Maybe Don’t Update Your iPhone to iOS 16 Yet. Here’s Why

If you have not downloaded iOS 16, there are a few reasons why you may want to wait.

It’s always exciting to update your iPhone to explore all the new features, especially with iOS 16. You’ve got lock screen customization (with widgets), the ability to unsend and edit text messages, improved privacy and security features and so much more.

And that should be enough to get you to update to the latest iPhone OS from Apple, but there are always one or two reasons to hit the pause button for just a bit and stick with the OS you’re currently running. If you haven’t yet updated to iOS 16, here’s why you may want to wait — for now.

However, if and when you are ready to jump in, here’s how to download and install iOS 16 and the first things to do after you install iOS 16.

Your iPhone battery might drain faster than usual
There really isn’t a single general reason why battery drain occurs right after a major software update like iOS 16, but it happens to some people pretty much every year.

If your battery health level is already in bad shape (Settings > Battery > Battery Health), you might want to refrain from updating to iOS 16 for a bit.

Here are a couple reasons why iOS 16 may be draining your battery:

Your phone is working overtime in the background. New features may need to index your files to work properly, such as the improved Search feature and the duplicates feature in the Photos app.
Your apps don’t support iOS 16. Developers are given plenty of time to update their apps to the latest update, but if they don’t, the apps could drain more battery because they’re outdated.
And of course, there are always software bugs that could be using up your battery life in the background.

Even if you wait for future iOS 16 updates, you may still encounter some battery drain for the first few days, but that generally disappears once your iPhone gets settled with the software update.

You might encounter bugs that can cause issues on your iPhone
No matter how polished a software update may seem, a few bugs are bound to slip through the cracks. It’s why Apple sometimes releases a “point update” shortly after a major update, to fix issues like:

Battery drain
Lag
Apps force-closing
Phone restarting
Unusable features
There already seems to be an iOS 16.0.1 update for the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro to fix some activation and photo issues — even though the phone hasn’t even been officially released yet.

If you’re concerned about issues such as these, you may want to wait until most of the major bugs are squashed in subsequent iOS 16 updates.

You can stop others from unsending text messages
One of the biggest new features in iOS 16 is the ability to unsend and edit text messages. You have two minutes to recall a text message and 15 minutes to edit an already sent text message, but if you’re on iOS 15, the feature won’t work as expected, which might be a good thing for you if you’re not a fan of unsent and edited messages.

If you’re on iOS 15 and a person running iOS 16 attempts to recall a text message they sent to you, they won’t be able to. Instead, they’ll receive a message that says “You unsent a message. They may still see the message on devices where the software hasn’t been updated.”

Essentially, they won’t be able to unsend any text messages to you as long as you stay on iOS 15.

Staying on iOS 15 also affects the editing text messages feature, although not by much. Instead of editing the message, it just sends additional texts for every single edit made.

You might not get all the new iOS 16 features you want
And not every iPhone running iOS 16 will get all the new features, like the battery percentage icon in the status bar or real-time captions for videos and FaceTime calls.

Unfortunately, older iPhone models, like the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone XR, will not receive every single new feature that’s available in iOS 16. If you want to check out the full list of features and unsupported devices, you can read more here.
For the most part, you should probably update to iOS 16
Regardless of any hesitations you might have, if you do want to jump in, there are plenty of reasons to just go ahead and update to iOS 16. Aside from all the new features you may benefit from, Apple’s major software updates may fix bugs and other issues in previous iterations.

Note: Apple released iOS 15.7, which fixes several security issues without you having to update to iOS 16.

However, major updates don’t just fix issues, they also bring new privacy and security settings that improve your safety and better protect your personal information.

On iOS 16, you have a few major privacy and security features to look forward to:

Safety Check: Helps people in domestic abuse situations by quickly restricting access that they’ve granted to others.
Pasteboard permission: Apps must now request access to your clipboard when you copy and paste between apps.
Rapid Security Response: Installs important security improvements faster.
Lockdown Mode: Provides better protection to those who are targeted by mercenary spyware.

And then there are all the new accessibility features, which can be incredibly beneficial to those with disabilities:

Live Captions: Transcribes phone call conversations and provides real-time captions to those that may be hard of hearing.
Door Detection in Magnifier: Helps those who are visually impaired by allowing them to use their camera to locate a door, read instructions or labels around the door and get instructions on how to open the door.

For more, here’s our take on the iPhone 14 Pro and Max and its shape-shifting cutout.
Read more: The Much-Missed Battery Icon Has Returned in iOS 16. So Why Are iPhone Users Annoyed?

Apple has already released a developer version of iOS 16.1, which adds support for the battery percentage feature to the iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini. If that’s a feature you’re looking forward to, you might want to wait until iOS 16.1 is released to the general public.

Skip the iOS 16 FOMO: Download the iPhone Update Today

Here’s how to install Apple’s newest update, if you haven’t already.

Apple’s iOS 16 is here, and there’s a collection of cool new features to try out. There are a few annoying features, too, but you can always disable those. The latest mobile software update includes the ability to unsend and edit text messages, a customizable lock screen, an intelligent cropping feature for photos and the battery percentage returning to the status bar. But you can’t try them out until you install iOS 16.

