MacRumors

Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 updates to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, with the new software coming one week after the release of the fifth betas.

iOS 15
Developers can download iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper profile has been installed on an iPhone or iPad. Public beta testers can download the profile from Apple's beta testing website.

According to Apple's release notes for the update, it adds new options for live sports games and addresses issues with device storage Settings, Safari, and more.

iOS 15.6 includes enhancements, bug fixes and security updates.

- TV app adds the option to restart a live sports game already in-progress and pause, rewind, or fast-forward
- Fixes an issue where Settings may continue to display that device storage is full even if it is available
- Fixes an issue that may cause braille devices to slow down or stop responding when navigating text in Mail
- Fixes an issue in Safari where a tab may revert back to a previous page

iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 could be some of the last updates to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 as Apple is now working on iOS 16, which is set to be released this fall.

Apple has also released new RC versions of tvOS 15.6 and watchOS 8.7.

Related Forum: iOS 15

Apple TV+ shows that include "Severance" and "Ted Lasso" have been nominated for 2022 Emmy Awards, the Television Academy announced today. "Ted Lasso" has been nominated for Outsanding Comedy Series, while "Severance" has been nominated for Outstanding Drama Series.

severance apple tv plus
"Ted Lasso" won the 2021 Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy, and it is in the running to do so again. The show is competing against "Only Murders in the Building," "What We Do in the Shadows," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Hacks," and other shows. "Ted Lasso" stars Jason Sudeikis as an American coaching a soccer team in the UK.

"Severance" is a psychological thriller that has received rave reviews. It follows the employees of Lumon Industries, a company that uses a "severance" medical procedure to separate the work and personal lives of its workers. One employee, played by Adam Scott, tries to put the two halves of his lifes together and discovers a deep network of conspiracies and lies.

Other nominees in the drama category include "Better Call Saul," "Euphoria," "Squid Game," "Succession," "Stranger Things," and "Yellowjackets," so "Severance" has some notable competition.

‌Apple TV‌+ actors and crew have received a number of other nominations, with "Ted Lasso" earning a total of 20 nominations in categories like Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.

"Severance" has been nominated in a number of categories as well, including Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, with both John Turturro and Christopher Walken receiving nominations. Patricia Arquette was also nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Other ‌Apple TV‌+ shows that have received nominations include "Lisey's Story," "Pachinko," "Schmigadoon," "The Morning Show," "Central Park," "Carpool Karaoke: The Series," "The Problem With Jon Stewart," "Foundation," and "SEE," with a full list available on the Emmys website [PDF].

Massive sales have hit the latest Apple Watches for Prime Day in 2022, with the lowest prices available across nearly every model of the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 7.

apple watches prime dayNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Note that we're focusing on the Aluminum versions of the Apple Watch SE and Series 7 in this article, but you'll also find a few deals on higher-end options as well.

Check out our article on The Best Apple Deals for Amazon Prime Day to stay up to date with this summer's big shopping event.

Apple Watch SE - $60 Off

Deals are particularly abundant for the Apple Watch SE, with all but a few models seeing record low deals today. You'll find $60 off across the board for every model of the Apple Watch SE.

apple watch se prime day

40mm GPS

44mm GPS

44mm Cellular

Apple Watch Series 7 - $120 Off

Similar to the Apple Watch SE, we're seeing huge discounts on the Series 7 lineup today. Amazon has discounted these Apple Watch models by $120, with numerous reaching all-time low prices because of these Prime Day deals.

prime day apple watch

41mm GPS

41mm Cellular

45mm GPS

45mm Cellular

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Given that many customers upgrade their iPhones every two to three years nowadays, there are still plenty of iPhone 12 Pro owners who might be interested in upgrading to the iPhone 14 Pro later this year. While year-over-year iPhone updates are often incremental, the new features begin to stack up after two generations.

iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Feature
As a refresher, we've put together a list of new features and changes to expect if you upgrade from an iPhone 12 Pro to an iPhone 14 Pro. The list includes features that Apple added to the iPhone 13 Pro last year and features rumored for the iPhone 14 Pro, which Apple is expected to announce in September as usual.

