iOS 16: Here’s All Features You Need to Know

On Monday, June 6, Apple announced iOS 16 beta at WWDC 2022. At this event, the Cupertino-based tech giant reveals the iOS 16 preview that gives us an overview of the iOS 16 new features for iPhones. The upcoming iOS version is bringing a lot of new features that would give a great user experience on the supported devices.

While Apple has already revealed many features of the new iOS 16 which is now available in the iOS 16 beta for developers, there are still chances of some hidden features that will be revealed to the public version. The final version will be unveiled alongside the new iPhone 14 devices expected later this year. So far, here’s what we know about iOS 16’s significant changes.

iOS 16 Availability

As mentioned above, the public version of iOS 16 is expected to be released in September 2022 along with the new iPhone 14 series. However, you can experience the iOS 16 developer beta in the interim.

In July, a public iOS 16 beta is expected. Follow the procedures outlined in our tutorial on how to upgrade your iPhone’s software to see if the iOS 16 beta is currently available for your device.

How to Install iOS 16?

When Apple introduced iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, it also made the developer iOS 16 beta accessible for testing on the iPhone and iPad right away. Because iOS 16 beta is pre-release software by definition, it is highly suggested that you install it on a secondary device.

Beta software’s stability cannot be guaranteed, as it frequently contains problems and issues that have yet to be resolved; therefore, installing it on your daily device is not recommended. A developer account with a paid membership is required to download and install the iOS 16 developer beta.

Read More: iOS 16 Supported Devices – Check If Your iPhone Supports the Latest iOS Update

If you have a developer account and an iOS 16 compatible device, you just need to go to your Settings>> General>>Software Update and watch for the iOS 16 beta update. If available, download and install it on your iPhone and you should be good to go!

New iOS 16 Features

Apple chose to focus on a few new enhancements in its WWDC 2022 debut, despite the fact that iOS16 would undoubtedly include hundreds of minor changes. Let’s have a look at the new iOS 16 features.

iOS 16 New Lock Screen Interface

iOS 16 Lockscreen

Most iPhone owners will undoubtedly notice the updated lock screen design the most because it features new designs, a color palette, and quick-glance data that appears to be prompted by the Smartwatch interface. Here, the main emphasis is on personalization.

You may adjust the layout of the lock screen as well as add intriguing effects just by swiping, thanks to the variety of typeface and color swatches for the date and time. The new lock screen’s wallpaper and widgets can be moved around as desired, and widgets can be added to it. There are also fresh animated wallpapers featuring slick animations, like a live-weather wallpaper.

New Message Features

Mark Unread Messages on iOS 16

In addition, iOS 16 includes changes to the Texts app, including the ability to modify messages after they have been delivered, which has been a long-requested feature. Yes, you can update your iMessage on Apple before you can edit your tweets on Twitter.

There is also a new Undo Send option for recently sent messages, which is handy for last-minute modifications. If you wish to reply later without forgetting, you may also mark threads as unread. You will be able to watch movies, listen to music, and do some other stuff while chatting with your pals’ thanks to the integration of SharePlay into the imessages application.

Live Text and Visual Lookup

iOS 16 Live Text

The ability to interact with text within photographs saved on your iPhone was a huge innovation in iOS 15, and Live Text was a big part of it. Adding features like currency conversion and text translation enabled in iOS 16 allows you to make phone conversations, copy-paste text, and do more.

iOS 16 Live Text for Videos

Apple intends to improve that performance even more by introducing movie support, which would enable users to stop the movie at any time and copy whatever text appears on the screen. This feature is ideal for coding videos and other related jobs.

iOS 16 SharePlay

iOS 16 SharePlay

Apple introduced SharePlay in iOS 15, but in iOS 16, it has been improved. By having a section that lists all of your SharePlay-enabled apps loaded on your device, there will be more robust integrations of SharePlay with FaceTime. It will also work with your Messages and conversations.

