In addition to the new Lock screen features, iOS 16 will bring a slew of other important new features to the iPhone, including five of our favourites mentioned in the following paragraphs.
Currently, iOS 16 is only accessible as a beta for Apple developers; however, the company has promised that a public beta will be released in July. iPhone 8 and subsequent models are supported by iOS 16, which is expected to be released in September.
Live Activities
To keep you up to date with what’s happening on your iPhone, a new Live Activities feature has been included to iOS 16. It will be handy for monitoring live events, such as a sports game’s score, watching the progress of a ride using Uber, checking the status of a Starbucks order, and so on.
Live Activities will be included in an iOS 16 update later this year, according to Apple, so they won’t be accessible when iOS 16 is initially made available to everyone. Developers will be able to utilise Apple’s Live Activities API in third-party apps, which means this useful new feature will have a wide range of applications.
Edit or Unsend an iMessage
New features in iOS 16 include the option to modify or delete recently sent iMessages and to designate chats as unread after opening them. For up to 15 minutes after sending an iMessage, users can amend or delete it.
Users may simply press and hold on a bubble to modify or delete a message and pick the relevant action from the menu that appears. Edited iMessages are labelled “altered” underneath the message bubble, and unsent or edited messages can still be seen in their original form by users of earlier software versions like iOS 15.
Nintendo Joy-Cons Support
Despite the fact that the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons and Pro Controller are not listed as features on Apple’s website, iOS 16 has compatibility for these devices. Both the left and right Joy-Cons, as well as both together, may be used as a single controller on iPhones running iOS 16.
iOS 16 adds support for a slew of new Bluetooth gaming controller models, but Apple didn’t include a complete list in the instructions for developers. In addition, since iOS 14.5 was released, the iPhone has been compatible with PS5 and Xbox Series X controllers.
For online purchases made with Apple Pay, the Wallet app in iOS 16 now includes order tracking information. As soon as an order is placed, a tracking number is sent to the customer.
Apple Pay Order Tracking
Even if you don’t possess an Apple Watch, you can now utilise the Fitness app on your iPhone with iOS 16. Using the iPhone’s motion sensors and a daily Activity ring, the software calculates a user’s calorie burn and step count for the day.
Fitness App Without Apple Watch
Watch our video overview of some of the most exciting new features in iOS 16.