  • A16 chip vs. A14 chip: The A15 chip in the iPhone 13 Pro is already up to 20% faster than the A14 chip in the 12 Pro, according to Geekbench 5, and performance should improve even more with the A16 chip in the iPhone 14 Pro.
  • Brighter display: Compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, the 14 Pro's display should have up to 200 nits higher peak brightness.
  • No more notch: Rumors suggest Apple will replace the notch with a pill-shaped cutout and a hole for the Face ID sensors and front camera on the iPhone 14 Pro.
  • ProMotion: Introduced on the iPhone 13 Pro, ProMotion allows for a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother appearing content and scrolling.
  • Always-on display: Rumors suggest the iPhone 14 Pro will feature an always-on display mode that shows the time, date, and iOS 16's new Lock screen widgets.
  • Longer battery life: Already, the iPhone 13 Pro gets 22 hours of video playback vs. 17 hours for the 12 Pro, and rumors suggest that iPhone 14 Pro models could feature even larger battery capacities.
  • Many camera improvements: iPhone 12 Pro users upgrading to the 14 Pro will get many camera upgrades, including a rumored 48-megapixel Wide lens on the rear camera with support for 8K video recording, an upgraded front camera with autofocus, increased optical zoom, sensor-shift image stabilization, Macro mode, Cinematic mode, ProRes video recording, Photographic Styles, and more.
  • Wi-Fi 6E: iPhone 14 models are rumored to support Wi-Fi 6E, allowing the device to connect to Wi-Fi networks using the 6GHz band.
  • 5G improvements: iPhone 13 Pro models feature more 5G bands than 12 Pro models for greater 5G coverage, and the iPhone 14 Pro is expected to use Qualcomm's newer Snapdragon X65 modem for improved 5G performance.
  • 1TB storage option: Unlike the iPhone 12 Pro, the 14 Pro should be available with at least a 1TB storage option.

Have an iPhone 11 Pro instead? Check out our iPhone 11 Pro vs. 14 Pro comparison.

Among a glut of deals that appeared for Amazon Prime Day today is the return of the best price we've ever seen on the AirPods 2. You can get these headphones for $89.99, down from $129.00, which matches the all-time low price we saw on the AirPods 2 last holiday season.

airpods 2 prime dayNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This model of the AirPods include a Wired Charging Case, and you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the deal, similar to other Prime Day discounts. The headphones are available to ship immediately, so most shoppers should see a delivery date of around July 14.

Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime if you don't have it yet on Amazon.

Check out our article on The Best Apple Deals for Amazon Prime Day to stay up to date with this summer's big shopping event.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Verizon today announced the launch of a new 5G unlimited plan called "Welcome Unlimited," which the company says is its best price yet on unlimited talk, text, and 5G/LTE data.

verizon
The Welcome Unlimited plan is priced at $30 per line per month for four lines when Auto Pay is used, with Verizon also offering a $240 Verizon e-gift card per line when activating an already-owned LTE or 5G phone on the new plan. A single line is priced at $65 per month, and two lines are available for $55 per line per month.

Verizon is making the Welcome Unlimited plan available separately from its current Mix and Match Unlimited plans for families, and it cannot be combined with those plans. The Mix and Match Unlimited plans allow family members to have unlimited plans with different benefits and data options.

The Welcome Unlimited plan offers unlimited 5G/LTE data, but in times of congestion, Verizon says data may be temporarily slower. It does not include Mobile Hotspot functionality, which is what sets it apart from Verizon's other plans. The Welcome Unlimited plan is available as of today, with more information available on Verizon's website.

Tag: Verizon

Amazon Prime Day is back again, and this year it will last for two days. During this time, you'll find a large selection of deals and offers across Amazon's storefront, covering savings on tech, clothing, video games, groceries, and much, much more.

primeday2020 feature3Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

For our coverage, we're focusing entirely on Apple and Apple-related discounts that can be purchased during this 48 hour event on Amazon. As of today, this includes deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, iPad Air, and MacBook Pro.

