iOS 16 will improve the interface and ergonomics of iPhones, but also add new expected features, such as an improved lock screen. Release date, list of compatible iPhones, new features… We take stock of everything you need to know about the update.
Every year, Apple offers a major update for the mobile operating system embedded in the iPhone: iOS. In 2022, it’s iOS 16’s turn to enrich the experience on Apple brand smartphones. New features, interface changes, here is everything we know at the end of the presentation.
🗓️ When is iOS 16 coming out?
iOS 16 was officially presented at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2022. A beta version of iOS 16 was made available to developers shortly after. A public beta for all users will go live in early July. The big launch of the stable version of iOS 16 will take place in the fall of 2022, alongside that of the iPhone 14.
📱 Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 16?
While all iPhones supporting iOS14 have been able to switch to iOS 15, some older models will not be able to take advantage of the update this year. The iPhone 6s, iPhone 7 and the first iPhone SE will be deprived of new features. Here is the full list:
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Max
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 Mini
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2020)
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8Plus
- iPhone 8
Please note, this does not mean that all of these terminals will be able to benefit from all the features of iOS 16. It is likely that hardware limitations (SoC, photo sensors) prevent certain models from accessing new options. On the iPad side, four models that had been entitled to iOS 15 will remain stuck under this version of the operating system and cannot be upgraded: iPad mini 4, iPad Air 2, iPad 5 and iPad Pro from 2015.
💡 What’s new in iOS 16?
iOS 16 will introduce design and interface changes, as well as new functions. Apple disclosed all of the new features expected at the WWDC opening conference in early June.
A new lock screen
Apple will finally allow you to customize the lock screen. It will be possible to change the color and typography of the time, toadd widgetssuch as those displayed on the home screen, such as the weather.
Always-on display
Another lack of iOS compared to Android that Apple must fill. The Always-on display allows the display of important information on the slab even when it is not in use: time, date, battery level, notifications… Any smartphone equipped with an OLED technology screen can potentially benefit from an Always-on function, but the iPhones are still not entitled to it, several years after abandoning the LCD on its main series mobiles. It is rumored that the option would be confined to the iPhone 14 Pro.
Better notification management
Apple is tweaking Focus Mode introduced with iOS 15, a young service that still needs to mature. As a reminder, this mode is used to refine precisely which notifications you receive according to your activity or the schedule of the day, with predefined presets or the possibility of creating your own from scratch. Now, notifications will appear at the bottom of the screen. Additionally, each lock screen will be tied to a different Focus mode.
iMessages allows you to edit a message already sent
Messages is updated and now offers the means to edit a message already sent to remove a spelling error for example. It is also possible to cancel a shipment, even if the recipient has already received it. The message will then disappear from the conversation. Finally, the Dictation mode will allow you to write text by voice, while continuing to write with the numeric keypad at your fingertips.
Automatically installed security patches
With iOS 16, Apple will install security patches in the background, without requiring updates. So you can continue to use your iPhone when it updates.
Apple Maps is getting better
Apple has announced the arrival of a new graphic charter for certain cities on Apple Maps. In addition, it will be possible to plan a route and share it on your smartphone, but also to add stages to your route, up to 15.
Apple Wallet will allow you to pay in installments
Thanks to Apple Pay, the wallet app will allow you to divide the amount of a purchase. It will be possible to spread the payment over time.
A less cluttered photo gallery
The photos app will make it easy to delete duplicate photos that often take up a lot of storage space. In addition, Apple makes it easy to crop an element of a photo. It is also possible to clip an element and share it, directly from an application, such as Safari. The option we tested is very intuitive.
A new status bar?
We anticipate that Apple will finally remove the notch on its new iPhones, or at least on the iPhone 14 Pro. The disappearance of the notch saves space on the upper part of the screen, and in particular at the level of the status bar, which should be redesigned for the occasion.
Make emergency calls via satellite
Apple has been working on such a feature for years, we’ve been talking about it for a while now and thought we’d get it on iOS 15, but the ability to send messages and make emergency calls through satellites should finally land with iOS 16. It is possible that only the iPhone 14 can enjoy this new feature of iOS.
Health and Fitness apps are getting up to speed
With the new features planned for Apple Watch Series 8 and watchOS 9, the iPhone and iOS must adapt to integrate the functionalities added to the hardware and software of the brand’s connected watches, the iPhone still acting as a control hub. The Health and Fitness applications (formerly Activity) will therefore be updated, with the best for sleep monitoring, for example.
Additional options for well-being and women’s health are also planned, as is a medication tracking tool on watchOS 9. One of the functions allows you to scan a box of medications to save a product in the application. Many features would be planned for this medication management aid, but not all of them should be available from the launch of iOS 16.
Road accident detection
With iOS 16, the iPhone could detect traffic accidents and automatically notify the emergency services so that any injuries are taken care of quickly.
Options related to virtual reality and augmented reality
Apple should launch a mixed reality headset (which combines virtual reality and augmented reality) by the end of the year. Apple will necessarily have to adapt iOS to integrate services and features to make the most of this headset, the first of its kind to arrive in the ecosystem. iOS 16 should notably come with a new application dedicated to the use of headphones, and surely more.