Safari

iOS 16 Safari

Previously introduced in iOS 15, Tab Groups can now allow friends and family to share them and have a look at what others are seeing. Passkeys, which are password substitutes, are also available in Safari. These are one-of-a-kind digital keys that are simple to use, safe, and never stored on a server.

Read More: How To Share Safari Tab Groups In iOS 16?

Passkeys remain on your device, protecting them from being stolen by hackers, and they can not be compromised by a data breach or given away by deceived users. Thanks to the end-to-end encryption on Apple’s devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, and TV, passkeys could be validated using Face ID or Touch ID and synced with iCloud Keychain. Apps and websites can both use passkeys.

Siri and Dictation

Dictation iOS 16

In iOS 16, Siri can execute shortcuts without any setup required as quickly as an app is downloaded. Users can effortlessly add emoji, select auto sending, omit the affirmation step, hang up the phone, and FaceTime calls hands-free by saying, “Hey Siri, hang up.” By asking Siri, “Hey Siri, what can I do here?” users can also learn about Siri’s features in iOS 16 and apps and find out information about certain apps. 

In iOS 16, Siri can now handle more requests that are made via Home Control (HomeKit), Intercom, and Voicemail while the device is not connected to the internet.

Users may seamlessly switch between speech and touch using dictation, which delivers a novel experience. Dictation does not need to be stopped in order to use the keyboard, tap the textbox, move the cursor, or enter QuickType options. 

Additionally, emoji dictation and automated punctuation are now available in dictation. Now that the Dictation symbol has been added to the text entry field in Messages, users may quickly halt dictation by clicking the new cursor popover.

New Notification System

iOS 16 New Notification System

What good is a fresh lock screen if it is continually flooded with notifications? With Apple’s announcement of a new notification system that shows arriving notifications at the bottom of the lock screen options for a less crowded experience, it appears that this will not be an issue in iOS16.

Additionally, iOS16 will include a brand-new function called Live Activities that tries to cut down on the amount of intrusive real-time alerts from delivery and sports applications. Developers may design clean glanceable experiences instead of bombarding you with notifications when your purchase is picked up, delivered, and outside (for example).

New Mail Updates

iOS 16 Mail Updates

Users are now able to schedule emails in advance and stop a message from being delivered up to ten seconds before it delivers to the intended’s inbox. Remind Later lets you revive a text at any date and time, and Mail can tell if a person has missed to include a vital part of their email, such as any document you may want to attach.

Rich links offer context and explanation, while follow-up recommendations urge iPhone users to follow up on emails if they do not receive a response.

Read this iOS 16 features guide to learn more about the 16 new features of iOS 16.

Other Features and Improvements in iOS 16

Spotlight: The Home Screen’s bottom provides a direct link to Spotlight. The function now includes a list of recent searches, extended rich results for sports and businesses, and makes use of picture data from Messages, Notes, and Files to allow scanning by places, people, sceneries, or even objects in the photographs, such as text, a dog, or a car. 

Additionally, Siri Suggestions take the user’s context into account, and Spotlight can be used to rapidly perform tasks like initiating a timer, turning on a Focus, using Shazam to identify songs, executing a shortcut, and starting a Live Activity, and more.

Improved Child Security updates: The proper parental controls, including suggestions for age-appropriate media limitations, may now be set up more quickly thanks to improved child account setup. A new Quick Start feature makes it simpler to configure a new iPhone or iPad for a child who already has the necessary parental settings enabled. 

Read More: Apple Release iOS 16 With New Features You Will Love For Sure!

Now that children may request more screen time in messages granting or denying requests is simpler. Family Checklist offers practical advice and recommendations, such as upgrading a child’s settings as they age, enabling location sharing, or just pointing out that you can share your iCloud+ subscription with anyone.

Door Detection Feature: With the help of the new Door Detection function in iOS 16, blind or visually impaired users can hear numbers on doors being read aloud and more.

Fitness app in iOS 16: If you do not want to wear an Apple Watch, you can track your steps and get advice using the Fitness app for iPhone.

In addition to securely tracking your pills and logging your drug activities, the Apple Health app can remind you to take your medications.

Share keys: By using ShareKeys, users will not need to enter a password to access websites and apps. Using biometrics eliminates the need for passwords and virtually all phishing by securely storing a key that is validated with a website.

Book: It is simpler to continue listening while perusing the store with Books’ new audiobook player, which comes with updated player controls and a mini-player. When an audiobook is bought directly from the player, people can keep listening to it while it is being reviewed. By selecting reading themes for various contexts and moods and by altering the spacing, font, text size, and other parameters, a new reader offers users the opportunity to further personalize their reading experience.

Emoji: Emoji now includes six brand-new postures, 17 brand-new and updated hairstyles, more choices for headgear, lips, and noses, and the option to use all of the stickers for contact photography.

App clips: For more immersive experiences, App Clips have a file size restriction that has been increased by 50%. Additionally, they support Live Activities and enable more accurate location-based Spotlight and Siri Suggestions widget suggestions for nearby App Clips.

iCloud updates: In addition to sharing a custom domain with anyone outside your Family Sharing group, buying a new domain, or enabling catch-all aliases, iCloud+ includes Hide My Email directly in QuickType keyboard recommendations.

Weather: New Weather updates in iPS 16 now give you information about severe weather and tappable tiles that display a deeper set of information, such as hourly temperature and rainfall forecasts for the next ten days.

Music: With the help of better suggestions and new music notifications, fans can now keep track of their favorite artists through music. The app also includes playlist sorting, an updated Lock Screen player, and a new Now Playing UI.

New Accessibility Features: The latest accessibility updates include Door Detection, which enables people with vision impairments to use their iPhones to navigate the final few feet to their destination, and Apple Watch Mirroring, which allows people with physical and motor disabilities to fully control Apple Watch from their iPhone. Furthermore, Live Captions make it simpler for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing people to follow along while speaking with someone nearby, using a videoconference or social media app, streaming media material, or participating in a phone call or FaceTime contact.

Updates in the Contacts app: Users can tap through to friends’ Game Center accounts in Contacts to see what they are up to in games and what they have accomplished. Now, the Contacts section lets you know if a certain contact has any unread messages for you. The Contacts app’s medium and large widget sizes are the only ones that display the unread messages banner.

iNews – My Sports: Get the finest stories about your favorite teams and leagues by following them on social media. You may also access highlights and the most recent standings, schedules, and scores in your news stream.

Freeform: You can collaborate with others using the productivity software Freeform to realize your ideas. Note-taking, file sharing, and the insertion of online links, documents, videos, and audio are all possible.

FaceTime pass-through: Switch between devices without losing your place during a FaceTime session. Simply tap to transfer your call from your Mac to your iPhone or iPad, and your linked Bluetooth headset switches over as well.

What Devices Will Run iOS 16? – iOS 16 Supported Devices

Apple is the brand to follow when it comes to software updates. From the iPhone 8 to the forthcoming iPhone 13, Apple will support the iOS 16 update. This update should be installed by default on all future iPhone 14 models. Look at the official list of iPhones that will get the next version of Apple’s mobile software to see which ones will get it.

  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone SE (2020)
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone X
  • iPhone 8 Plus
  • iPhone 8

Of course, when the iPhone 14 series is released later this year, expect iOS 16 to be fully compatible. In fact, the new iPhones are anticipated to come preloaded with iOS 16.

iOS 16 Release Date

After the beta testing phase, Apple is anticipated to release iOS 16 in the fall. After the yearly iPhone event in September 2022, we expect iOS 16 to be made available to the general public. However, this is just conjecture since Apple has only stated that its fall debut is planned. On Monday, September 20, 2021, of last year, iOS 15 was released.

Conclusion

The developer beta for iOS 16 is now available. The public beta will be available next month, and iOS 16 will be released in the fall of 2022, with some wonderful new features mentioned in this guide.

Leave a Comment