As is typical for Prime Day deals, these markdowns are very time sensitive, so sales listed below may disappear fast, and new ones may appear even faster. With this in mind, we'll keep this article updated throughout the event, and keep an eye on the MacRumors front page as we'll be posting particularly great deals in separate articles this week.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon Prime Day requires you to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the discounts. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139.00 per year; you can find out more information about the service on Amazon.

AirPods

Starting with AirPods, you'll find a wide selection of solid deals across the AirPods lineup on Amazon today. Prices start at $89.99 for the AirPods 2 ($39 off), then increase to $169.99 for the AirPods Pro with MagSafe ($79 off).

airpods pro prime day
Finally, there's the AirPods Max for $449.99 in select colors ($99 off). These are some of the lowest prices of the year, and in the case of the AirPods 2 this is the lowest price we've ever tracked. Every deal has been applied automatically so you won't need any coupon.



Apple TV 4K

One of the most notable discounts this Prime Day is Amazon's discount on the 32GB Apple TV 4K, which is down to $109.00, from $179.00. This is an all-time low price and one of the cheapest entry-level prices we've ever seen for a brand-new Apple TV 4K. The 64GB model is also available at $129.00, down from $199.00.

apple tv prime day


Apple Watch

Big discounts have hit across the Apple Watch family this Prime Day, including record low prices on both Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 7.

prime day apple watch

40mm GPS SE

Starting with the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE, Amazon has this model for $219.00, down from $279.00. This deal is available in three color options and all are in stock and ready to ship from Amazon today.

Compared to past sales, this is a match of the 2022 record low price on the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE. For the 40mm Cellular Apple Watch SE, you can get an all-time low price of $269.00 with the use of an automatic on-page coupon on Amazon, down from $329.00.

44mm GPS SE

You can also get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE for $249.00 on Amazon, down from $309.00. This model is also available in three colors (note that Gold Aluminum has an on-page coupon), but overall it's a second-best price on this model.

If you're shopping for the 44mm Cellular model of the Apple Watch SE, Amazon has this model down to a new record low price of $299.00, from $359.00. This deal is available in all colors..

41mm GPS Series 7

The cheapest available Apple Watch Series 7 model is the 41mm GPS device, on sale for $279.00 in Green Aluminum, down from $399.00. This beats the previous all-time low price by more than $20 and is the all-time best price we've ever seen on the Apple Watch Series 7.

45mm GPS Series 7

Again, we're tracking a new record low price for the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7, available for $309.00, down from $429.00. Two of the colors are available at this price: Green and Starlight Aluminum.

iPad (2021)

Continuing the trend of all-time low prices returning for Prime Day, Amazon today has the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad for $299.00, down from $329.00. This sale is only available in Space Gray, but it is a record low price on the 2021 iPad, and one we haven't seen in months.

ipad prime day

For more storage, there's also the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $429.00, down from $479.00. This deal has been a bit more common in 2022, but it's also a record low price and available in both Silver and Space Gray colors.

iPad Air (2022)

Four of the five 2022 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air color options are available for $559.00, down from $599.00. While not an all-time low price, this has remained the most consistent deal on these tablets throughout the year. The 256GB Wi-Fi model only has one color on sale: Space Gray at $679.00, down from $749.00, an all-time low price.

ipad air prime day

MacBook Pro

Low prices have also hit the 2021 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro notebooks on Amazon today, with as much as $200 off select models.

macbook pro prime day

14-inch MacBook Pro

Starting with the 14-inch MacBook Pro, you can get the 8-Core M1 Pro/512GB model for $1,799.00 in both colors, down from $1,999.00. This is a solid second-best price on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and there's a slight shipping delay with estimated delivery of around July 22 for the Silver model.

For a higher-end model, the 10-Core M1 Pro/1TB 14-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,299.00, down from $2,499.00. This is another second-best price on the MacBook Pro, and stock is available in both colors at this price.

