All the new iOS 16 features in our video summary
When is iOS 16 released?
iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 were presented on June 6 on the sidelines of WWDC 2022, the firm’s annual developer mass. For now only the first betas are available now for the most curious. Be careful, however – while it is entirely possible to use iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 on a compatible device right now, it must be emphasized that a beta is a beta.
This means that not all bugs are ironed out, and the user experience can be quite frustrating with repeated crashes and common applications no longer working. If that doesn’t scare you, to install the iOS / iPadOS 16 beta now:
- Make sure you have an AppleDeveloper Program account (subscribe at developer.apple.com)
- From your iPhone or iPad open Safari
- Go to developer.apple.com and download the correct profile
- Go into Settings > General > Software Update
- Install the update
The general public will be able to access the beta without a developer account from July. To do this, simply follow these steps:
- From your iPhone or iPad open Safari
- Go to this address to download the beta profile: beta.apple.com/profile
- Go into Settings > General > Software Update
- Install the update
Which smartphones will be compatible with iOS 16?
Apple has been relying for a few generations on a wide compatibility of its latest updates. iOS 16 is thus compatible with the following models:
- Next iPhone 2022 (iPhone 14)
- iPhone SE 2022
- iPhone 13, Pro, Pro Max and mini
- iPhone 12, Pro, Pro Max and mini
- iPhone SE 2020
- iPhone 11, Pro and Pro Max
- iPhone XR, XS and XS Max
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
On the iPad side, we have the following list:
- iPad Pro 2021 and 2022
- iPad Pro 12.9 inch (2016 and later)
- iPad Pro 10.5 inch (2016 and later)
- 11-inch iPad Pro (2018 and later)
- iPad Air 3 and 4
- iPad Air 5 2022
- iPad 6, 7, 8 and 9
- iPad Mini 5 and 6
What’s new in iOS 16?
iOS will put some freshness in your current iPhone, when the public update is available. Here is an overview of what awaits you:
1. Apple enriches the lock screen
Among other things, Apple enriches the offer of widgets available from the locked screen. While preparing for the probable arrival of an Always-On screen on all or part of the iPhone 14. It becomes possible to change the font of the time – and to make people pass right in front thanks to a pinch of AI. Which visually gives a rather refreshing result.
New widgets also make it easy to get useful lock screen info at a glance. Apple is making a rather unexpected (and welcome) push into customizing this core element of the iPhone user experience. Developers are now entitled to an API called WidgetKit to facilitate the development of many small modules to customize the locked screen.
2. Swipe through notifications
Apple is also reviewing another central element of the user experience: notifications. These drop down from the bottom of the screen as they arrive. Apple now offers different “styles” of notifications depending on the context. For example, we are now entitled to what Apple calls “Live Activities” for events like games, or the status of your Uber, your training and more.
The music player is one of these new “Live Activity”. It becomes a kind of hybrid between a widget and a simple notification.
3. Customizable focus modes
Apple pushes the customization even further by letting you customize focus modes further. In particular, you can choose a different wallpaper depending on the mode, so that you can no longer miss that you have this or that mode activated.
4. iMessage is really getting better
Messaging for iPhones, Macs and iPads remains as popular as ever in 2022, even if competition from WhatsApp in particular is increasingly catching up with the user experience, with the new reaction system in particular. So to take the lead, Apple is taking a big leap forward. The first novelty is the arrival of an Edit button (before Twitter lol).
It also becomes possible to cancel the sending of a message in any case if this is done immediately. And it is possible to mark threads as “unread”.
5. SharePlay gets richer
SharePlay improves enormously with iOS 16. It becomes possible to directly call applications to share from FaceTime. iMessage also gets a SharePlay button so you can text chat while enjoying Apple TV, Apple Music or other content together.
6. Voice Dictation (Dictation) becomes more useful
Apple improves voice dictation. Now you will have access “to an all-new experience that lets you seamlessly switch from voice dictation to keyboard touch.” The keyboard now remains open when you activate voice dictation, which allows you to go faster and enter text in a hybrid keyboard/voice manner. Voice dictation now detects emoji – which in itself is pretty crazy.
7. Live Text is finally getting really useful
Live Text is that feature that automatically transcribes sounds into text. With iOS 16, Live Text is enriched with features that make it much more useful. For example if you pause a video, you can interact with the text to copy it for example. But it also goes further. Apple gives Live Text quick actions. For example, if it detects a currency amount, a quick action lets you convert it in one step. Developers benefit from an all-new API that makes it easier to quickly develop actions and implement functionality in third-party apps.
8. Huge Apple Wallet Update
Apple Wallet may soon put your old wallet in a drawer. Identity card, driver’s license, but also electronic keys… Based on the documents you register, Wallet will be able to confirm your identity with third-party sites and services. Car keys (IETF standard) can be saved there, and can be shared securely via Mail, Messages and WhatsApp.
The iPhone also becomes a payment terminal for merchants registered with a SIRET number (and who have an activity that justifies it). Good news because EPTs issued by banks can currently cost a small fortune… Apple is also adding Apple Pay Later, ie payment in 4x free of charge for all purchases.
We are whispered in the headset that France is on the spot and that we should soon be able to put certain documents in Wallet:
Does it seem that we should watch the #WWDC22 🕵️♂️😉
— France Identity (@france_identite) June 6, 2022
9. 3D comes to Plans (including in France)
Apple Maps continues to improve with highly detailed 3D views – in selected countries including France. It also becomes possible to add stops in your routes (up to 15) – you can also add these steps by voice simply by asking Siri. A way to catch up with Google Maps, still a notch above for the moment.
10. Photos now does some pretty amazing things
Ah, AI… we see Apple adding it bit by bit with each update, but here we are entering another era. Now you can clip any subject without leaving the native application. Long press on a person, animal or object, hit copy, and paste the perfectly outlined subject wherever you want. Practical, right?
11. “Safety Check” now protects you from abusive relationships
Have you just broken up with your boyfriend or experienced an abusive situation with a loved one? Your iPhone allows you to completely block this person from your Apple products, and to control all the access that those around you have (and control everything very easily)
12. iPadOS brings the user experience even closer to macOS
Apple has been trumpeting for years that its iPads are “computers” – but despite everything many aspects of the interface deserve to be improved so that we can really attach this qualifier to the firm’s tablets. Nevertheless, we are very close to the goal with iPadOS. Especially on iPads with a USB Type-C port where you can plug in a host of third-party devices.
Apple has completely overhauled multitasking in a way that makes it easier to switch and share data from one app to another. For the first time, you can resize windows like on macOS. All in all, all the ways to manage multiple applications simultaneously materialize the idea of making iPads alternatives to Mac laptops. There are also “desktop level” applications.
What’s your favorite new feature in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16? Share your opinion in the comments of this article.
