Apple yesterday released iOS 16, the latest version of iOS with a new customizable lock screen, improved messaging features, and enhancements to Mail, Maps, and more.
In addition, iOS 16 also includes many detailed changes, improvements and new features that help improve the iPhone experience. The foreign media MacRumors listed 16 hidden features and improvements of iOS 16 that you may not know.
- Get rid of duplicate photos: The iOS 16 Photos app lets users know if they have multiple identical photos on their iPhones and can delete additional photos to save space. Duplicate photos are listed in a new “Duplicate” album.
- AirPods update: Managing AirPods settings is easier in iOS 16, with a dedicated options section in the Settings App when AirPods are connected. iOS 16 also adds Personalized Spatial Audio, which uses the native camera to scan the user’s ears for a unique listening experience tuned just for the user.
- Face ID in landscape mode: iPhone running iOS 16 now supports Face ID in landscape mode, making it easier to unlock the phone when the iPhone is not held in the standard portrait orientation. This feature is limited to iPhone 13 and later.
- Protect hidden and deleted photos: In iOS 16, users need to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID before they can access hidden and recently deleted albums. If someone accesses your phone without it being unlocked, iPhone locks those albums.
- WiFi passwords: If you’ve ever been frustrated by not being able to access the WiFi password for the network you’re using, this changes in iOS 16. In iPhone’s WiFi settings, users can finally see the password to the network they’re connected to.
- Keyboard haptic feedback: iOS 16 includes a keyboard setting that allows users to enable haptic feedback while typing. Each keystroke generates a vibration that provides the user with a physical confirmation that a letter has been clicked.
- Copy and Delete Screenshot: When users take a screenshot on iOS, in addition to being able to save the screenshot to Photos, Save as Quick Note, and Save to File, users can now “Copy and Delete” it. The new option saves screenshots to the clipboard, making it easier to use one-time screenshots without having to save them to the device and then clean them up.
- Ability to remove Find My, Clock, and Health: Since iOS 14, Apple has allowed users to uninstall some apps that come pre-installed on their iPhones. iOS 16 opens up more apps to be uninstalled, including “Find My,” “Clock,” and “Health. Users can also re-download deleted apps from the App Store.
- Built-in currency conversion: iOS 16 includes built-in currency conversion in the Camera and Photos apps. Simply point the iPhone camera at the price tag, wait for the live text icon to appear, tap and hold the price, and select “Convert.
- View Battery Percentage: In iOS 16, Apple gives users the ability to display their iPhone’s battery percentage directly in the status bar inside the battery icon, although the status bar battery percentage is not available on all iPhones.
- Hang up with Siri: A new setting in iOS 16 allows users to use Siri to hang up on ongoing calls. By going to Settings > Accessibility > Siri and activating Hang Up, users can say “Hey Siri, hang up” to end the call in progress. Note that other people on the call will hear your request to Siri before you hang up.
- Prevent accidental call hangups: Users on iOS 16 can now disable the side button to end a call. In previous versions of iOS, pressing the side button and locking your iPhone while on a call ended the call immediately. In iOS 16, Apple allows users to disable this feature by going to Settings > Accessibility > Touch and turning on “Prevent locking to end to disable this feature.
- Sorting Options for Playlists: In Apple Music on iOS 16, users can now sort playlists by title, artist, album, and release date. When viewing a playlist, press the three dots in the upper right corner to find the new sorting options.
- Full-screen music player: A major but perhaps little-known feature of iOS 16 is that Apple is bringing back a full-screen lock screen music player. When listening to a song from Apple Music, Spotify, or other third-party music apps, press the album cover on the lock screen in Now Playing to access the new look of the player. Tap a full-screen album cover to minimize “Now Playing.
- User-specific spatial audio: With the latest AirPods and select Beats headphones, iOS 16 users can activate personalized spatial audio. This feature supports the LiDAR scanner on iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 14 Pro to scan the shape of the user’s ear for a better spatial audio experience.
- New warning when charging: On iOS 16, if a user’s iPhone appears to be heating up, the phone will receive a new notification informing the user that charging will be paused until the iPhone temperature drops. This is done to prevent possible long-term damage to the iPhone battery.