16-inch MacBook Pro

For the larger 16-inch MacBook Pro, the 10-Core M1 Pro/512GB 16-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,299.00, down from $2,499.00. This one is available in both colors, with stock dwindling for each model.

On the higher end, we're tracking another second-best price on the 10-Core M1 Pro/1TB model, priced at $2,499.00, down from $2,699.00. It's also available in both colors, with a late July shipping estimate.

Mac mini

Amazon has the 256GB M1 Mac mini for $569.99 with the on-page coupon that will be applied automatically at checkout, down from $699.00. This is an all-time low price.

mac mini prime day

MagSafe Accessories

Apple's MagSafe accessories are also seeing discounts during Prime Day this year, the highlight being the MagSafe Battery Pack for $79.99, down from $99.00. You'll also find the MagSafe Charger for $31.99 ($7 off) and the MagSafe Duo Charger for $103.99 ($26 off).

magsafe prime day




AirTag

Woot has some Prime Day deals of its own today, offering the AirTag 1-Pack for $24.99, down from $29.00, and the AirTag 4-Pack for $84.99, down from $99.00. These come with a one year Apple Manufacturer Limited Warranty in new condition, and you can get free standard shipping if you're a Prime member.

airtag prime day

Compared to Amazon's own sales, these are both matches of previous all-time low prices on the AirTag. You can pair your new AirTag with all-time low prices on official Apple accessories for the AirTag on Amazon, which has the AirTag Loop for just $9.00 in three colors, down from $29.00.

The Leather Key Ring is also on sale, priced at $19.00 in two colors, down from $35.00.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Peloton is switching to Apple suppliers like Quanta and Pegatron as it attempts to turn its business around, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

peloton tv workout cardio
Peloton will no longer produce its bikes and treadmills at its own factories and rely solely on manufacturing partners in a desperate attempt to simplify its operations and reduce costs, according to the report. Apple supplier Quanta already provided touch screens to Peloton, but now the company is adding iPhone assembler Pegatron to its supply chain to build its upcoming rowing machine as it attempts to mirror more efficient supply chain models.

Earlier this year, Peloton was looking for an investor like Apple to buy around 20 percent of the company in an effort to improve its fortunes amid dwindling demand for its products and fierce competition from services like Apple Fitness+. Following months of bleak news about Peloton's "precarious state" as demand for the company's products dried up, including the revelation that it had temporarily halted production of its bikes and treadmills, Apple was repeatedly floated as a potential buyer of the troubled fitness business at the start of this year. Even so, Apple has shown no interest in acquiring a stake in Peloton.

Analyst Neil Cybart previously highlighted how Peloton is now actively threatened by Apple Fitness+, not least because it is considerably cheaper, costing up to $388.01 less annually for digital classes alone. Cybart cautioned that without major changes this year, "Peloton is on track to be a Fitbit 2.0 - a company unable to compete with the giants subsidizing health and fitness tracking as an ecosystem feature."

Apple is now producing final prototypes of iPads with OLED displays, with the device focusing on a lightweight design and improved image quality, according to ET News.

OLED iPad Pro Feature
The prototypes are reportedly being produced with Korean display partners Samsung and LG Display and allow Apple to undertake a series of tests. Apple is said to be focusing on giving the OLED iPad a lighter design and "unrivaled image quality," partly facilitated by a dry etching process that significantly reduces the weight of the display. The company is also believed to be developing a special coating to increase the display's durability, necessitated by how thin it is.

The first OLED ‌iPad‌ models are expected to include an 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The devices are widely rumored to launch in 2024.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Neutral)

WhatsApp is developing an updated Mac app that features native Apple silicon support, with the company today providing a TestFlight beta to allow some Mac users to try out the new version of the app.

