The iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 updates that were released today add improved anti-spoofing models for Face ID, further improving the security of facial recognition on the iPhone X and later and the iPad Pro models.
According to Apple's security support document for the updates, there was a Face ID vulnerability that could allow a Face ID iPhone to be unlocked and authenticated using a 3D model constructed to look like the iPhone's owner.
Apple says that this issue has been resolved through improvements to the Face ID feature, which is available on the iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS (all models), iPhone 11 (all models), iPhone 12 (all models), iPad Pro (11-inch), and iPad Pro (3rd generation).
There are a number of other security fixes included in the iOS 15 update, but none of the exploits were listed as being used in the wild. There was an issue with the Neural Engine that could allow an application to execute arbitrary code with system privileges on devices with a Neural Engine, and a CoreML bug could let attackers cause unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
Apple also addressed issues with FontParser, Preferences, Siri, WebKit, and WiFi, all of which are outlined in Apple's full security document.
For those not particularly interested in the feature set that iOS 15 offers, it may still be a good idea to upgrade just to get the full suite of security fixes that Apple has deployed.
Apple today released the new iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 updates to all users, and there are dozens of new features to learn about. Some of these options must be toggled on or set up, so we've created a handy get started with iOS 15 guide that walks you through what you should do after installing the update.
If you're tired of getting endless notification alerts all day long, Notification Summary is a feature you're going to want to use. You can set your notifications to be delivered just a few times a day in bulk, which is ideal for cutting down on notification spam.
This is ideal for notifications that you don't necessarily need to see right away like new TV show alerts or Apple News, and you can set it up on a per-app basis. Don't worry about missing critical alerts that you need to see right away - Apple has a built-in "Time-Sensitive" feature that works for calendar notifications, ride alerts, messages, and more.
Notification Summary can be set up by going to the Notifications setting of the Settings app, tapping on "Notification Summary," and following the steps to set times and choose apps.
We have more on what's new with notifications in iOS 15 in our guide.
Set Up Alerts for When a Device is Left Behind
iOS 15 introduces a long-awaited feature that can let you know if you've left a device behind. If you're in a cafe with your MacBook and your iPhone, for example, and walk out without the MacBook, your iPhone can ping you to let you know your device isn't with you.
This setting can be enabled for all of your Apple devices, ranging from Macs to AirPods to iPhones, and it also works with AirTags and Find My-enabled accessories.
To set it up, go to the Find My app, tap on the device that you want to be notified about if you leave it behind, and then tap on the "Notify When Left Behind" option. From there, toggle it on.
You can set up exceptions so you won't get an alert if you leave your belongings at home or at work. Be aware that this setting works with most devices, but some older devices are unsupported.
iCloud Private Relay makes sure Safari traffic and other unencrypted traffic leaving an iPhone, iPad, or Mac is encrypted and uses two separate internet relays so that companies cannot use personal information like IP address, location, and browsing activity to create a detailed profile about you.
It obscures your IP address and your location to keep your web browsing more private, and most people will want to use this feature. To make sure it's turned on, open up the Settings app, tap on your profile picture, and select iCloud. From there, tap on "Private Relay" and toggle it on.
You can read more about how iCloud Private Relay works in our iOS 15 privacy guide, which is worth checking out because there are a few situations where iCloud Private Relay might not work.
If you often find yourself distracted by incoming notifications and unnecessary apps when trying to work or relax at home, Focus is a feature you're going to want to set up right away.
Focus Mode is basically a more customizable version of Do Not Disturb. You can create Focuses for activities like working, reading, exercising, or spending time with family, blocking out the apps and content that you don't want to see during those periods.
If you're at work, for example, you might want to make sure you're not getting social media notifications, or if you're at home, you might want to prevent yourself from seeing work notifications. You can set a Focus for any activity that you want, and set it up to allow notifications only from a select number of apps.
You can also hide apps from the Home screen when creating a Focus, which also makes it useful for putting distracting apps out of reach.
Focus can be accessed by opening up the Settings app and tapping on the "Focus" option. From there, walk through the setup steps to get started. We have more on creating, editing, and using Focuses in our iOS 15 Focus guide.
Losing access to your iCloud account can be devastating because they're so locked down that there are few methods for getting back into one once you've lost your password.
Starting with iOS 15, you can set a Recovery Contact, i.e. a trusted person that can help you reset your Apple ID password and recover your account if the need arises. This also works for a lost device passcode.
To set up Account Recovery, open up the Settings app and tap on your profile at the top. From there, tap on "Password & Security," and then tap on "Account Recovery."
Tap on "Add Recovery Contact" and then again at the screen that explains the feature. Authenticate with Face ID, and then select a person to serve as your contact.
Note that to use the Recovery Contact feature, all of your devices must be updated to the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Devices linked to your account that are not running the latest software will prevent the feature from being turned on and Apple will tell you that they need to be updated.
Enable Mail Privacy Protection
Marketing emails, newsletters, and some email clients use an invisible tracking pixel in email messages to check to see whether you've opened up an email, and in iOS 15, Apple is putting a stop to that practice with Mail Privacy Protection.
Mail Privacy Protection prevents email senders from keeping track of whether you opened an email, how many times you viewed an email, and whether you forwarded the email. It also strips your IP address and specific location for further protection.
