iOS 16 Guide: Features, Supported Devices, Limitations & More

iOS 16 Quick Bites:

• iOS 16 is finally out with a ton of new personalization features.
• It will support iPhone 8 and up.
• The most notable update is the reimagined lock screen.

iPhone users can now experience the magic of iOS 16. While iOS 16 isn’t as revolutionary as previous updates, it brings some much-needed and trendy features to the iPhone. From a more lively and customizable lock screen, canceling/editing iMessage, to scheduling email in the Mail app, we’ve got a lot to talk about.

So, just scroll down for an overview of everything related to iOS 16, its best features, compatible devices, and more.

iOS 16 release date: When will iOS 16 be released?

As of September 12, 2022, iOS 16 has been officially released to the public along with watchOS 9. It was unveiled on June 6 at WWDC 2022 and we’ve been testing and learning about it in developer beta and public beta ever since. -versions.

Apple calls it “the biggest update to the lock screen, with new features that make it more beautiful, personal, and useful.”And we agree; let’s find out why.

iOS 16 enabled devices: which iPhones will get iOS 16?

Last year, Apple surprised many by including the 6-year-old iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, and iPhone SE in the iOS 15 update. However, iOS 16 finally cut them off the block and only supports the following devices:

• iPhone 14 series (built-in)
• iphone 13 series
• iphone 12 series
• iphone 11 series
• iphone xs and xs max,
• iphone xr and x
• iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
• iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)

Video: Top 5 iOS 16 Features You Should Know

Key Features of iOS 16

Each year, Apple has a specific overarching theme that dictates the overall design and direction of the update. This year it was all about personalization and collaboration.

1. Smart lock screen

The change we’ve all been praying for and finally received after centuries. While there are some internal changes, the overall avatar matches the Google Material.io avatar.

In general, you will receive

• Layered effect. It artfully brings the subject of the wallpaper to the forefront, creating a sense of depth, just like the portrait dials on the Apple Watch.
• Customizable appearance – change the style, color, fonts and more for the date and time.
• Lock screen gallery. A gallery very similar to the Apple Watch face, with background options that can be accessed by swiping left or right.
• Automatic photo shuffle. Like dynamic wallpapers in macOS, lock screen wallpapers can be shuffled automatically.

Widgets on the lock screen

Oh yeah! We finally have lock screen widgets and thanks to them you can view information such as time, date, battery level, weather, upcoming calendar events, alarms and more. Developers also get the WidgetKit API for their lock screen widget versions.

Live events

Think of them as proactive widgets; the Live Action block gives you real-time updates. For example, music will show you how you’re currently playing, and you’ll be able to track the progress of your orders or trips, live sports scores, and more.

Smoother Notifications

Instead of stacking notifications, the lock screen will have an expanded list at the bottom of the screen.

Articles you should read to make the most of your iOS 16 lock screen:

• How to Customize the Lock Screen on iPhone
• How to Show Notification Count on iPhone Lock Screen
• Live events: everything you need to know

2. Editable and deleted messages

I can proudly say that Apple did this before Twitter! You can now:

• Edit the message within 15 minutes of sending it.
• Cancel sent messages within 15 minutes of sending them.
• Mark the message as unread.
• Recover recently deleted messages within 30 days of deleting them.

And that is not all; the Messages app now also contains

• SharePlay via messages
• API available to you
• Invitations for cooperation and updates
• Messaging Collaboration API

If you want to master the iMessage game, check out the following links:

• How to Edit and Undo Messages on iPhone
• How to Collaborate on Projects with Messages

3. Better integration with Focus

Focus managed to make a big splash in iOS 15. Apple is now improving this feature and making ends meet a bit. iOS 16 Focus boasts

• Lock screen linking – Customizable lock screens that match your chosen focus mode help you focus on the task at hand, whether it’s work or personal.
• Offers on the main screen

Focus filters

Previously, you could only set limits on calls and app notifications in focus mode. However, in iOS 16 we are getting custom filters for supported apps. Here’s how Apple explained it:

“For example, choose a set of tab groups to show in Safari when using work focus, or hide your work calendar when using personal focus.”