Read on for a step-by-step guide to the process of putting iOS 16 on your compatible iPhone. (And if you’re a worrier, here’s why you might want to wait before upgrading to iOS 16.) Plus, check out the best iPhone 14 cases so far.

Before you start, is your iPhone even compatible?
Unfortunately, not every iPhone will receive the iOS 16 update. You need at least an iPhone 8, which was released back in 2017, to run iOS 16. That also includes the iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone SE (second generation and up) and the new iPhone 14.

Next, back up your iPhone
Getting your hands on new software can be exciting, but there are precautions you should take before updating. You may not be happy with some of the features that iOS 16 has to offer (although you can fix some of the most annoying ones), so you need to be able to downgrade back to iOS 15 for whatever reason — and that requires you to back up your iPhone before you update.

By default, your iPhone should back itself up every time it’s connected to power and Wi-Fi during your regular sleep hours. However, if this backup feature is disabled, you can go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup and then hit Back Up Now to back up your device.

Additionally, you can back up your iPhone via Finder on your Mac. Simply connect your device to your computer, open Finder, choose your device and then create a backup. Apple also recommends archiving your backup, so that it’s not overwritten by other backups.

Also, make sure to do these three things
You want the download and installation process to go as smoothly as possible, and the best way to do that is to do the following:

Make sure your iPhone is connected to power. You won’t be able to download iOS 16 if you’re under 50% battery, so it’s best to just plug in your phone while you update.
Connect to Wi-Fi. You also won’t be able to download iOS 16 with cellular data, so connect to a stable Wi-Fi network.
Clear up enough storage space. The iOS 16 file size is around 5GB, and if you’re running out of storage, you’ll need to clear some up before you can download and install iOS 16. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to delete large files and apps.
Here’s a guide on how to get more iPhone storage.

How to download and install iOS 16
Now once you have all that set, open your iPhone and go to Settings > General > Software Update, wait a few seconds (or minutes) for the update to appear and then hit Download and Install for iOS 16.

If you see the download and install option for iOS 15.7 instead, hit the Upgrade to iOS 16 button at the bottom of the page and then hit Download and Install for iOS 16. Enter your passcode to begin the process of updating.

You should then see a loading bar, along with a rough estimate of how long the download process will take. Once the download is complete, reboot your device and wait for iOS 16 to install. When your iPhone boots up, follow any prompts and you should then see iOS 16 downloaded on your device.

For more on the new OS, here’s a look at all the best new features that are available on iOS 16, as well as some of the cool hidden features you might not know about.

Bought the New iPhone 14? Here’s the Easiest Way to Transfer Your Data

If you just bought one of the new iPhone 14 models or you’re planning to, we’ll explain how to transfer all your information without losing a thing.

If you bought one of the new iPhone 14 models today, you’re probably ready to tear open the box and start experiencing all the new features of iOS 16. While getting a new phone is exciting, we don’t recommend rushing the setup process. Instead, take the time to make sure your new iPhone 14 is set up to your liking.

Apple has several options for transferring data from iPhone to iPhone, depending on your situation. For instance, you can set it up as brand new, but you’d be starting from scratch with no settings, messages, photos, apps or accounts transferred over. There’s also the option to move everything from your current phone to the iPhone 14 — even if you’re currently an Android user.

We’ll explain the four different methods for restoring your phone from a recent backup of your current iPhone.

  1. Restore a recent iCloud backup to your new iPhone
    The easiest and quickest method to set up your new iPhone is to restore from a recent iCloud backup. As you walk through the initial setup process, tap Restore from iCloud Backup, sign in with your Apple ID and then pick the most recent backup of your old iPhone.

If the backup is more than a day or two old, I suggest you take an extra few minutes to create a new backup. To do so, open the Settings app on your old phone and search iCloud Backup (click the icon), then select Back Up Now.

Once that finishes, go back to your new iPhone and select the backup you just created as what you want to use to restore from.

Your phone will then restore your settings and preferences, and you’ll be able to start using it in about 15 minutes while it finishes downloading your installed apps.

Once everything is restored, you’ll need to sign back into any accounts you added to your phone, as well as go through your apps and make sure you’re still signed in.

  1. Use Apple’s direct transfer method
    During the setup process, you’ll be asked if you want to directly transfer apps and information from your old iPhone to your new one. This feature was first rolled out with iOS 12.4, so if it’s been a few years since you’ve upgraded phones, it’ll be the first time you’ve seen the option.

The tool is straightforward to use. Make sure you have both phones, preferably plugged in and charging to ensure they don’t run out of battery, a Wi-Fi connection and enough time for the process to finish — it could take over an hour.

The more information you have on your phone, like photos in your camera roll, the longer it will take. When the transfer starts, the phones will show you a time estimate. Every time I’ve used this tool, that estimate has been accurate within a couple of minutes. It’s worth taking the time if you don’t use Apple’s iCloud service to back up your phone.