Whatsapp Feature
Apple silicon Macs have been able to use the Electron-based Intel version of WhatsApp for Mac since 2020 thanks to Rosetta 2, but there has been no native version available. An Apple silicon optimized Universal app should run faster and should use less resources on M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, and M2 machines.

whatsapp apple silicon 2
News of the WhatsApp for Mac beta was shared by WABetaInfo, and the site notes that it is an early beta so some features may not fully function. The Universal version of WhatsApp does have an updated design that has a more Mac-like style with dedicated sidebar, and it is notably quicker than the existing version.

whatsapp apple silicon 1
The sidebar features easy access to Chats, Calls, Archived, Starred, and Settings, and the chat interface also has an Apple-like style with Mac icons and a streamlined interface that feels more natural on Apple's devices.

There is no word on when the updated WhatsApp for Mac app will be released, but WhatsApp has been testing it internally for three weeks prior to providing a TestFlight version of the beta, so development is progressing.

The M2 MacBook Air is set to launch on Friday, July 15, and the first orders placed last week have now started shipping out to customers ahead of the machine's debut date. Apple is already sending out shipment notifications to some customers who are expecting a July 15 delivery.

m2 macbook air shipped
Many customers who purchased a ‌MacBook Air‌ may still be seeing the "Order in Progress" status, but the new devices are on the move. If you're in the United States and haven't gotten an official shipping notice from Apple, you may be able to use UPS My Choice or track by reference number to track your upcoming delivery.

‌MacBook Air‌ models are shipping to customers directly from China, and orders have essentially sold out. There are no ‌MacBook Air‌ configurations that are available to purchase from Apple's website for a Friday delivery, and most configurations are shipping out in late July and beyond.

For those who were not able to place an order, Apple retail stores will likely have some stock configurations available on launch day, though supplies are expected to be limited.

The ‌M2‌ ‌MacBook Air‌ is priced starting at $1,199, and along with an ‌M2‌ chip, it features a thinner, lighter body, new color options, a larger display, MagSafe charging, and more.

Those awaiting a new ‌MacBook Air‌ this Friday can join our MacBook Air order thread, where MacRumors readers are discussing their orders and shipment dates.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

Apple's worldwide Mac shipments were up in the second quarter of 2022, according to new PC shipping estimates shared today by Gartner. Apple shipped an estimated 6.4 million Macs during the quarter, up from 5.8 million in the year-ago quarter, marking 9.3 percent year-over-year growth.

gartner 2Q22 global

Gartner's Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 2Q22 (Thousands of Units)

Apple continued to be the number four vendor during the quarter with 8.8 percent market share. Apple continued to trail behind Lenovo, HP, and Dell, with 17.9 million, 13.5 million, and 13.3 million shipments, respectively. Acer and ASUS trailed behind Apple with 5.1 million and 4.7 million PCs shipped, respectively.

Mac shipments were up despite severe supply constraints that saw some MacBook Pro models delayed for multiple weeks or even months, and Apple was the only vendor to see positive growth. All other PC vendors saw a decline in shipments during the quarter due to supply chain issues.

gartner 2Q22 trend

Apple's Market Share Trend: 1Q06-2Q22 (Gartner)

Overall, there were an estimated 72 million PCs shipped during the quarter, down from 82.4 million in the year-ago quarter, a decline of 12.6 percent. Gartner says that this is the sharpest decline the global PC market has seen in nine years.

In the United States, Apple shipped an estimated 3.1 million Macs in Q2 2022, up 19.5 percent from the 2.6 million it shipped in the first quarter of 2021. Dell, HP, and Lenovo beat out Apple in terms of shipments, selling 5.6, 4.6, and 3.4 million PCs, respectively.

gartner 2Q22 us

Gartner's Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 2Q22 (Thousands of Units)

IDC released its own shipping estimates this morning, painting a more grim picture of Apple's Mac sales during the quarter. According to IDC, Apple shipped just 4.8 million Macs in Q2 2022, marking a year-over-year decline of 22.5 percent. IDC believes that overall PC shipments were down a total of 15.3 percent during the quarter.

