can set it to always be on by flipping this switch.
On the For You page, photos will even suggest photos to share. Everyone has the same level of access to the shared library.
iOS 16 News and Sports
Apple News will soon have a new section for sports. This will let you keep up with your favorite teams and leagues for all the latest news and stories. You can see schedules, scores, and highlights in the “My Sports” section. With the Apple TV app, everything you have is in sync.
In the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, this will be free. Apple News+ subscribers will be able to read more in-depth stories about their favorite sports teams.
iOS 16 Safety Check
Safety Check will be part of iOS 16 because Apple wants to take a stand on personal safety. This makes it easy for people who have been abused at home to take away access to their account, such as by stopping location sharing or removing app permissions. Safety Check can change all of your privacy settings and protect your messages.
iOS 16 Health
Health is getting a few changes tied to the watchOS 9 update that will be coming out at the same time as iOS 16. For example, the Apple Watch’s Fitness app, which tracks movement and other activity, is coming to the iPhone. Even if you don’t have an Apple Watch, you can use Fitness on your iPhone (though Apple would certainly appreciate it if this addition inspires you to buy one.)
Another cool thing coming to Health is a place where you can keep track of and manage your medicines. With the iOS 16 Medications feature, you can list the pills you’re taking and, more importantly, set up reminders to take your pills at certain times.