  1. Use a Mac or PC to transfer your data to an iPhone
    The method I personally use with every new iPhone is to restore from an encrypted backup using a Mac or PC. Not only does this process transfer all of your apps, settings and preferences, but it also means you don’t have to sign into the countless apps you have on your phone.

Before you can use this method, you’ll need to create an encrypted backup of your current iPhone. I know that may sound intimidating or overly complicated, but it only means you have to check an extra box and enter a password.

On a Mac, you’ll use Finder to back up your old iPhone. We outlined the steps when Apple killed iTunes. Just make sure to check the Encrypt backup box and enter a password you’ll remember when prompted. Let your Mac go to work, creating a backup file. It will let you know when it’s done.

On a PC, you’ll need to use iTunes (it’s not completely dead) to create a backup. That process is explained here. Again, you’ll need to make sure the Encrypt backup box is checked and enter a password.

To restore your new phone, open Finder or iTunes, and connect your phone to your computer. Click Trust when prompted, and then follow the prompts, selecting the backup you just created as what you want to use to restore the phone. You will need to enter the backup’s password before the process begins — so make sure you don’t forget it!

Once it’s done, your new phone will be an exact copy of your old phone and you won’t have to spend any time signing into apps or random accounts.

  1. Android user? This app is your answer
    Apple doesn’t have many Android apps listed in Google’s Play Store, but Move to iOS is one of them. This free app will connect your Android phone to a new iPhone and allow you to transfer the most important information from one phone to the other.

Here’s the entire step-by-step process as well as some caveats, like the fact that it won’t transfer any locally stored music or PDF files.

No matter the process you used to set up your new phone, you’re sure to be giddy with excitement as you explore what it can do.

New iOS 16 Lockdown Mode Can Protect You From Cyberattacks. How to Use It

Apple’s iOS 16 security feature can guard against an industrial-strength iPhone hack.

It’s not every day you have to worry about being targeted in a state-sponsored cyberattack. But in the event that it does happen, Apple released a new feature with iOS 16 that can protect your iPhone and the information stored on it (and other Apple devices).

In the last few years, governments and organizations from around the world have used Pegasus — software created by the cybersecurity company NSO Group — to spy on activists, journalists and politicians.

The Pegasus software is meant to help governments keep track of criminals and terrorists, but it’s also used maliciously to secretly read text messages, record phone calls and steal important files. It can even be used to turn on your iPhone’s camera and microphone to create new recordings.

That’s why Apple has released a security feature that you can use to protect your iPhone from these sorts of attacks. Called Lockdown Mode, the new iOS 16 setting is designed to fight attacks from malware and spyware like Pegasus.

This isn’t the first step that Apple has taken against Pegasus and its maker. In September 2020, Apple released a software update that addressed Pegasus, allowing any potential victims to receive threat notifications in case they were compromised.

Again, the chances of you being attacked in this manner are very slim, but you should still know how to protect yourself.

Here’s what you need to know about Lockdown Mode on your iPhone. If you haven’t installed iOS 16 yet, here’s how and three things to do immediately after.

What does Lockdown Mode do?
Lockdown Mode offers an “extreme, optional level of security for the very few users who, because of who they are or what they do, may be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats,” according to Apple. Those who are targeted by the Pegasus software are those “very few users.”

Essentially, Lockdown Mode increases security features on iOS by limiting certain functions that may be vulnerable to attack:

Most message attachments, other than images, are blocked and features like link previews are disabled.
Web technologies, like just-in-time JavaScript compilation, are disabled unless you exclude them from Lockdown Mode.
Incoming invitations and service requests, like FaceTime calls, are blocked if you’ve never called the person before.
All Shared Albums in Photos are removed, and any new invitations for Shared Albums are blocked.
Any wired connections between your iPhone and computer or accessory are blocked.
Configuration profiles, like the ones for Apple’s public betas, cannot be installed.
Your device cannot enroll in mobile device management.
Which devices support Lockdown Mode?
Currently, you can use Lockdown Mode on any Apple device running iOS 16, iPadOS 16 or MacOS Ventura. You can download iOS 16 on your phone now.

How to enable Lockdown Mode on iOS 16
As long as you’re running iOS 16, you can easily turn on Lockdown Mode in a matter of seconds. All you need to do is go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, read through the description, tap Turn on Lockdown Mode and then hit Turn On & Restart.

Your iPhone will instantly reboot, after which Lockdown Mode will be enabled. If you go into Safari, you should see a Lockdown Enabled or Lockdown Ready banner at the top of the page, indicating that Lockdown Mode is in fact turned on and securing your iPhone.

Configure Lockdown Mode settings
While Lockdown Mode provides broad security, you have a way to tweak it to better fit your needs.

As mentioned above, websites in Safari are severely limited when in Lockdown Mode, but you can bypass these limitations by excluding a certain website. To do this, launch Safari, go to the website you want to exclude, hit AA > Website Settings, toggle off Lockdown Mode and tap Turn Off. The banner at the top of the website should now read Lockdown Off.

To view all of your excluded websites, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode and tap on Configure Web Browsing at the bottom of the page.

How to disable Lockdown Mode
Need to turn Lockdown Mode off?