Data shared by Gartner and IDC is estimated and not necessarily reflective of Apple's actual sales, and the numbers tend to fluctuate quite a bit over time, which is why the estimates are so different. Estimated data used to be able to be confirmed when Apple provided quarterly earnings results with actual Mac sales information, but Apple no longer breaks out unit sales for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, making it impossible to determine exact sales numbers.

Tag: Gartner

YouTube today announced that it has begun rolling out picture-in-picture support for all iOS users in the United States, allowing iPhone and iPad owners to close the YouTube app when watching a video and continue to view the content in a small pop-up window while doing other things on their devices.

YouTube Picture in Picture Feature
Picture-in-picture support has previously available to YouTube premium subscribers in the United States, but now it is available to all U.S. YouTube users. For other countries, a premium subscription is required to access the picture-in-picture feature. Picture-in-picture is available to U.S. non-subscribers for non-music videos, and it will not be available for music unless you have a premium subscription.


Google confirmed last year that picture-in-picture support would be rolling out to both premium and non-paying YouTube users and it has been in testing, but it took some time for the feature to be implemented for all. "We recognize this has been a slow roll out for a highly requested feature," reads the support article on picture-in-picture. YouTube said it wants to "want to thank everyone who shared feedback during experiments and waited patiently for this moment."

To use picture-in-picture in the YouTube app, just select a video to watch and then exit out of YouTube by swiping upwards from the bottom of the screen. The video will transfer to a mini player that can be moved around the display.

The picture-in-picture feature is available to ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌ devices running iOS and iPadOS 15 and higher, and it will be rolling out over the next several days.

Tag: YouTube

Apple today seeded new iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 beta updates to its public beta testing group, giving non-developers an opportunity to try out the new software ahead of its fall launch.


Signing up to get the iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 beta is simple, and can be done by enrolling an iPhone or iPad in Apple's free Apple Beta Software Program. Instructions are below.

apple beta software ios 16

  1. On your iOS device, open up Safari and navigate to the Apple Beta Software Program website.
  2. Tap the Sign up button and enter your Apple ID credentials, or sign in with your ‌Apple ID‌ if you've signed up to beta test a previous update.
  3. Agree to the Apple Beta Software Program terms and conditions if required.
  4. After signing in, you'll see a main screen that's a Guide for Public Betas. Click on iOS (or iPadOS if you're installing on an ‌iPad‌).
  5. Read through Apple's instructions carefully, and then using the link in the "Get Started" section, select "enroll your iOS device."
  6. Make sure to make an archived backup of your current version of iOS using Finder by following Apple's instructions or using our tutorial below. This will allow you to downgrade back to iOS 15 if necessary and is crucial if you don't enjoy the iOS 16 testing experience.
  7. Scroll down and tap on the "Download profile" button.
  8. When you see a popup that says the website is trying to download a configuration profile, tap on "Allow."
  9. Open up the Settings app on your iOS device and then tap on the "Profile Downloaded" section that's located right below your ‌Apple ID‌ information.
  10. In the upper right corner of the screen, tap on "Install."
  11. Enter your passcode and then tap "Install" again. If you have a prior beta profile installed, you may need to remove it at this point under General > Profile and redo the above steps. Otherwise, agree to the consent text and tap "Install" a third time.
  12. Tap Done.
  13. Your phone will prompt you to restart. From there, go back to the main Settings screen.
  14. Under "General," choose "Software Update" and then "Download and Install."
  15. Once the beta update has been downloaded you can tap on "Install Now" to get it set up, and from there, the ‌iPhone‌ will install the software, restart, and you'll be up and running with the iOS 16 software.

Compatibility

iOS 16 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 8 and later, and it unfortunately drops support for the ‌iPhone‌ 6s and ‌iPhone‌ 7 models. iPhones able to run iOS 16 are listed below.

