After seeing the releases of iOS 15 and the following iPhone 13 collection, we’re within the midst of .1 updates which might be slowly refining options we’ve been seeing since June, together with the brand new iOS 15.2 and the forthcoming iOS 15.3.
That doesn’t cease us from pondering of what might be within the subsequent model of iOS, nevertheless, which we anticipate will probably be referred to as iOS 16.
Each iOS launch has introduced a significant characteristic to the desk, whether or not that’s widgets or darkish mode. However iOS might nonetheless profit from some new refinements to higher handle how you employ your iPhone every single day.
We’ve combed by way of our iPhones to roundup 5 options we’d wish to see arrive in iOS 16 subsequent 12 months, regardless of how main or minor these could also be. However first, we’ll run you thru once we anticipate it to land and which iPhones will probably be supported.
iOS 16 launch date rumors
Apple has adopted a standard schedule of saying the newest iOS replace in June at WWDC, adopted by a launch round September.
With iOS 15.2 about to be obtainable, Apple has been specializing in rolling out important options throughout extra .1 updates. In earlier years, we have seen the trackpad seem on iOS 13.4, alongside ProRes in iOS 15.1 in October of this 12 months.
It would not be a stretch to anticipate an iOS 15.7 by the point we see iOS 16 with extra important options for each your iPhone and iPad.
iOS 16 supported iPhones
Apple tries to help quite a lot of iPhone fashions in each new iOS launch. iOS 15 helps iPhone 6S at a minimal, which was launched in 2015.
An early leak suggests – unsurprisingly – that the iPhone 6S (together with the iPhone 6S Plus and unique iPhone SE) will not get iOS 16, however that the whole lot from the iPhone 7 onwards will.
It definitely would not be a stretch to anticipate iOS 16 help for the iPhone 7 collection at a minimal, however with some options possible held again, primarily because of the {hardware} limitations of the digicam, or the chip inside sure iPhone fashions.
Each iOS launch comes with a significant characteristic, but in addition a bunch of minor enhancements throughout the board. Should you nonetheless have an iPhone 8 as an example, chances are you’ll reap the advantages of a few of the small options in iOS 16 when it arrives. However you’ll almost certainly miss out on the large characteristic that Apple will showcase.
What we need to see
We do not know a lot about iOS 16 but however we’ve a good suggestion of what we wish from it, with the next options topping our record.
Redesigned Digicam app
The iPhone digicam has seen big enhancements in recent times, with extra lenses being added and options similar to Evening Mode and Cinematic Mode being launched.
Nevertheless, this has meant that the digicam app has begun to really feel bloated. Accessing pressured flash or publicity settings requires just a few extra swipes than we’d like, alongside hidden gestures that don’t really feel wanted.
With the approaching launch of iOS 15.2, we’re additionally about to see a brand new macro button seem, which is able to provide help to to extra precisely arrange these close-up photographs when wanted. That is only for the iPhone 13 collection, although.
Beginning afresh with the digicam app might assist new customers take images in a complete new method, alongside giving present customers a contemporary method of taking images and movies.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine that Apple has extra large plans for the cameras in future iPhone fashions, which can even imply new options that we’ll be switching on and off when required. Let’s see an app that’s redesigned for what got here earlier than, and lays the groundwork for what’s coming subsequent.
QuickNote to iPhone
It is a characteristic that seems in iPadOS 15 and macOS 12 Monterey, the place you may drag your finger from the bottom-right nook, and you may shortly kind in some notes, regardless of the place you’re in your gadget.
There are numerous gestures you are able to do on an iPhone, so there’s no hurt in including yet one more. Dragging from the underside proper nook would show a word that you may shortly kind in, and save for a later date.
Along with your thumb being your main level of interplay along with your smartphone, it is a straightforward win that may actually assist with shortly jotting one thing down. It is going to additionally save the pressure of your thumb as a substitute of reaching for the Management Middle on the highest proper, and choosing the Notes icon.
Since widgets got a makeover in iOS 14, alongside the flexibility to position them wherever on the house display screen, another apps haven’t been forthcoming with their very own widgets to assist cut back some steps. One blatant instance is the Dwelling app.
You might have a choice of good lights in your house the place you employ the app to assist handle these. However if you wish to shortly swap on a lightweight, chances are you’ll expertise a delay when you ask Siri, or if the app isn’t responding, which has occurred usually in our expertise.
Having a widget on your own home display screen to your good lights might actually assist cut back the steps in shortly switching the bed room lamp on, as a substitute of getting to search out the Dwelling app.
It’s slightly unusual that the widget hasn’t appeared as but, however we’re hoping it arrives, not solely to iOS 16, however future variations of macOS and iPadOS as effectively.
Air apps
Should you personal one of many AirPods peripherals, or an AirTag, chances are you’ll discover it very cumbersome to attempt to handle every of those. AirPods settings are solely accessible by way of Bluetooth from inside the Settings app, whereas AirTags settings are accessible by way of the Discover My app.
Having the ability to handle these by way of a centralized ‘AirThings’ app might relieve a number of confusion as to what you personal from Apple.
Third-party distributors similar to Sony deliver out sure apps that may provide help to handle headphones and extra to higher handle the options that these deliver. Having the ability to do the identical, with out having to go to Bluetooth inside the Settings app, might deliver a number of simplicity to managing your gadgets.
Higher theme choices
Again in 2019, we noticed an onslaught of themes thanks to some new options that the Shortcuts app supplied in iOS 13.
With Shortcuts, you should utilize the app to create launch instructions for different apps, and place an icon of your selection on the house display screen for it. This has resulted in lots of themes being made obtainable for iPhone customers.
YouTuber Marques Brownlee created a brief information to create your individual icons with Shortcuts.
However iOS 16 might go additional. A brand new class within the App Retailer might allow themes to be downloaded after which chosen inside the Settings app. You might additionally select completely different colours and sounds for notifications and set them as a separate theme, which may be enabled with Automations within the Shortcuts app.
Third-party builders might maybe make their very own sounds and themes obtainable as effectively. Whereas there could be restrictions on altering different app icons, it might additional develop the individuality that customers need from their gadgets.