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, tap Turn Off Lockdown Mode and then hit Turn Off & Restart. When your iPhone boots back up, Lockdown Mode will be disabled and you’ll be able to use your iPhone as usual once again.

iOS 16 ‘Cannot Verify AirPods’ Alert: Here’s Why You Might Be Getting It

You may see the alert when attempting to connect knockoff AirPods, but you can still connect those unofficial earbuds if you want.

Apple’s recent iOS 16 update added a number of features to the iPhone, including a verification step for AirPods. If you’re connecting official AirPods — such as the new AirPod Pro 2 earbuds announced last week or the the sleek, neutral-toned AirPods created in collaboration with Kim Kardashian or other compatible Bluetooth headphone devices — you likely won’t notice a difference.

On the other hand, if you’re attempting to connect earbuds that are fraudulently parading as AirPods, you may get a “cannot verify AirPods” message, indicating the earbuds are possibly a knockoff of official AirPods. A prominent “Don’t Connect” button appears below the alert, but you should still be able to connect via the Bluetooth settings.

Apple does warn, however, that the unverified devices may not perform as expected. It’s unclear what performance issues users may experience when connecting unofficial AirPods, and Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Along with the AirPod verification, new features of Apple’s latest operating system for iPhones, iPads and the like include the ability to edit and “unsend” messages, a customizable lock screen and upgrades to Focus Mode, among others.

If you haven’t downloaded the update yet, set aside an hour or so for it, but keep in mind that not all devices are compatible with iOS16. Here’s how to check if your iPhone is compatible with iOS16.

Apple iOS 16 Now Available: Every New Feature You Should Know About

The new iPhone update gets you plenty of feature upgrades, including photo-editing tricks and revamped Apple Maps.

Apple’s big fall iOS 16 software update is now available to download, bringing new software features, tweaks and upgrades to how your iPhone works. Apple’s new mobile operating system is available for compatible iPhones today. It’s compatible with 2017’s iPhone 8 and newer phones. The new iOS includes updates to Messages, a new customizable lock screen and a new CAPTCHA privacy update for more secure log ins. Big changes are coming to Wallet too, but lesser-known features lurking in iOS 16 are also worth checking out. Here’s every iOS 16 feature you should know about.

Plus, check out the newly announced Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra and iPhone 14.

Apple event: Full coverage
Everything Apple Announced: iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8 and More
iPhone 14 and 14 Plus Start at $799 Featuring Camera Updates
Apple’s New AirPods Pro 2 Get Better Noise Canceling
iPhone 14 Pro, Pro Max Get New Notch with Dynamic Island Feature
Apple Watch Series 8 Unveiled
The ability to edit and ‘unsend’ messages
“Embarrassing typos are a thing of the past,” Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, said at WWDC as he introduced three of the most requested features for the Messages app.

First, in iOS 16 you’ll be able to edit sent messages. So if you notice a typo after a message, you’ll be able to edit the message after the fact. A tiny “edited” appears in the status under the message.

Next, and this might be my favorite new feature, you can immediately recall a sent message. If you accidentally send an unfinished message, you can use the Undo Send tool to prevent it from being read and hopefully look less chaotic to your friends and family.

Last, you can mark messages and threads as unread. This could be an excellent tool for when you don’t have time to respond to a message in the moment, but want to make sure you come back to it later.

A new customizable lock screen
One of the things you look at the most on your iPhone is the lock screen, especially if you have a Face ID-equipped iPhone. iOS 16 brings the most substantial update to the iPhone’s lock screen yet. Press and hold to edit your lock screen. You can swipe to try out several different styles. Each style changes the color filter for the background photo and the font on the lock screen so everything complements each other. This feels a bit like Apple’s take on Google’s Material You, which launched with Android 12.

You can also customize the fonts for the time and date, and add lock screen widgets like temperature, activity rings and a calendar. The widgets are akin to complications on the Apple Watch lock screen.

You can even set up multiple customized lock screens with different widgets and easily swipe to switch between them. There’s also a photo shuffle option that automatically changes the pictures on your lock screen.

One feature we’d been hoping to see Apple add was an always-on display. It’s something nearly all Android phones have; even the Apple Watch does. Well, with the new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, the always-on display has finally arrived.

Notifications and live activities
Sometimes notifications can cover up your lock screen’s photo, so iOS 16 moves notifications to the bottom of your display. As you receive them, instead of being compiled into a list, they appear like a vertical carousel. This not only looks better but should be a big help for one-handed use of your iPhone.

iOS 16 also aims to solve another notification problem. Sometimes you get a bunch of notifications in a row from one app, like the score of a basketball game. A new tool for developers called Live Activities makes it easier to stay on top of things happening in real time from your lock screen, instead of getting a series of interruptions.

Live Activities should make it easier to follow sporting events, workouts or even the progress of an Uber ride.

Skip CAPTCHAs using Private Access Tokens
The CAPTCHA — which stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart — has been a necessary evil across the internet. CAPTCHAs are designed to make sure that a person is accessing a website or service, and not a bot. I find them annoying, as they often involve reading strangely written letters or having to find all the images that have a truck. With iOS 16, Apple plans to start replacing these awkward interactions with Private Access Tokens.

