Apple recently released the new iPhone 14 series phones and also announced that iOS 16 will be pushed in the early morning of September 13. iOS 16 will support iPhone 8, iPhone X or newer models.
iOS 16 includes a number of new features, from a customizable lock screen to the ability to temporarily edit or unsend iMessage and more.
To install iOS 16 when the update is released, open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap General — Software Update. After updating your iPhone to iOS 16, you can experience the following six new features.
Customizable Lock Screen
The main new feature of iOS 16 is the ability to personalize the lock screen with multiple layers of wallpapers, widgets, custom fonts for date and time, and more. Users can also select a group of photos to play randomly on the Lock screen throughout the day.
The new Lock Screen Gallery showcases a range of lock screen options, including new weather wallpapers with live weather conditions and astronomy wallpapers that provide views of the Earth, Moon and solar system. iOS 16 includes support for multiple lock screen designs, allowing users to switch between collections with a swipe.
Edit or unsend iMessage
iOS 16 introduces the ability to temporarily edit or unsend an iMessage and the ability to mark an iMessage conversation as unread after it has been opened.
Apple allows users to edit an iMessage up to 15 minutes after it is sent, with up to five edits allowed per message. The recipient can see a record of the edits made to the message, and on devices running iOS 15 or earlier, the edited message is received as a new message that says “Edited as [New Message].
To edit or cancel sending a message, simply tap and hold on the bubble and select the appropriate option in the menu that appears. Edited iMessages are marked as “edited” below the message bubble. On devices running iOS 15 or earlier, edited messages are received as a new message with “Edited to [X]” displayed.
Using the full-screen music player
iOS 16 reintroduces a full-screen music player on the lock screen with large album art and color-matched wallpapers.
Apple last offered a full-screen music player on the lock screen in 2016 with iOS 10. If users don’t like the feature, they can tap the bottom of the display to minimize the music player and revert to the standard lock screen wallpaper.
Support for Nintendo Joy-Cons gamepads
Apple iPhone supports many other Bluetooth game controllers on iOS 16, including the Joy-Cons and Pro Gamepad for Nintendo Switch. An iPhone running iOS 16 can be used with a single left or right Joy-Con, or as a single controller at the same time.
This is a change from the iPhone’s existing compatibility with PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers since iOS 14.5 was released last year.
Track Apple Pay orders
Apple Pay on iOS 16 provides new built-in order tracking information in the Wallet app for online orders completed through Apple Pay. The tracker provides an estimated delivery date for the order and indicates when the package will be delivered.
Closing the circle without an Apple Watch
Starting with iOS 16, all users can use the Fitness app on their iPhones even without an Apple Watch. The app features a Daily Activity Circle, which relies on the iPhone motion sensor to estimate the number of calories and steps an individual burns each day.
During the iPhone 14 event, Apple announced that its Fitness+ service will be available to iPhone users without an Apple Watch later this year in the 21 countries where the service is available. fitness+ subscriptions are priced at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year.