Mail Privacy Protection can be enabled by opening up the Settings app, tapping on "Mail," and selecting "Privacy Protection." Toggle on "Protect Mail Activity."
Note that "Protect Mail Activity" overrides the prior "Hide IP Address" and "Block All Remote Content" settings, but it arguably offers better functionality because it allows all content to be viewed while still protecting your identity and email usage behavior.
With iOS 15, Apple has added a "Health Checklist" feature that gives you an all-in-one place to manage your health-related settings. You can turn on features like hand washing detection and walking steadiness from here, and it's a great way to check to make sure you're taking advantage of all of the health features your devices offer.
To get to the Health Checklist, open up the Health app and then tap on your profile picture in the upper right corner. From there, tap on "Health Checklist."
In this view, you can see what's enabled and what's not, and access any of the settings by tapping on the entry in the list. You can manage heart rate notifications, medical ID information, headphone notifications, and more.
iOS 15 introduces quite a few new Health-related features including Sharing, which is another option you might want to set up. Details on all of the Health additions in iOS 15 can be found in our Health guide.
Choose Your Safari Layout
iOS 15 introduces a new Safari layout that moves the address bar and tabs to the bottom of the Safari interface, and which adds new transparency options.
You can choose to use this new look or turn it off for an iOS 14-style Safari experience. To change the look of Safari, open up the Settings app, tap on Safari, and scroll down to the "Tabs" interface.
Choosing "Tab Bar" will give you the bottom interface that's the new design, while choosing "Single Tab" will leave you with the standard iOS 14 Safari look. You can also turn website tinting on/or off, with this feature allowing the tab bar to blend in with the background color of a website.
You can also change the look of Safari right in Safari itself by tapping on the "Aa" button and choosing "Show Top Address Bar" or "Show Bottom Tab Bar."
Safari has a number of other changes like Tab Groups and a customizable start page that you might want to set up, and more detail on Safari can be found in our iOS 15 Safari guide.
Set Up a Custom Email Domain
With iOS 15, if you have a paid iCloud+ storage plan, you can personalize your iCloud email addresses with a custom domain name that you own.
If you have the website Appleseed.com, for example, and want to use eric@appleseed.com as your iCloud email address, that's possible. Apple is still testing this feature, but to use it, go to the icloud.com website.
From there, select "Account Settings" and then select "Manage" under "Custom Email Domain" to set it up. You will need to update your domain's records with Apple's settings, so access to your domain's registrar is required.
Add Your Two-Factor Authentication Codes to Passwords
Many websites use two-factor authentication as an additional security measure alongside a password, and typically, two-factor authentication that's not based on a phone number requires a third-party app like Authy or Google Authenticator.
That's no longer the case in iOS 15 because Apple has added a Verification Code option to the Password app, so you can create and access two-factor authentication codes right on the iPhone without the need for another service.
In the Passwords section of the Settings app, you can tap into any password and then select "Set Up Verification Code..." to get two-factor authentication working. The iPhone can use a setup key or scan a QR code, which is how most authentication apps work.
If you already use two-factor authentication on a number of websites, it's going to be a hassle to transfer everything over to iCloud Keychain, but it may be worth the trouble because codes will autofill when you're using an Apple device for more convenient logins.
Guide Feedback
Have questions, other recommendations of features that should be set up right away when upgrading to iOS 15, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
Apple today released Safari 15 for macOS Big Sur and macOS Catalina devices, with Apple introducing support for features that are going to be coming in the macOS Monterey update set to be released later this year.
Safari 15 introduces a new look for Safari with rounded, more defined tabs and support for transparency, a compact tab bar option that can be toggled on or off, and Tab Groups. Apple's notes for the update are below:
Safari 15 delivers faster performance, improved security, and the following new features: - Tab Groups help you save and organize your tabs and easily access them across devices - Redesigned tabs have a rounder and more defined appearance and take on the color of the webpage - Compact tab bar option shows more of your web page on screen - HTTPS upgrade automatically switches sites from HTTP to more secure HTTPS when available
Safari 15 can be downloaded by opening up the System Preferences interface and selecting the Software Update option. There is no word yet on when macOS Monterey will be released, but it could come in October alongside new Macs as Apple is expected to hold a Mac-centric event this fall to debut new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
Apple is continuing to phase out the headphone jack from its iOS devices, and the iPad mini 6 is the latest iPad to see the feature removed.
The prior-generation iPad mini 5, released in 2019, had a headphone jack located at the top of the device, but the iPad mini 6 does not include this feature. With no headphone jack, the iPad mini 6 supports only Bluetooth-enabled headphones or headphones able to connect to the USB-C port on the device.
iPad mini 6 components
Apple has now removed the headphone jack from all of the devices in its iOS lineups with the exception of the low-cost iPad and the iPod touch, a device that's likely being phased out and sees few updates.
The 10.2-inch iPad 9 that was released last week continues to offer a headphone jack at the top left of the tablet, and it is the only iPad have to a headphone jack available. Given that this tablet is aimed at schools, it makes sense that it has a headphone jack to allow students to use school-provided headphones.
iPad 9 components
Though Apple has now phased out the headphone jack from almost all iOS devices, Apple's Macs continue to have a headphone jack available, including the newest M1 models. It is not clear if Apple plans to remove the headphone jack from Macs in the future, but that may not be in the cards because Macs have more available space for the headphone jack component.
