WWDC 2022

iOS 16: 13 things you need to know

Here’s a preview of the major features coming to your iPhone this fall. And if you’re a developer, you can try iOS 16 today.

Surprising nobody, Apple announced iOS 16 at WWDC 2022. Once again, the new software for iPhones doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but fine-tunes the mobile software. Here are the 13 things you need to know.

13. Custom lock screen

Easily the biggest new feature for iOS 16. Press on your lock screen and you can now customize the date and time fonts and even add tiny widgets. Call it catchup to Android, but the execution is undeniably prettier. Sorry, Material You has nothing on this.

12. Less distracting notifications

Notifications roll in from the bottom of your iPhone’s lock screen. Apple says this is supposed to make them less distracting.

11. Custom Focus modes

The customizable lock screen can also work with Focus modes. Choose a different wallpaper or font, or widgets for work, personal, etc.

10. Edit and undo iMessages

Have a typo in your iMessage? Just tap the word and fix it. Want to undo a message? In iOS 16, you can do just that. And if you want to mark a thread as unread? Go right ahead.

9. Turn images into... stickers?

That’s right. iOS 16 lets you cut out an object — like this French bulldog — and then drag it into Messages as a sticker.

8. Apple Pay Later

If you use Apple Pay often, here’s something: You can split that payment into four equal payments. Might want to rethink that $10 salad next time... Also, this feature is for U.S. users only.

7. Passkeys eliminates passwords

Passwords are a drag — even strong passwords are hard to remember and easily hackable. With passkeys in Safari, you can use Face ID or Touch ID to replace passwords.

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6. Multi-stop routing in Apple Maps

Its reputation still haunts it, but Apple Maps is actually pretty good these days. New for Maps in iOS 16: multi-stop routing “so users can plan up to 15 stops in advance and automatically sync routes from Mac to iPhone.”

5. Live Text works with video

Copying text from an image using Live Text is magical. In iOS 16, Live Text works in videos, too... when you pause it. Tap the text and you can copy, convert units or currency, translate, and more, just like any still image.

4. iCloud Shared Photo Library

Finally, a way to wrangle vacation photos into a shared library that everyone in your family can access.

There’s even a way to upload a photo directly to the Shared Library after you take it.

3. Type while dictation is on

Dictation is really handy when your hands are busy. But it’s also great if you’re lazy. In iOS 16, you can type and dictate simultaneously.

2. Devices that support iOS 16:

• iPhone 8 and 8 Plus

• iPhone X

• iPhone XR

• iPhone XS and XS Max

• iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max

• iPhone 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 12 mini

• iPhone 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, 13 mini

• iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd-gen)

1. iOS 16 comes out this fall, but...

If you’re a developer you can install the beta version (probably very buggy) of iOS 16 right now. A public beta for non-developers comes out in July.

There are a ton of smaller features for iOS 16. Everything from the next-gen CarPlay, to privacy, to Game Center, to more accessibility. Details on those can be found here.

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