Notably, Apple also offers a Focus filter API that will allow developers to integrate this feature into their apps.

Check out our guide to using Focus on iOS 16 to learn more about Lock Screen Snap and Focus Filters.

4. Shared iCloud Photo Library

An improved and smarter version of Smart Albums where you can share your iCloud Music Library with up to five other users. But why is this the best option, you ask? Because it includes:

• Improved collaboration features – equal rights to add, edit, add to favorites, captions and delete.
• Smart Sharing – Add photos manually or use filters based on start date or people.
• Bluetooth proximity. Uniquely, this feature can enable automatic sharing when other devices (family sharing) are nearby.

And of course, we’ve covered a detailed guide on how to create and manage a shared iCloud Photo Library.

5. One password for all devices

The news has been around for some time now. Thanks to the FIDO protocol, you can now unlock or log into multiple accounts with Face ID/Touch ID.

And it’s not limited to the Apple ecosystem. This also applies to Android and Windows devices. In addition to being a seamless system, it also protects users from phishing and website leaks.

Check out this guide to learn everything you need to know about access keys, what they are, and how you can use them.

6. Grab live text from video

Introduced in iOS 15, Live Text was already a pretty handy tool, and Apple has made it even better. Now you can easily pause the video frame and grab the text. In addition, you can copy, paste, search (search the web) and translate the selected text.

This feature also boasts improvements in data discovery. You can track flights and deliveries, translate foreign languages, convert currencies, and more.

Do you want to know how to get Live Text from video? Check out our dedicated article.

7. Remove the background with Visual Look Up

A small but great change: you can now take a subject from an image from Photos, Screenshots, Quick View, Safari, and other apps. So basically you don’t need to open another app. The visual search feature is integrated into iOS 16.

The best part is that you can drag the resulting image and share it via Messages, Mail, etc.

8. Brand new dictation experience

Definitely a long overdue renovation. With changes made in iOS 16, you can now dedicate and print at the same time.

Plus, you get automatic punctuation (commas, periods, and question marks) and emoji support (just say crying emoji).

9. More flexible Apple Pay and Wallet

Main announcement in this section:

• Tap to Pay – Allow merchants to accept payments from iPhone users via iPhone (no additional machine required).
• Apple Pay Later – Apple’s zero-interest EMI scheme lets you split your Apple Pay purchases into four equal payments over six weeks.
• More convenient key exchange. Share keys securely with messaging apps like Messages, Mail and WhatsApp.
• Share ID securely – Store your ID in your wallet and share it securely with third party identity or age verification apps. It is notable that you can control what data is transmitted, for example, instead of the exact date of birth, just specify the age.

10. Home medication app

If you often forget to take your medications on time, or your parents do, Apple has the perfect solution. Now you can track your medications, vitamins, and supplements and create your own schedules and reminders for each.

In addition, you can keep a log of these medications in the Health app and share the data with your doctor or caregiver.

11. Other important iOS 16 features

• Battery percentage – oh yes! The notched iPhone finally got the ability to display battery percentage in the status bar. However, there is one peculiarity: not all devices support this feature. So before you jump, check the link.
• Route with multiple stops in Maps. Add pit stops to your itinerary for breaks, fast food, gas/gas stations, and more.
• Security check – A new section in settings will allow users to quickly reset the access granted to other people and applications. According to Apple, this is specifically designed to help people who have experienced domestic or intimate partner violence.
• Improved parental controls. Now it’s much easier to set up your child’s device with a quick launch and setting up the right controls. In addition, you will now receive screen time requests in messages.
• The next generation of CarPlay. While the cars will be announced in late 2023, Apple has a few visually appealing features to make your driving experience as smooth as possible.
• The redesigned Home app is a more synced and organized Home app that makes navigation and controls easier. In addition, the Matter universal standard will be adopted later this year to expand the list of supported devices.

I hope you have fun exploring all the new iOS 16 features. If you need more information, check out these hidden iOS 16 features. And while there’s a very small chance if we’ve missed something, feel free to share your discoveries in the comments section. below.