  • ‌iPhone‌ 13
  • ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini
  • ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro
  • ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max
  • ‌iPhone‌ 12
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • ‌iPhone‌ 11
  • ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • ‌iPhone‌ XS
  • ‌iPhone‌ XS Max
  • ‌iPhone‌ XR
  • ‌iPhone‌ X
  • ‌iPhone‌ 8
  • ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus
  • iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)

iPadOS 16 is compatible with the following iPads:

  • iPad Pro (all models)
  • iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
  • ‌iPad‌ (5th generation and later)
  • iPad mini (5th generation and later)

How to Make an Archived Backup

As mentioned in our tutorial for installing the public beta, it's essential to make an archived backup of your device if you want to be able to downgrade to a version of iOS 15. Once you upgrade to iOS 16, an iOS 16 backup cannot be restored to the iOS 15 software, which is why you need to make a backup beforehand. Here's how:

  1. Plug your ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, or iPod touch into your Mac using the supplied cable.
  2. Open a Finder window by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.
  3. Click your iOS device's name in the sidebar.
    finder
  4. If this is the first time connecting your device to your Mac, click Trust in the Finder window.
    finder
  5. Tap Trust on your device when prompted, then enter your passcode to confirm.
  6. In the General tab, click the circle next to where it says Back up all of the data on your [iPhone/iPad/iPod touch] to this Mac.
  7. If you don't want to create an encrypted backup, or you've already set up encrypted backups, click Back Up Now at the bottom of the General tab.
    finder

When the backup is finished, you can find the date and time of the last backup in the General tab, just above the Manage Backups button.

iOS 16 Features

iOS 16 is a significant update that brings an entirely overhauled Lock Screen experience on the ‌iPhone‌, letting you customize the look of your device in new ways. Lock Screens can now have widgets, and can be linked to Focus modes.

FaceTime supports Handoff, there are new health and fitness features, Apple added better photo sharing with iCloud Shared Photo Library, and tons more. A full list of iOS 16 features can be found in our dedicated iOS 16 roundup.

Some of the iOS 16 features are not yet functional and won't be implemented until later in the beta testing period, which is something to be aware of. iOS and iPadOS 16 will be in beta testing for several months as Apple refines and updates the software ahead of its fall release.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Twitter today announced that it is rolling out a new feature called Unmentioning, which is designed to allow Twitter users to remove themselves from conversations they do not want to participate in or be notified about.

Twitter Feature
Twitter users who have been @mentioned in a conversation can now go to their Mentions tab and select the "Leave this conversation" option from any conversation they've been mentioned in, or select the three dots in the top corner of any tweet with a mention. Leaving a conversation will untag their username, stop all future mentions, and put a stop to notifications.

Those who use the unmention feature will have their username untagged from the original tweet and replies, and people will not be able to mention their username again in the conversation.


Twitter says that no one will receive notifications when someone leaves a conversation, but usernames will be displayed differently. Once a conversation is left, there is no way to rejoin or undo the unmention action.

Unmentioning is available in the latest version of the Twitter app for iOS devices, and it is rolling out to all Twitter users starting today.

Tag: Twitter

Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 16, allowing anyone with an iPhone 8 or newer to test out the software update for free. iOS 16 includes plenty of new features, ranging from a customizable Lock Screen to the ability to edit or unsend iMessages.

iOS 16 Preview
To get the iOS 16 public beta, sign up for the free Apple Beta Software Program directly on your iPhone. Given that iOS 16 is still in beta, keep in mind that you may encounter bugs, incompatible apps, reduced battery life, or other issues. Think carefully before deciding to install the public beta on an iPhone that you rely on for daily use.

If you are installing the iOS 16 public beta on your iPhone, we've put together a list of seven new features worth checking out below.

Customize the Lock Screen

The headline new feature of iOS 16 is the ability to personalize the Lock Screen with multilayered wallpapers, custom fonts for the date and time, and widgets for upcoming calendar events, the weather, battery levels, alarms, time zones, Activity rings, and more.

iOS 16 Lock Screen Customize
The new Lock Screen gallery showcases a range of Lock Screen options, including a new Weather wallpaper with live weather conditions and an Astronomy wallpaper that provides views of the Earth, moon, and solar system. iOS 16 includes support for multiple Lock Screen designs, allowing you to switch between your favorites with a swipe.

Edit or Unsend an iMessage

iOS 16 introduces the ability to edit or unsend recently sent iMessages, as well as mark iMessage conversations as unread after opening them. Apple allows you to edit or unsend an iMessage for up to 15 minutes after sending it.

ios 16 imessage edit unsend
To edit or unsend a message, you simply need to tap and hold on a bubble and select the appropriate option in the menu that appears. iMessages that have been edited are marked as "edited" below the message bubble. On devices running iOS 15 or earlier, edited messages are received as a new message that says "Edited to [X]."

Use the Full-Screen Music Player

The first public beta of iOS 16 enables a full-screen music player on the Lock Screen with album art and a color-matched wallpaper.

ios 16 lock screen music player
Apple last offered a full-screen music player on the Lock Screen on iOS 10 in 2016. If you don't like the feature, you can tap on the bottom of the display to minimize the music player and revert to your standard Lock Screen wallpaper.

Create an iCloud Shared Photo Library

One of the most useful new features in the iOS 16 public beta is the ability to create an iCloud Shared Photo Library in the Photos app.

ios 16 icloud shared photo library
iCloud‌ Shared Photo Library is designed to make it easier for you to share photos with your family members or friends. The feature allows you and up to five other people to add, edit, or remove photos in a shared library accessible via iCloud.

Game With Nintendo Joy-Cons

Apple says the iPhone supports many other additional Bluetooth game controllers on iOS 16, including Nintendo's Joy-Cons and Pro Controller. iPhones running iOS 16 can be used with either single left or right Joy-Cons, or both at once as a singular controller.

nintendo joy cons
This is on top of the iPhone's existing compatibility with PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers since the release of iOS 14.5 last year.

Track an Apple Pay Order

Apple Pay on iOS 16 features new built-in order tracking information in the Wallet app for online orders completed via Apple Pay. The tracker provides an order's estimated delivery date and indicates when a package is out for delivery.

ios 16 apple pay order tracking

Close Your Rings Without an Apple Watch

Starting with iOS 16, the Fitness app is now available on the iPhone for all users, even if they don't own an Apple Watch. The app features a daily Activity ring that relies on the iPhone's motion sensors to estimate a person's calories burned and steps per day.

fitness app ios 16
iOS 16 should be released to all users in September. For a closer look at the update, watch our video walkthrough of some of the biggest new features.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Apple today seeded revised third betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 to developers, along with the first iOS and iPadOS 16 public betas. Both of these updates add a new Lock Screen feature - a full-screen music player.

lockscreen feature
Since iOS 10, the music player on the Lock Screen has been available as a smaller card-style player that only takes up a small portion of the screen with a miniature version of the album art.

With the latest iOS 16 beta, album art is shown front and center, and a separate smaller music player is available below it for controlling playback. The album art dictates the color of the background of the Lock Screen, but if you tap at the bottom of the display, you can go back to your standard wallpaper and minimize the player.

To get back to the album art interface, just tap on the album icon on the minimized player.

The larger music player on the Lock Screen is part of the iOS 16 Lock Screen overhaul that allows users to customize their Lock Screens with unique colors, fonts, and looks. Apple demonstrated the new full-screen music player at WWDC, but it was not available in the iOS 16 beta until today.

Related Forum: iOS 16

In another early Prime Day discount, we're tracking the return of an all-time low price on Apple's 64GB Wi-Fi iPad, available for $299.00, down from $329.00. This sale is only on the Space Gray color option.

ipad prime dayNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This is the best deal we've ever tracked on the 10.2-inch 2021 iPad, and it's been months since we saw this price. As with all Prime Day deals, this sale isn't expected to last long, so head to Amazon soon if you're interested.

Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime if you don't have it yet on Amazon.

Check out our article on The Best Apple Deals for Amazon Prime Day to stay up to date with this summer's big shopping event.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals