Today Apple is releasing its latest iOS 16 operating system for only the models that are compatible. Compatibility is mainly based on the ability of the hardware especially the processor and RAM in a particular iPhone model. As usual, the update is free and includes a new lock screen with widgets, unsend, and edit for iMessage, new keyboard haptics, a new Home app, and much more.
The biggest update in iOS 16 is perhaps in the lock screen. You can now add widgets to the lock screen, and they can act as a way of presenting notifications. On iPhone 14 Pro models, these widgets will even appear when the device is off thanks to a new always-on display thanks to the A16 Bionic processor among other display enhancements.
Users of Apple’s built-in Mail app will get a new scheduled send option in iOS 16 alongside the ability to quickly unsend an email right after it was sent. There’s also a “remind me” feature so emails will jump back to the top of your inbox and older sent email messages will appear at the top of your inbox (just like Gmail) to prompt you to send follow-up messages.
iOS 16 also includes a redesigned Home app with new camera views and widgets on the lock screen and the ability to control an Apple Watch from an iPhone. If you’re used to copying text from a photo, you’ll now be able to do the same in videos in iOS 16. This latest OS update also includes improvements to the Health app, where you can now create a medication list to track medications, vitamins, and supplements.
Devices that support iOS 16
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max
- iPhone 13, 13 Mini
- iPhone 13 Pro / Pro Max
- iPhone 12, 12 Mini
- iPhone 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro / 12 Pro Max
- iPhone XS, XS Max
- iPhone X, XR
- iPhone 8, 8 Plus
- iPhone SE (second generation or later)
For the privacy conscious, Apple is adding a Lockdown Mode to iOS 16, which adds “extreme” protection for people who might be targeted by state-sponsored spyware. Lockdown Mode blocks message attachments, disables link previews, turns off some web browsing tech by default, and even blocks FaceTime calls from unknown numbers.