According to a video on Apple’s website demonstrating Private Access Tokens, websites that support the token will essentially log in and authenticate that you are indeed a human without your having to play any of the usual CAPTCHA games. Apple says in the video that the company is working with other companies to roll out support for this feature, so we can’t say the CAPTCHA will be dead after iOS 16 rolls out to the public. But the concept could provide some relief if it gets adopted.

Wallet and Apple Pay Later
ID cards from more states will be available in your Wallet app along with more security and privacy features. In iOS 16 you can also protect your identity and age. So rather than showing your exact birth date, the Wallet app will display your ID and that you’re over 21.

iOS 16 makes sharing keys easier with apps like Mail and Messages. When your friend receives the key, they can add it to the Wallet app on their iPhone. Apple said it’s working to make sure that shared keys are an industry standard and free for others.

Apple Pay will support new types of payments and adds a new feature called Apple Pay Later, a Klarna-like service that lets you split the cost of an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments spread over six weeks, with zero interest and no fees. Upcoming payments are managed through the Wallet app, making it easy to keep track of dates and payments.

But Apple Pay doesn’t stop there. A new feature will also help you track Apple Pay orders and lets merchants deliver detailed receipts and tracking information. This should make it easier to stay up to date on the status of all your orders.

Visual Look Up’s tap and drag for photos
In iOS 15, Visual Look Up analyzes your photos and can identify objects like plants, landmarks and pets. iOS 16 takes this to the next level. When you touch a photo’s subject like the dog in the image above, you can lift it away from the background and add it to apps like Messages. Essentially it’s a tap-and-hold tool that removes a photo’s background.

Apple sometimes overuses the word “magic,” but this feature truly seems like it.

SharePlay comes to Messages
SharePlay, which debuted in iOS 15, lets you have a shared experience while connecting with someone over FaceTime. You can watch TV shows, listen to music in sync and other things. iOS 16 adds the ability to discover more apps that support SharePlay from within FaceTime.

But perhaps one of the coolest things Apple did for SharePlay was to make it work within the Messages app. Apple said that this was one of the biggest requests from app developers. Now when you want to share a movie on Disney Plus, you can start SharePlay together with a friend while chatting in Messages.

Safety Check aims to help people in abusive relationships
Safety Check is a new feature intended to be helpful for people in abusive relationships. It lets you review and reset who has access to location information as well as passwords, messages and other apps on an iPhone.

Focus mode updates and Focus filters
Focus mode gets several updates. The first applies Focus behaviors to widgets and lock screen looks. So you could have one lock screen set for when your Work Focus is enabled and another for workouts.

Apple added specific Focus filters that apply your iPhone’s Focus mode within apps. For example, in Safari, you can limit what tabs are shown depending on what Focus mode you have active.

See also
WWDC 2022 Recap: iOS 16 and Everything Else Apple Announced
Apple M2 MacBook Air Hands-On: Bigger Screen, Higher Price
iOS 16 Features iPhone Users Are Going to Love Most
Apple Maps adds transit fare cards
Maps will get several updates. You’ll be able to plan trips with up to 15 different stops along the way. If you start planning a trip with the Maps app on your Mac, you’ll be able to share that to your iPhone.

And in something similar to what Google announced for Google Wallet in Android 13, you’ll be able to see transit fare estimates as well as add more money to a fare card from within Apple Maps.

iCloud family checklist
iCloud gets several new features. One of the more interesting ones is the option to quickly set up a new device for your child. When Quick Start appears, you have the option to pick a user for the new device and use all the existing parental controls you’ve previously selected and configured. However, this is not what many of us still want: the ability to set up separate users for the same device.

There’s a new family checklist with tips for updating settings for your kids as they get older, like a reminder to check location-sharing settings or share your iCloud Plus subscriptions.

For more, check out everything Apple announced at its Sept. 7 “Far Out” event. Plus, here’s how to download iOS 16.

From iPhone 14 to Apple Watch 8: Everything Apple Revealed at ‘Far Out’

The fall event from Apple brought new iPhone 14 models, new AirPods and lots more…

As expected, we got a first look at the iPhone 14 at Apple’s Wednesday event, but the new flagship phone was only the tip of the iceberg. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch SE and AirPods Pro 2nd generation all made an appearance yesterday. It was a lot. All will be available for preorder over the next few weeks, and some ship as soon as Sept. 16.

Apple announced the latest version of the iPhone’s operating system, iOS 16, at WWDC in June, and at the “Far Out” event we saw features like Crash Detection, the Always On display and Dynamic Island in action.

iOS 16: All the Cool, New Features Coming to Your iPhone
iOS 16 Release Date: Newest iPhone OS Launches Sept. 12
Want a play-by-play, detailed summary? Check out our archived live blog.

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus
The Plus expands to a 6.7-inch device from the standard 6.1-inch version. They’ve got updated head dissipation, a 1,200-nit HDR display with Dolby Vision support and come in a new shade of blue in addition to the rest. They inherit the battery life of the Max.

A new A15 Bionic chip bumps all the cores for faster performance. Apple upgraded the camera system with a larger sensor (1.9 microns) and sensor shift OIS in the 12-megapixel main camera. Apple says you’ll get better results in difficult lighting, and faster, too. The new TrueDepth camera also boosts low-light photography and has faster, better focusing. Apple has introduced what it calls the Photonic Engine in software for better image processing.

Action mode improves digital image stabilization for video and uses the full sensor.

As rumored, the iPhone has gone to eSIMs — no more physical SIMs supported in the US. It also supports crash detection, thanks to new sensors, and adds emergency SOS via satellite for when you’re off the grid, thanks to new antennas and an app that helps you stay connected as the satellite moves. The latter comes free for two years.

The iPhone 14 starts at $799 (£849, AU$1,399), the Plus at $899 (£949, AU$1,579). Preorder starts Sept. 9, but the 14 ships Sept. 16 and the 14 Plus on Oct. 7.

Apple’s iPhone 14 Comes With Longer Battery Life
What Is an eSIM?
Apple iPhone 14 Gets 48-Megapixel Camera for More Detailed Photos
Bye, Bye SIM Cards: Apple Fully Embraces eSIM for iPhone 14
iPhone 14’s New Emergency SOS Feature is Designed to Help You Connect in Emergencies
iPhone 14 Gets Iconic New Colors: Deep Purple and All Colors You Can Buy
Apple’s iPhone 14 Models Will Cost at Least $799

iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max
Pro Display XDR-like specs come to the Pro screens with the Super Retina XDR. The new camera notch on the pro expands and contracts to accommodate notifications and information, which you can interact with, called the “Dynamic Island.” Better brightness management and refresh rate variety is available to manage battery life, and keeps the new Always On display from being too draining.

The new 4-nanometer A16 Bionic chip is faster and requires lower power than the A15. A new Display Engine within it speeds display rendering and the updated image signal processing adds similar boosts in photo quality to the lower-end models.

A 48-megapixel sensor with support for pixel binning (4 pixels) allows for better sensitivity in low light shooting at 12-megapixel. There’s a new 2x telephoto setting and a 48mm mode, plus support for 48 megapixels in ProRaw. Video also gets Action Mode and 24 frame-per-second shooting.

They come in space black and deep purple, in addition to the traditional silver and gold.

Prices start at $999 (£1,099, AU$1,749) for the Pro, $1,099 for the Pro Max (£1,199, AU$1,899). You can preorder starting Sept. 9; they’re available on Sept. 16.

iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max Get Official Reveal at Apple’s Event
Apple Adds New A16 Processor to iPhone 14 Pro Series Only
Apple iPhone 14’s ‘Dynamic Island’: An Amusing Way to Say ‘Notch’
iPhone 14 Pro Screen Aims to Make Notch Actually Useful: How ‘Dynamic Island’ Animation Works

Apple Watch Series 8
New watch faces, an always-on and larger display (thanks to smaller bezels), along with better durability are the highlights of the new series. There’s better menstrual cycle tracking thanks to a new suite of features, including a new temperature sensor to get ovulation estimation, among other things.

There are also new safety features, such as crash detection to provide automatic notification to emergency services and contacts. It’s made possible by updated motion sensing with a new gyroscope and accelerometer.

Low power mode disables some of the less necessary features, like the always-on display, to extend to a claimed 36 hours. International roaming will also be rolling out on all cell models running WatchOS 9.

And pretty new colors and bands.

Prices start at $399 (£419, AU$629), and include three months of Apple Fitness Plus for free. It’s available Sept. 16, but preorders are open now. WatchOS 9 will be available starting Monday, Sept. 12.

Apple Watch Adds New Temperature Sensor For Fertility Tracking
Crash Detection Feature Comes to Apple Watch Series 8

Apple Watch SE
Apple’s entry-priced Watch gets bigger, faster and improved pairing for kids without iPhones, and the back case now matches the finishes. It’s made of many recycled materials. It also has the same sensors as Series 8 to enable crash detection.

It’s up for preorder now, shipping Sept. 16. Prices start at $249 (£259, AU$399).

Apple Watch SE Update Brings New Features to the Cheaper Watch
Apple Watch SE (2022) Preorder: Where to Buy Apple’s Latest Entry-Level Watch

Apple Watch Ultra
“Extreme” is the watchword for this model. It’s the most rugged yet, made of titanium, with a bezel to protect the display from impact. There are new bands designed for specific activities (alpine, trail and oceanic). There’s a new Action button for quick physical control, plus the controls are designed to be usable when wearing gloves. An improved mic, built-in cellular, a huge battery that’ll last up to 36 hours (which can be extended to as much as 60 hours via new optimization setting), plus a new complex face and night mode for better visibility are some highlights.

Inside, there’s a new GPS designed for better results in city-like environments and it uses a mic array for better pickup. It’s also got a ton of new apps targeting specific types of activities, like a dive computer and wayfinder system.

Apple Watch Ultra will be $799 (£849, AU$1,299), and automatically includes cellular. Preorders are open now, and the Watch Ultra will be available Sept. 23.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
The H1 chip graduates to H2, and new drivers and processing offer better detail and clarity, according to Apple. Spatial audio gets a personalization option for better surround, active noise cancellation, passive noise reduction and mic noise cancellation all get a boost. Adaptive transparency will do a better job with really loud noises.

Use these headphones for up to six hours in the earbuds, plus 30 hours of charging in the case, and the case is easier to find thanks to a louder speaker. It will now support Qi charging as well.

They’re $249 (£249, AU$399), available for preorder Sept. 16 and start shipping Sept. 23.

Apple’s New AirPods Pro 2 Get Better Noise Canceling and Sound

Apple reveals iPhone 14 Pro and Watch Ultra

Apple has unveiled the iPhone 14, with emergency satellite connectivity and car crash detection technology, at a launch event in the US.

The company revealed four versions of the new handset at its Cupertino headquarters, with an audience attending in person for the first time since the pandemic.

It also showed off a new extreme sports wearable – the Watch Ultra.

The event focused on next generation iPhone, Watch and AirPod products.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was on stage at the Steve Jobs theatre inside the tech giant’s California campus – but the presentation itself was entirely pre-recorded.

Apple Watch Series 8
Apple Watch Series 8 has a number of new features, including car crash detection, temperature sensors for tracking ovulation cycles and a new low-power mode option.

People have been cautious about menstrual trackers since changes were made to abortion legislation in the US and there are concerns that data about periods could be used by law enforcement. Apple says the data on its devices will be encrypted and only accessible via a passcode or biometrics.

“We are taking our commitment to women’s health even further,” said Jeff Williams, Chief Operating Officer at Apple.

Apple said a new automatic retrospective ovulation notification could help those who are trying to conceive.

If activated, the new watch can monitor body temperate every five seconds overnight, and detect tiny changes which can signal ovulation.

Another new feature is car crash detection. Using sensors, the watch will be able to identify a severe crash and will automatically connect its wearer with emergency services, provide their exact location and notify emergency contacts.

The Series 8 now also features a low power mode, a feature borrowed from the iPhone, that promises up to 36 hours of battery life on a full charge.

The Apple Watch Series 8 is priced from $399 in the US, £419 in the UK.

Apple Watch Ultra
Swim proof, dust proof and crack resistant – Apple has announced its rival to the likes of Garmin, Polar and other rugged watchmakers.

Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek from Born to Run appeared in the presentation for the new watch, which focused on a larger face design for extreme sports use.

All Ultra watches have up to 36 hours battery life on a single charge and an extended battery life of 60 hours, with Apple promising enough power for its customers to complete an ultra-triathlon which includes swimming, cycling and running.

The Apple Watch Ultra is priced from $799 in the US, £849 in the UK.

iPhone 14
The company is releasing the iPhone 14 in two sizes, the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus.

The new handsets are capable of sending an emergency call for help via satellite. The phone will display the whereabouts of passing satellites overhead and demonstrate how to point the device at them correctly.

It can take from 15 seconds to a few minutes to send a basic message.

“The investment to add satellite capability should not be underestimated,” said Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight.

“It will likely have taken Apple years to put all the pieces of the puzzle in place, including a commercial agreement with satellite provider Globalstar, and the creation of the infrastructure needed to pass messages to the emergency services.”

Tech analyst Paolo Pescatore said he believed the innovation was good news for consumers “in hard to reach areas”.

“It is encouraging to see providers starting to get serious about using satellite – ultimately reliable and robust connectivity is still highly sought after among all users,” he said.

iPhone 14 camera
The tech giant announced a new 12-megapixel camera, capable of taking photos of fast-moving subjects, and the company claims a 49% improvement in low-light capturing.

The front camera also included auto-focus for the first time, to help sharpen selfies.

According to Apple, iPhone users took more than three trillion photos in the last 12 months.

The iPhone 14 is priced from $799 (US), £849 (UK).

iPhone 14 Pro
The biggest change in iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max design is the top of the screen which is now a pill shaped cut-out.

A feature called the Dynamic Island has replaced the black notch, which many iPhone users complain about – and it can change shape depending on what notifications there are.

The other big change is that the handset can always remain on.

When the phone is not in use, the screen dims and the refresh rate is lowered.

The handset comes in a deep purple colour alongside black, silver and gold.

The iPhone 14 Pro is priced at $999 (US), £1099 (UK).

AirPods
AirPods Pro are easier to find than their predecessors. Each pair comes with a new system for finding individual lost earphones, which play a chime when dropped outside of the case.

Additionally, the case itself gets its own speaker, which will play a louder sound when prompted by the Find My app.

The new AirPods Pro are priced at $249 (US), £249 (UK).

Being here in person, among an enthusiastic crowd of Apple fans, certainly made for a more interesting launch than recent years. But nothing was announced today that is going to revolutionise the tech industry.

Much of Apple’s new tech seems ideal if you find yourself in some kind of peril on a regular basis. The new iPhone 14 will be able to send texts by satellite when off the grid. The Ultra Watch design is chunky with extra long battery life – the company says this is perfect for multi-day remote trips. Apple also announced a new crash detection system on new watches and phones, which will alert the emergency services when it detects an impact. The strategy here is pretty clear. Apple is continuing to pitch its hardware as a health and safety aid. Not surprisingly, Tim Cook describes the products as “essential”.

But in reality these are interesting but fairly niche updates – features that users will hope they’ll never have to use.

iOS 16 Compatibility: Not Every iPhone Will Get It. Will Yours?

Apple is rolling out iOS 16 very soon — to most iPhones, at least.

When Apple launches the iPhone 14 on Wednesday at its “Far Out” event (CNET’s live blog of the iPhone 14 reveal is already rolling), the new phone will undoubtedly come with Apple’s fresh iOS 16 software upgrade already installed. Following Apple’s yearly cycle, iOS 16 for compatible iPhones will also shortly roll out.

I’ve been playing with iOS 16 beta for months and can tell you right now that features like unsending text messages and automatically removing people and objects from photos are early highlights. Apple is expected to reveal even more as it launches the iPhone 14.

Alas, not every existing iPhone will be compatible with Apple’s latest software — some owners simply won’t be able to install iOS 16, especially on older devices you may be hanging onto or have repurposed to use in other ways to give your old iPhone new life. We’ll walk you through what we know right now about iOS 16 compatibility for your iPhone once Apple makes the new software available to the general public. Also, here’s every new iPhone feature iOS 16 hints at so far and how to bring back the battery percentage to your iPhone status bar using iOS 16.

Every iPhone model that will support iOS 16

The following iPhones will be compatible with iOS 16 after Apple makes the new software available for you to download.

iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone X
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 Mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone SE (second generation and later)
It’s also expected that every model in the iPhone 14 series will run iOS 16 when it arrives.

Find out which iPhone model you have
Not sure which iPhone you own? You can easily figure out the model from within your settings to check if it will run iOS 16.

To find your iPhone model, launch the Settings app and go to General > About. Next to Model Name, you should see what type of iPhone you own. Underneath that, you’ll see a Model Number, which you can use to find out more specifics about your model, such as capacity and year introduced, but that’s not necessary (only for iPhone SE) for checking whether your phone will support iOS 16 or not.

What happens to older iPhones like the iPhone 7 Plus?
Unfortunately, any iPhone older than the iPhone 8 will not support iOS 16, including the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Many people on Twitter were surprised by this, because many expected at least the iPhone 7 Plus to support iOS 16. Instead, the iPhone 7 series and some older models will only support up to iOS 15.

Will my iPad work with iOS 16?
Yes, the iPad has its own version of iOS 16 that’s known as iPadOS 16. This newest operating system will be supported on the following iPad models:

iPad Mini (fifth generation and later)
‌iPad‌ (fifth generation and later)
iPad Air (third generation and later)
iPad Pro (all models)

Whether you’re going to keep your current iPhone or buy a new iPhone 14, here are 22 little known iPhone settings you should know about to make their phones faster, safer and more fun to use.

Not All iPhones Will Work With iOS 16: How to Find Out if Yours Will

The latest iPhone operating system will be rolled out to most users automatically.

The waiting for the new iPhone 14 and related iOS 16 operating system upgrade is almost over. We’re expecting to get all the details on the new iPhone for 2022 and iOS 16 at Apple’s “Far Out” event, this Wednesday, Sept. 7.

While the majority of current iPhone users will enjoy features like automatically removing people and objects from photos and unsending text messages, not everyone will get the chance to install iOS 16. If you’ve got an older iPhone, Apple’s latest mobile operating system might not be compatible with your device. Here’s everything we know about whether you’ll be able to install iOS 16 on your iPhone once it’s available to the general public.

If you want to get your hands on iOS 16 right now, you can download the sixth iOS 16 public beta, which also brings back the battery percentage back to your status bar.

The iPhone models that will support iOS 16
The following iPhones will be compatible with iOS 16 when it’s released later this year:

iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone X
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 Mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone SE (second generation and later)
It’s also safe to assume that every model in the iPhone 14 series will run iOS 16 when it arrives. Apple is expected to announce and release its latest flagship device sometime in September during an annual special event keynote address.

How to see which iPhone model you have
Not sure which iPhone you own? You can easily figure out the model from within your settings to check if it will run iOS 16.

To find your iPhone model, launch the Settings app and go to General > About. Next to Model Name, you should see what type of iPhone you own. Underneath that, you’ll see a Model Number, which you can use to find out more specifics about your model, such as capacity and year introduced, but that’s not necessary (only for iPhone SE) for checking whether your phone will support iOS 16 or not.

What happens to older iPhone models like the iPhone 7 Plus?
Unfortunately, any iPhone older than the iPhone 8 will not support iOS 16, including the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Many people on Twitter were surprised by this, because many expected at least the iPhone 7 Plus to support iOS 16. Instead, the iPhone 7 series and some older models will only support up to iOS 15.

Will my iPad get iOS 16?
Yes, the iPad has its own version of iOS 16 that’s known as iPadOS 16. This newest operating system will be supported on the following iPad models:

iPad Mini (fifth generation and later)
‌iPad‌ (fifth generation and later)
iPad Air (third generation and later)
iPad Pro (all models)