Apple began removing the headphone jack from iPhones with the launch of the iPhone 7, and it was pulled to make room for other components as well as to improve water resistance by removing a point of ingress. Apple's iPhones and iPads have continued getting thinner, more compact, and more feature rich over the years, leaving no space for a headphone jack. With the transition to AirPods and other Bluetooth-based wire-free headphones, the headphone jack is also no longer as important to many iOS device users.
Apple released iOS 15 today following over three months of beta testing, but not all of the new features are available on older iPhones.
According to the iOS 15 features page on Apple's website, the following features require an iPhone with an A12 Bionic chip or newer, which means the features listed below aren't available on the iPhone X or any older models.
You'll need an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or newer for these iOS 15 features:
Portrait mode in FaceTime, which blurs your background and puts the focus on you.
Spatial audio in FaceTime, which makes voices sound like they're coming from the direction in which the people are positioned on the call.
Voice Isolation mode in FaceTime, which uses machine learning to block out ambient noises like a leaf blower outside or a dog barking in the next room during calls.
Wide Spectrum mode in FaceTime, which amplifies ambient noises during calls.
An interactive 3D globe of Earth in the Maps app.
Immersive walking directions with step-by-step directions shown in augmented reality in the Maps app.
More detailed maps in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and London in the Maps app.
Live Text for copying and pasting, looking up, or translating text within photos.
On-device speech processing of Siri requests.
The ability to make Siri requests offline without an internet connection for timers, alarms, phone calls, messaging, sharing, launching apps, controlling audio playback, and opening settings.
The ability to swipe up or down while taking a QuickTake video to zoom in or out.
The ability to add home, hotel, and car keys to the Wallet app.
On-device keyboard dictation that performs all processing completely offline.
Continuous keyboard dictation, rather than a limit of 60 seconds per instance.
New animated backgrounds in the Weather app that more accurately represent the sun position, clouds, and precipitation.
Apple does not indicate why these features require an iPhone with an A12 Bionic chip or newer, but at least some of the limitations likely relate to the need for Apple's second-generation Neural Engine or newer for optimal performance.
Apple today released iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, the newest operating system updates designed for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. As with all of Apple's software updates, iOS and iPadOS 15 can be downloaded at no cost. iOS 15 is available on the iPhone 6s and later while iPadOS 15 is available on the iPad Air 2 and later.
The new software can be downloaded on eligible devices over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It may take a few minutes for the updates to propagate to all users due to high demand.
While the update downloads, read over our quick feature highlights below, and make sure to visit our full iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 roundups to get a complete overview of everything that's new.
A new Focus mode cuts down on distractions by limiting what's accessible and who can contact you, and notifications can now be grouped up in daily summaries. There's an option for a new Safari design that moves the tab bar to the bottom of the interface, and Tab Groups keep all of your tabs organized.
Maps has been overhauled with even more detail, a 3D view in major cities, a globe view, improved transit, a close-up driving view when navigating complicated routes, and AR walking directions.
Across the operating system, there's a new Live Text feature that detects text in any image and lets you copy, paste, and translate it, plus there's a system-wide translation feature. In Photos, plants, pets, landmarks, and more can be identified, and there's a system-wide translation feature that goes well with Live Text.
iCloud+ with iCloud Private Relay protects your IP address and obscures your location to prevent websites from tracking you, and a Hide My Email feature lets you create temporary email addresses. You can even use your personal domain with iCloud in iOS 15.
One of the most notable new iOS 15 features, SharePlay, has been delayed and won't be coming until later in the year. SharePlay lets you share your screen with people over FaceTime to watch movies, listen to music together, and more. In the future, you'll also be able to see details on apps that are accessing your sensitive data, and in the Wallet app, you'll be able to add your driver's license. When macOS Monterey launches, Apple will also introduce an iPadOS Universal Control feature that will let a single mouse and keyboard to be used across multiple Macs or iPads.
Apple's full release notes for the iOS 15 update are below:
FaceTime - Spatial audio makes people’s voices sound like they’re coming from the direction in which they’re positioned on the screen on Group FaceTime calls (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later) - Voice Isolation blocks background noises so your voice is crystal clear (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later) - Wide Spectrum brings all background noises into your call (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later) - Portrait mode blurs your background and puts the focus on you (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later) - Grid view displays up to six people at a time in Group FaceTime calls in the same-size tiles and highlights the current speaker - FaceTime links allow you to invite your friends into a FaceTime call, even friends on Android or Windows devices can join from their browser
Messages and Memoji - Shared with You shows content sent to you by friends in Messages conversations in a new section in Photos, Safari, Apple News, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, or the Apple TV app - Pinned content elevates the shared content you choose and makes it more prominent in Shared with You, Messages search, and the Details view of the conversation - Multiple photos sent in Messages are displayed as a glanceable collage or a swipeable stack - Over 40 Memoji outfit choices and up to three different colors to customize your Memoji stickers’s clothing and headwear
Focus - Focus lets you automatically filter notifications based on what you’re currently doing, such as fitness, sleep, gaming, reading, driving, work, or personal time - Focus uses on-device intelligence during set up to suggest apps and people you want to allow notifications from in a Focus - Home Screen pages can be customized to match your apps and widgets to a specific Focus - Contextual suggestions intelligently suggest a Focus based on your context, using signals like location or time of day - Status appears to your contacts in Messages conversations, indicating your notifications are silenced with Focus
Notifications - A new look displays contact photos for people and larger icons for apps - Notification summary delivers a helpful collection of your notifications daily, based on a schedule you set - Notifications can be muted from any app or messaging thread for the next hour or for the day
Maps - Detailed city maps display elevation, trees, buildings, landmarks, crosswalks and turn lanes, and 3D views to navigate complex interchanges, and more in San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, and London, with more cities coming in the future (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later) - New driving features include a new map that highlights details like traffic and incidents, and a route planner that lets you view your upcoming journey by choosing a future departure or arrival time - Immersive walking directions show step-by-step directions in augmented reality (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later) - Updated transit experience provides one-tap access to departures near you, makes it easy to see and interact with your route using one hand, and notifies you when approaching your stop Interactive 3D globe shows enhanced details for mountain ranges, deserts, forests, oceans, and more (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later) - Redesigned place cards make it easy to learn about and interact with places, and a new home for Guides editorially curates the best recommendations for places you’ll love
Safari - Bottom tab bar is easier to reach and helps you move between tabs by swiping left or right - Tab Groups help you save and organize your tabs and easily access them across devices - Tab overview grid view displays your open tabs - Start page can be customized with a background image and new sections like Privacy Report, Siri Suggestions, and Shared With You - Web extensions on iOS help you personalize your browsing and can be downloaded through the App Store - Voice search lets you search the web using your voice
Wallet - Home keys let you tap to unlock a supported home or apartment door lock (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later) - Hotel keys allow you to tap to unlock your room at participating hotels - Office keys allow you to tap to unlock your office doors for participating corporate offices - Car keys with Ultra Wideband help you unlock, lock, and start your supported car without having to take your iPhone out of your bag or pocket (iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models) - Remote keyless entry functions on your car keys allow you to lock, unlock, honk your horn, preheat your car, or open your trunk on your supported vehicle
Live Text - Live Text makes text interactive in your photos so you can copy and paste, look up, and translate in Photos, Screenshot, Quick Look, Safari, and live previews with Camera (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later) - Data detectors for Live Text recognize phone numbers, emails, dates, street addresses, and more in photos so you can take action on them - Live Text is available from the keyboard letting you insert text directly from the camera viewfinder into any text field
Spotlight - Rich results brings together all the information you’re looking for on contacts, actors, musicians, movies, and TV shows - Photos can be searched from your photo library by locations, people, scenes, text in the photos or other things in the photos, like a dog or a car - Web image search allows you to search for images of people, animals, monuments, and more
Photos - New look for Memories with a new interactive interface, animated cards with smart, adaptive titles, new animation and transition styles, and multiple image collages - Apple Music can be added to your Memories for Apple Music subscribers, and personalized song suggestions combine expert recommendations with your music tastes and what’s in your photos and videos - Memory mixes let you set the mood by selecting from different songs and a Memory look to match - New memory types include additional international holidays, child-focused memories, trends over time, and improved pet memories - Info pane now displays rich information about the photo like which camera and lens, shutter speed, file size, and more - Visual Look Up recognizes art, landmarks around the world, plants and flowers, books, and dog and cat breeds in your photos so you can learn more about them
Health - Sharing lets you choose health data, alerts, and trends to share with people important to you or those who are caring for you, including your healthcare provider - Trends lets you see how a given health metric is progressing over time and can notify you when a new trend has been detected - Walking Steadiness is a new metric that can assess your risk of falling and notify you if your walking steadiness is low (iPhone 8 and later) - Verifiable health records enable you to download and store verifiable versions of COVID-19 vaccines and lab results - Lab results can now be pinned for quick access and include highlights that show how your labs have changed over time
Weather - A new design shows the most important weather information for that location and includes new maps modules - Weather maps can be viewed in full-screen and show precipitation, temperature and air quality in supported countries - Next-hour precipitation notifications alert you when rain or snow is about to start or stop in Ireland, U.K., and US - New animated backgrounds more accurately represent the sun position, clouds, and precipitation (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later)
Siri - On-device processing means audio of your requests does not leave your device by default, and means Siri is able to process many requests while offline (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later) - Share items with Siri lets you send on screen items like photos, web pages and Maps locations to any of your contacts - Onscreen context can be used by Siri to refer to contacts on screen to send them a message or place a call - On-device personalization allows Siri speech recognition and understanding to improve privately (iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later)
Privacy - Mail Privacy Protection protects your privacy by preventing email senders from learning about your Mail activity, your IP address or whether you've opened their email - Safari Intelligent Tracking Prevention now also prevents known trackers from profiling you using your IP address
iCloud+ - iCloud+ is a cloud subscription service that gives you premium features and additional iCloud storage - iCloud Private Relay (beta) sends your requests through two separate internet relays and encrypts the internet traffic leaving your device so you can browse Safari in a more secure and private way - Hide My Email lets you create unique, random email addresses that forward to your personal inbox so you can send and receive email without having to share your real email address - HomeKit Secure Video supports connecting more security cameras without using your iCloud storage quota - Custom email domain personalizes your iCloud Mail address and allows you to invite family members to use the same domain
Accessibility - Image exploration with VoiceOver allows you to get even more details about people and objects, and learn about text and table data in photos - VoiceOver image descriptions in Markup let you add your own image descriptions that can be read by VoiceOver - Per-app settings allow you to customize display and text size settings only for the apps you want - Background sounds play balanced, bright, or dark noise, ocean, rain, and stream sounds continuously in the background to mask unwanted environmental or external noise - Sound actions for Switch Control enable you to control your iPhone with simple mouth sounds - Audiograms can be imported in Settings so you can customize Headphone Accommodations based on your hearing test results - New Voice Control languages include Mandarin Chinese (China mainland), Cantonese (Hong Kong), French (France), and German (Germany) - Memoji options including a cochlear implant, oxygen tubes, or a soft helmet
This release also includes other features and improvements: - Tags in Notes and Reminders help you quickly categorize your items to make them easy to find, and you can use custom Smart Folders and Smart Lists to automatically collect your notes and reminders based on rules you can define - Mentions in Notes enable you to notify others of important updates in shared notes, and an all-new Activity view displays all the recent changes in a note in a single list - Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking in Apple Music brings an even more immersive experience to Dolby Atmos music with AirPods Pro and AirPods Max - System-wide translation lets you select text throughout the system and translate it with a tap, even in photos - New widgets include Find My, Contacts, App Store, Sleep, Game Center, and Mail - Cross-app drag and drop function lets you pick up images, documents, and files from one app to another - Keyboard magnification loupe magnifies the text when moving the cursor - Apple ID Account Recovery Contacts lets you to choose one or more people you trust to help you reset your password and regain access to your account - Temporary iCloud storage grants you as much iCloud storage as you need to create a temporary backup of your data, free of charge, for up to three weeks when you buy a new device - Find My separation alerts notify you if you leave a supported device or item behind and Find My will give you directions to your item - Game highlights of up to the last 15 seconds of gameplay can be saved using game controllers like the Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller or Sony PS5 DualSense™ Wireless Controller - App Store in-app events help you discover timely events within apps and games such as a game competition, a new movie premiere, or a livestreamed experience
Apple today released watchOS 8, the newest version of the watchOS operating system designed to run on modern Apple Watch models. watchOS 8 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3 and later.
watchOS 8 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
Most of the new features in watchOS 8 carry over from iOS 15. A Focus mode cuts down on distractions and notifications so you can avoid interruptions, and the Wallet app is gaining digital keys for unlocking doors at home, the office, and while traveling. In the future, you'll even be able to add your driver's license.
The Breathe app is now the Mindfulness app and it's gained a new Breathe experience and Reflect, a feature to help encourage mindful intention. There are two new workout types, Tai Chi and Pilates.
Apple updated the Home app to make it easier to use from the wrist, and there are now Contacts and Find My apps. The Messages app now supports sending GIFs, and its easier to communicate because Scribble and dictation can be used interchangeably.
A Portrait Watch Face uses your portrait photos for a unique multilayered look, and the Photos app is easier to navigate and lets you view more of your content. Apple's release notes for the update are below:
watchOS 8 brings you new ways to stay healthy, active, and connected. A redesigned Photos app helps you stay connected to your most precious memories, and the new Mindfulness app and new Tai Chi and Pilates workout types will help you lead a healthy and fit life. And updates to Wallet and Home make it simple and convenient to access your house, car, and even the places you love to visit.
Watch Faces - Portraits face uses segmentation data from portrait photos taken on iPhone to create an immersive, multi-layered face (Apple Watch Series 4 and later) - World Time face lets you track the time in 24 different time zones at once (Apple Watch Series 4 and later)
Home - Status and controls for accessories in your home now appear at the top of the Home app - Quick views to see if accessories are on, have a low battery, require a software update, and more - Accessories and scenes dynamically appear based on the time of day and frequency of use - Dedicated camera room for viewing all available HomeKit camera feeds in one place, with support for multiple aspect ratios - Favorites area gives you access to the scenes and accessories that you use most
Wallet - Home keys let you tap to unlock a supported home or apartment door lock - Hotel keys allow you to tap to unlock your room at participating hotels - Office keys allows you to tap to unlock your office doors for participating corporate offices - Car keys with Ultra Wideband on Apple Watch Series 6 let you unlock, lock, and start your supported vehicle as you approach - Remote keyless entry functions on your car keys allow you to lock, unlock, honk your horn, preheat your car, or open your trunk
Workout - New custom algorithms in the Workout app for Tai Chi and Pilates provide accurate tracking of calorie metrics - Automatic Outdoor Cycling workout detection sends a reminder to start the Workout app, giving you retroactive credit for exercise already started - Automatic pause and resume for Outdoor Cycling workouts - Improved accuracy of calorie metrics for Outdoor Cycling workouts while riding an e-bike - Users 13 and under can now track hiking workouts with more accurate metrics - Voice feedback announces workout milestones using the built-in speaker or connected Bluetooth device
Fitness+ - Guided Meditations can help you practice meditation, featuring audio sessions on Apple Watch and video sessions on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV that guide you through specific themes - Pilates workouts are now available, with new workouts every week that are designed to improve strength and flexibility - Support for Picture-in-Picture viewing on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, so you can watch your workout while you also view other content in compatible apps - Expanded workout filters for Yoga, Strength, Core, and HIIT workouts, including whether equipment is required
Mindfulness - Mindfulness app includes an enhanced Breathe experience along with a new Reflect session - Breathe sessions have tips that help add a physical connection to deep-breathing practices and a new animation to guide your session - Reflect sessions give you a simple idea to focus your thoughts, along with a visualization that shows the passing of a minute
Sleep - Respiratory rate is measured by Apple Watch during sleep - Ability to review respiratory rate during sleep in the Health app, and be notified if a trend has been detected
Messages - Ability to compose or reply to messages by using Scribble, dictation, and emoji all from the same screen - Ability to adjust dictated text by using the Digital Crown to scroll to where you want to edit - Support for #images in Messages allows you to search for a GIF or select one you’ve used recently
Photos - Redesigned Photos app allows you to view and manage your photo library from your wrist - Highlights from Memories and featured photos, in addition to your favorites, sync to Apple Watch with new content generated daily - Photos from synced Memories will be displayed in a mosaic-style grid, highlighting some of your best shots with a larger photo - Ability to share photos through Messages and Mail
Find My - Find Items app allows you to locate items with an attached AirTag and compatible third-party products with the Find My network - Find Devices app helps you locate your misplaced Apple devices, as well as devices owned by someone in your Family Sharing group - Find My separation alerts notify you if you leave your Apple device, AirTag, or compatible third-party item behind
Weather - Next-hour precipitation notifications alert you when rain or snow is about to start or stop - Severe weather notifications alert you about certain events including tornados, winter storms, flash floods, and more - Precipitation chart that visually depicts the intensity of the rain
Other features and improvements: - Focus lets you automatically filter notifications based on your current activity, such as fitness, sleep, gaming, reading, driving, work, or personal time - Apple Watch automatically aligns with any Focus that you set in iOS, iPadOS or macOS, so you can manage notifications and stay focused - Contacts app gives you the ability to access, share, and edit your contacts - Tips app provides collections of helpful hints and suggestions for how to best use your Apple Watch and its built-in apps - Redesigned Music app allows you to find and listen to music and radio all in one place - Ability to share songs, albums, and playlists in the Music app through Messages and Mail - Support for multiple timers, including Siri support for adding labels to timers - Cycle Tracking can now use heart rate data from Apple Watch to improve predictions - New Memoji stickers to send a shaka, a handwave, a lightbulb moment, and more - Over 40 outfit choices and up to three different colors to customize your Memoji stickers’s clothing and headwear - Real-time measurement of your headphone audio level in Control Center when listening to media - Ability to add transit cards in Wallet for Family Setup users in Hong Kong, Japan, and select cities in China mainland and US - Google account support for Calendar and Mail for Family Setup users AssistiveTouch allows users with upper limb differences to answer calls, control an onscreen pointer, launch a menu of actions, and more, using hand gestures like a pinch or a clench - Additional larger text size option available in Settings - Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Lithuania - Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Lithuania
Alongside iOS 15, iPadOS 15, tvOS 15, and watchOS 8, Apple today released new software that's designed for the HomePod and the HomePod mini.
The HomePod 15 software update introduces several new features that are designed to work in tandem with tvOS and iOS.
- Select a single or pair of HomePod mini as the default speakers for your Apple TV 4K for rich room-filling sound and clear dialogue. - Media playback controls automatically appear on your iPhone’s Lock Screen when a HomePod mini playing music is nearby - Set a lower bass level to enjoy music without disturbing the neighbors - Ask Siri to turn on your Apple TV, start playing a favorite movie, and control playback while you watch - Siri automatically adjusts its speaking level based on the room environment and volume of the user - Ask Siri to control smart home devices at a specific time like turning off the lights in 10 minutes - Extend access to HomePod throughout your home by enabling Siri voice control on compatible HomeKit accessories - Support for package detection with HomeKit Secure Video
HomePod software is installed automatically on the HomePod unless the feature is disabled, but the HomePod can also be manually updated in the Home app by following the instructions in our HomePod update how to.
Apple today released tvOS 15, the newest version of the tvOS operating system designed for the Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV HD.
The tvOS 15 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System -> Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 15 automatically.
Apple's tvOS updates are never as grand as its iOS updates, but tvOS 15 does introduce a few notable new features.
A new "Shared With You" section in tvOS will aggregate any content that people have recommended to you through the Messages app so you can check them out at your convenience.
When you use the Apple TV with your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, there's now support for spatial audio for a theater-like surround sound experience. There's also a new feature for automatically connecting your AirPods through Smart AirPods routing.
Using Hey Siri commands, you can launch Apple TV+ shows in tvOS 15, and two HomePod mini speakers can now be paired with an Apple TV 4K for surround sound. Those with HomeKit cameras can view multiple cameras at the same time on the Apple TV.
When the SharePlay FaceTime feature launches later this year, the option that allows multiple people to watch TV shows or movies together will integrate with tvOS. There's even a new "For All of You" recommendation engine that will suggest content everyone might enjoy.
For more on tvOS 15 and the Apple TV, we have a dedicated roundup that outlines the new features. Apple has also released a 8.4.6 update for older Apple TV devices.
In addition to claiming that iPhone 14 Pro models will feature a hole-punch display design and a 48-megapixel Wide lens for the rear camera system, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo outlined his expectations for future iPhones beyond that.
In a research note seen by MacRumors, Kuo said that while he previously predicted that Apple would launch its first iPhones with under-screen Touch ID in the second half of 2022, he now expects the devices to be released in the second half of 2023 due to slower than expected progress with development. Likewise, Kuo now expects Apple's first foldable iPhone to launch in 2024, compared to 2023 previously.
Kuo did not provide any further details, including which iPhone models might gain an under-screen fingerprint sensor. It's likely that under-screen Touch ID would complement Face ID, providing users with multiple biometric authentication options.
Just a few days after iPhone 13 pre-orders began, well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is looking ahead. In a research note seen by MacRumors, Kuo shared some of his key hardware expectations for next year's tentatively named iPhone 14 Pro models, including a hole-punch display and a 48-megapixel Wide lens for the rear camera system.
A hole-punch design refers to a display with only a small circular cutout for the front camera, as seen on many recent Samsung smartphones. This design would result in the notch being removed, with Face ID sensors likely moved under the display. Kuo said Apple is also working on iPhones with under-screen Touch ID for release in 2023.
As for the rear camera, the 48-megapixel Wide lens would be an upgrade from the 12-megapixel Wide lens on iPhone 13 Pro models.
Apple is expected to release the iPhone 14 lineup in the second half of 2022, in line with usual launch timing. Kuo also reiterated that Apple plans to release a third-generation iPhone SE with 5G support in the first half of 2022.
While it has been many years since Apple stopped providing first weekend sales numbers for new iPhones, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty today said that iPhone 13 Pro pre-orders are "off to a promising start" with "strong early demand."
Huberty based her opinion off of Apple's delivery estimates for iPhones, which she has been tracking for many years. Shortly after pre-orders began last Friday, delivery estimates for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max began slipping into October, with Huberty having calculated the average lead time at around 27 days. She said this is the second longest lead time on the first day of pre-orders amongst all iPhone models launched over the past five years, surpassed only by the iPhone X in 2017.
As of last Friday, Huberty said the iPhone 13 mini was faring better with a lead time of 3.1 days, while the standard iPhone 13 faced no delays.
As with every iPhone launch, it is possible that lengthy delivery estimates are a function of low supply rather than high demand, but Huberty said Morgan Stanley's supply chain checks indicate minimal near-term component headwinds for iPhones and concluded that these long lead times "are at least partly a function of strong early demand."
All four iPhone 13 models will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on Friday, September 24. Key features across the iPhone 13 lineup include a faster A15 Bionic chip, camera improvements, longer battery life, and a smaller notch. The two Pro models also feature a ProMotion display with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz.
In 2021, Apple unveiled the iPhone 13 as the successor to the popular iPhone 12, with improved rear cameras, longer battery life, the A15 Bionic chip, and more. As devices that are more affordable than the Pro models, but more full-featured than the low-cost iPhone SE or iPhone 11, the iPhone 13 will likely be the most popular option among consumers.
The iPhone 12 from 2020 continues to be sold by Apple. As it is a year older than the iPhone 13, it starts at $599, while the iPhone 13 starts at $699. As the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 share a large number of features, should you consider purchasing the older model to save money? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhones is best for you, but overall the iPhone 13 is only a minor upgrade over the iPhone 12.
Comparing the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 share a large number of key features, such as display size, 5G connectivity, and camera specifications. Apple lists these same features of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13:
Similarities
6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with HDR, True Tone, P3 wide color, and Haptic Touch
Dual 12MP ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide and ƒ/1.6 Wide cameras with two-times optical zoom out
Photography features including Night mode, Deep Fusion, True Tone flash with Slow Sync, Portrait mode, and more
Videography features including 4K video recording at up to 60fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision, Audio zoom, slo-mo video up to 240fps at 1080p, Night mode Time-lapse, and more
Apple's breakdown shows that the iPhones share a number of notable key features. Even so, there are meaningful differences between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, such as their processors and battery life.
Differences
iPhone 12
Super Retina XDR display with 625 nits max brightness (typical)
A14 Bionic chip
Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)
Smart HDR 3 for photos
Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 30fps
Up to 17 hours battery during video playback
Weighs 164 grams
Available in Purple, Blue, PRODUCT(RED), White, and Black
Available with 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options
iPhone 13
Super Retina XDR display with 800 nits max brightness (typical)
20 percent smaller notch
A15 Bionic chip
Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM) and dual eSIM support
Smart HDR 4 for photos
Photographic Styles
Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 60fps
Cinematic mode video recording with shallow depth of field (1080p at 30 fps)
Up to 19 hours battery during video playback
Weighs 174 grams
Available in Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Green, and PRODUCT(RED)
Available with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options
Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see what exactly both iPhones have to offer.
Design and Colors
Both the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 have the same industrial design with squared-off edges and a flat aluminum band around the sides. The devices use aerospace-grade aluminum on the edges and a single piece of polished glass on the rear. The iPhone 13's dual rear cameras are offset against each other diagonally, as opposed to the iPhone 12's vertical orientation.
The iPhone 13 features a 20 percent smaller notch for the TrueDepth camera array, which frees up more display area and makes the cutout less obtrusive. Other than the rear camera positioning and the smaller notch, the devices look otherwise the same.
The iPhone 12 is available in Purple, Blue, Green, White, and Black, while the iPhone 13 is available in Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, and Green. Both are also available in PRODUCT(RED). The two shades of Blue are similar, as are White and Starlight, and Black and Midnight. As similar-looking devices, preference for either the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 13 in terms of design and colors will come down to personal taste.
Display
The iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 both have a 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with HDR, True Tone, P3 wide color, and Haptic Touch. The only difference with the iPhone 13's display is that it is able to get 175 nits brighter during typical non-HDR use, but this is not a major reason to get the newer model.
