Apple Releases Updated Version of iOS 12.1 for iPhone XR

by

Apple today released an updated version of iOS 12.1 for the iPhone XR, one week after the initial launch of iOS 12.1 and a little over a week since the iPhone XR's October 26 launch.

The new iOS 12.1 software for the iPhone XR carries a build number of 16B94, a slight change from the original 16B93 build number.

The update doesn't appear to be showing up on devices that have already installed iOS 12.1, suggesting the new version of the software is designed for customers who have not yet upgraded their iPhone XR devices to the iOS 12.1 update. Why Apple released an updated version of iOS 12.1 for the XR is unknown, but it's likely to include minor bug fixes.

ios12banner
iPhone XR owners who have not yet installed iOS 12.1 can do so over-the-air by going to Settings --> General --> Software Update.

iOS 12.1 is a major update that brings a host of new features to the iPhone XR. It brings support for the eSIM, a digital SIM that lets you activate a cellular plan from a carrier without the need to use a physical SIM card.

eSIM support is not yet available from U.S. carriers, but AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are working on implementing support before the end of the year. Other carriers around the world have begun introducing eSIM support.

iOS 12.1 also brings a new real-time Depth Control feature, which lets you adjust the depth of field of your Portrait Mode photos before you capture them, and it adds support for Group FaceTime calls with up to 32 people.

Other new features include more than 70 new emoji and several important bug fixes that should entice anyone who has not yet installed the update to do so.

Excessive skin-smoothing with the front-facing camera, for example, has been addressed, with Apple updating the Smart HDR feature of the iPhone XR's camera to use a sharper base frame to preserve more detail.

The update also improves cellular connectivity on the iPhone XR and fixes bugs with voicemails, the phone app, Screen Time, Family Sharing, and more.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Announces iPhone 16e With A18 Chip and Apple Intelligence, Pricing Starts at $599

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued. The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
Read Full Article • 675 comments
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame

Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models. In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
Read Full Article • 175 comments
apple launch feb 2025 alt

Here Are the New Apple Products We're Still Expecting This Spring

Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring. There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category. M4...
Read Full Article • 61 comments
Generic iOS 18

Here's When Apple Will Release iOS 18.4

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch. All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
Read Full Article • 46 comments
prioritize notifications ios 18 4

Everything New in iOS 18.4 Beta 1

Friday February 21, 2025 1:08 pm PST by
Apple finally released the first beta of iOS 18.4 to developers for testing purposes, and while the beta is lacking some of the Apple Intelligence features we were hoping for, there are some notable new additions. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Priority Notifications - Apple Intelligence There is a new Priority Notifications feature that can show you your most...
Read Full Article • 75 comments
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
Read Full Article • 286 comments
iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Denies Speculation Surrounding iPhone 16e's Lack of MagSafe

Friday February 21, 2025 8:01 am PST by
Apple has confirmed that its custom-designed C1 modem in the iPhone 16e has nothing to do with the device's lack of MagSafe support, according to Macworld. Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, there was some speculation online about how MagSafe magnets might have interfered with the C1 modem's cellular connectivity performance, and this was considered to be a potential reason for the...
Read Full Article • 151 comments
apple c1

Apple Unveils 'C1' as First Custom Cellular Modem

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:08 am PST by
Apple today announced its first custom cellular modem with the name "C1," debuting in the all-new iPhone 16e. The new modem contributes to the iPhone 16e's power efficiency, giving it the longest battery life of any iPhone with a 6.1-inch display, such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16. Expanding the benefits of Apple silicon, C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most...
Read Full Article • 145 comments

Top Rated Comments

AngerDanger Avatar
AngerDanger
82 months ago
Excessive skin-smoothing with the front-facing camera, for example, has been addressed, with Apple updating the Smart HDR feature of the iPhone XR's camera to use a sharper base frame to preserve more detail.
Maybe iOS 12.1 16B94 has further refined this feature.

EDIT:



Goddammit!

Attachment Image
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bigboyz12000 Avatar
bigboyz12000
82 months ago
My favorite thing about the XR is the size. Its perfect to me. Not to big not too small. I wish they made the XS in that size 6.1"
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dona83 Avatar
dona83
82 months ago
So XR buyers what is the verdict so far? Are you happy? If you switched from a dual lens iPhone, do you miss that?

How is the display? I haven’t had time to stop by an Apple Store recently. I’ve seen YouTube reviews but I prefer hearing from regular people.
I love my XR so far. The screen is amazing in 95% of the situations: crisp, bright, with really accurate and eye pleasing colours. I'm really addicted to the screen. If you're watching a 21:9 movie, you only lose about 13% of the pixels (less the notch) compared to an old Plus phone despite the fact the XR has 28.5% less pixels because of the super wide 39:18 aspect ratio.

Camera is excellent as well. The single lens portrait photos are surprisingly good if you can get past the wide angle subjects. Low light photos are good. I've never had a dual lens iPhone before but I thought I should take that money I save to buy a DSLR. The XR is $330 cheaper than the XS in Canada but I thought 64GB would be too small but didn't think I would need 256GB as I pay for the 2TB of iCloud storage, so I thought 128 GB would be a good size, so really I saved $460. $460 will go towards getting an entry level DSLR and superzoom lens. I want to get into some sports photography and no dual lens camera will do it.

Would I buy it again? Absolutely.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sbailey4 Avatar
sbailey4
82 months ago
Probably an update to throttle and drain the faster.
Man I hope so. The battery on that thing is crazy long and needs to drain some. geez. :)

I have an XR already updated to 12.1, so my device says it is up-to-date. If there is a fix required for the XR, I am not sure why it is not being offered to me.
Plug into iTunes and it will offer the update (if you want it) No idea what was fixed though.

DFU restore is your only option now.
Nope, Itunes will offer the update if plug it in. No DFU required.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lec0rsaire Avatar
lec0rsaire
82 months ago
Coming from a 7 Plus with higher resolution and higher DPI, I expected to be slightly disappointed, but unless I stare intently at the screen, it looks just as sharp. I don't watch TV or movies on my iPhone, but movies look really good, particularly those with HDR/DV, and the audio is MUCH better than my 7 Plus.

I'd recommend the XR to anybody.
Thanks. Exactly the sort of opinion I was looking for!

Played with one at the Apple Store and it seems like a gigantic leap forward from the previous "low-end" iPhone. Would recommend to people in the market for a new phone.
Thanks.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrJohnnyN Avatar
DrJohnnyN
82 months ago
Maybe iOS 12.1 16B94 has further refined this feature.

EDIT:



Goddammit!
You're a master at GIF. Sometimes I come onto these forums to see your newest GIF.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments