Apple kick-started this year's WWDC with a massive presentation, introducing iOS 16 and what's new for it. A month later, the iOS 16 public beta is now out for anyone brave enough to try. From some more personalization, cleaner notifications, to an upgraded HomeKit and extra little tidbits, here's what's up with iOS 16.
We expect iOS 16 to be pushed out in mid-to-late September. Tradition dictates that there's an Apple event mid-September every year. There, Cupertino reveals the next generation of iPhones and officially showcases the final build of the latest iOS. After that, the new iPhones ship and old iPhones (the ones that are eligible) receive the latest firmware.
Operating System
Release date
iOS 12
2018, September 17
iOS 13
2019, September 19
iOS 14
2020, September 16
iOS 15
2021, September 20
iOS 16
2022, September ?
However, it's worth noting that impatient fans will be able to test out beta builds of iOS 16 this summer. The Developer Beta is currently out for members of the Developer Program. Anyone else can check out the Public Beta, which is already available to download.
How to install iOS 16 beta?
Grabbing a Public Beta from Apple is pretty easy — you just need to download the official profile settings for your phone. Just follow these simple steps:
Go to beta.apple.com (do it with the device you want to install the beta on)
Sign in with your Apple ID
Choose device you want to download the beta for
Beta profile has been downloaded
Open Settings, you will see a message on the top prompting you to install the beta
Accept, then let the device restart
Now that you have a beta profile, go to Settings -> General -> Software Update. Download the iOS 16 beta
Usually, Public Betas are fine and safe, albeit a bit buggy. Still, it's a good idea to back up your iPhone before installing. And we mean really back up — pull up that Lightning cable and actually use iTunes for an on-disk backup.
To remove iOS 16 Beta profile:
Go into Settings
General
VPN & Device Management
iOS 16 Beta profile
Remove profile
Note: this will not remove the iOS 16 beta from your iPhone! However, when there is an official iOS update available, your phone will download that one and hop off the beta train.
Which iPhones will get iOS 16?
All iPhones from iPhone 8 and up (2017 and later). Here's a full list of devices that will get it:
Apple is well-known for supporting its devices long, long after release. iOS 15 was available to iPhones all the way back to the iPhone 6s — it was 6 years old at the time of the latest update.
However, iOS 16 is about to axe two old iPhones and declare their end-of-life status. Both the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 are falling off the support list — iOS 16 can be installed on all iPhones from the iPhone 8 and up.
Which iPads will get iPadOS 16?
iPad 9.7 (2017) and any model newer than that. The list consists of:
To get a full view of all the new features in action, be sure to check out our in-depth iOS 16 tips and tricks article. That said, here are all the announced new features in a nutshell:
Lockscreens now work much like watchfaces on an Apple Watch, letting you customize your experience further
More filters for Focus Mode
Fine-tune multiple different Focus Modes, which will change how your iPhone looks and feels depending on what you are doing
Edit and Undo Send, Mark as Unread in iMessage
More control over fixing mistakes in iMessage or tagging messages to respond to later
SharePlay in iMessage
Watch videos or listen to music while hanging out with friends over text chat
Improved voice dictation
Upgraded speech-to-text for the iOS keyboard
Quick Actions with text captured from the camera
When you take a picture of some text, iOS will offer contextual actions — translate, convert, navigate to, et cetera
Photos - lift subject from background
Tap and hold on an object and it will be cropped out of the picture. You can drag it to other apps to paste it there — as a sticker or a new image
Share digital keys in Wallet
Share the keys to your smartlock with a friend or family member, so they can come in and water your plants
Tap to Pay on iPhone
Accept payments through Apple Pay with just your iPhone, no extra bells and whistles required
Apple Pay Later
Split a purchase into 4 payments over the next 6 weeks, no extra fees or interest applied
Apple Maps redesign to more areas
Big, detailed 3D models of popular locations around the world, fully explorable in Apple Maps
Sports scoring integration on lock screen and with Apple News
Lock screen can have a real-time scores widget, Apple News will show you the scores that matter to you on the front page
Much improved Family Sharing
Set up a child's device easy, get suggestions for content limits, get reminders when child filters might need updating as the kid grows older
iCloud Shared Photo Library
Automatically share photos from gatherings and events, as soon as you press the shutter button. Photo edits are shared as well
Safety Check
For people escaping an abusive relationship, an easy way to check and remove shared location data and shared accounts with a former partner
HomeKit opens up to more partners with a new platform — Matter
Matter is a new platform for smart home accessories, created in partnership with multiple market leaders
Personalized Spatial Audio — use the iPhone camera to create a custom profile from your ear shape
The iPhone camera will be able to scan your unique ear shape and fine-tune Spatial Audio further
Quick Note - the fast note-creating feature from iPadOS
Quick Note puts a floating note on top of your screen. It is contextual, so you can pull up the same Quick Note every time you are on a specific website and continue taking notes for the same content
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