A14 vs. A15
The iPhone 13's A15 Bionic chip brings a modest performance improvement over the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12. Benchmarks show that the A15 in the iPhone 13 offers around 10 percent better single-core performance and 18 percent better multi-core performance compared to the iPhone 12's A14 chip. In graphics tasks, the iPhone 13 performs roughly 15 percent better than the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12.
These performance improvements with the A15 are iterative rather than a substantial reason to upgrade alone. The A14 is still an extremely capable chip, and in day-to-day use, the two devices are likely to perform similarly.
Dual SIM
Both devices support dual SIM, with one physical nano-SIM and an eSIM, but the iPhone 13 is also able to support two eSIMs simultaneously. If you need to switch between two eSIMs, you will need to get the iPhone 13 to get this functionality.
Cameras
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 have dual 12MP rear cameras with a ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide and a ƒ/1.6 Wide camera. The iPhone 13's Wide camera features a larger sensor in the iPhone 13, capable of capturing 47 percent more light for less noise and brighter images, and the Ultra Wide features a new sensor to capture more detail. The Wide camera also contains sensor-shift optical image stabilization technology for smoother video and improved image quality.
Although the devices can both record Dolby Vision HDR video, the iPhone 13 is able to record this up to 60 fps, as opposed to the iPhone 12's 30 fps.
The iPhone 13 features a brand new camera feature called Cinematic mode, which allows users to record video with a shallow depth of field at 1080p and 30fps. Cinematic mode can rack focus to seamlessly shift the focus from one subject to another when capturing video. It holds focus on the subject while blurring the background, and can automatically change the focus when a new subject is about to enter the scene. Blur and focus can be adjusted after capturing video as well through the Photos app.
The iPhone 13 also supports Photographic Styles, which are smart, adjustable filters that can do things like boost or mute colors without affecting skin tone. Styles apply selectively to an image, unlike a filter that is applied to the entire image. Photographic Styles include Vibrant (boosts colors), Rich Contrast (darker shadows and deeper colors), Warm (accentuates golden undertones), or Cool (accentuates blue undertones). Tone and Warmth are customizable for each style, so you can get the exact look that you want.
While the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 feature cameras with similar specifications, the iPhone 13 offers Dolby Vision HDR video at a higher frame rate, Cinematic mode, and Photographic Styles, as well as hardware improvements such as a larger sensor and sensor-shift stabilization. The iPhone 12's camera is still highly capable, but with more photography and videography options and improved image quality, the iPhone 13 is the better option.
Battery Life
One area of significant difference between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 is battery life. The iPhone 13 features up to 19 hours of battery life during video playback, which is two hours more than the iPhone 12's 17 hours. When streaming video, the iPhone 13 can deliver 15 hours of battery life instead of the iPhone 12's 11 hours. The iPhone 13 can also stream audio for 10 hours longer than the iPhone 12. The iPhone 13 is therefore clearly the better device for users who need the maximum possible battery life from their iPhone compared to the iPhone 12.
Storage
The iPhone 12 is available with 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options, while the iPhone 13 is available with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. This means that if you need more than 256GB of storage, you will need to get the iPhone 13 to have the option of a larger 512GB storage capacity. Otherwise, there is no difference between the devices in terms of storage options.
Other iPhone Options
It is worth noting that the iPhone 13 mini provides the same feature set as the iPhone 13 for $699, simply with a more compact design, a 5.4-inch display, and a slightly shorter 17 hours of battery life (during video playback). Likewise, the iPhone 12 mini provides the same feature set as the iPhone 12 for $599, but with a more compact design, 5.4-inch display, and 15 hours of battery life (during video playback).
For a ProMotion display with a refresh rate up to 120Hz, additional RAM and a more graphically capable processor, more premium design, even longer battery life, and a more capable rear camera setup, there is the iPhone 13 Pro, which starts at $999. The iPhone 13 Pro offers the most full-featured and capable iPhone experience, but is $200 more expensive than the standard iPhone 13.
Final Thoughts
The iPhone 13's upgrades over the iPhone 12 are mostly iterative, offering refinements in terms of a brighter display, a smaller notch, performance improvements, and new camera software features. The more significant upgrades include the camera hardware and longer battery life, but at face value there is likely not enough to justify getting the new model over the iPhone 12 for most customers.
However, when looking at the 128GB and 256GB storage options only, since these options are available with both models, the iPhone 13 costs $699 and $799, and the iPhone 12 costs $649 and $749, respectively. This means that like for like, there is only a $50 price difference between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13, providing you need more than 64GB of storage. While the iPhone 13's upgrades are mostly iterative and not major reasons to upgrade, they are easily worth the additional $50, so if you need more than 64GB of storage you should buy the iPhone 13.
If 64GB of storage is sufficient for you, it will be a case of weighing up if the iPhone 13's selection of improvements and extra storage are worth the additional $100. The iPhone 12's A14 Bionic chip, 17-hour battery life, and dual-camera setup are still highly capable for everyday use, and the device shares an overwhelming majority of the iPhone 13's most versatile features, such as 5G connectivity, Night mode, MagSafe, and IP68 water resistance, which may make the additional $100 for the iPhone 13 difficult to justify.
Following in the footsteps of Expercom and Walmart from last week, Amazon today has introduced its first ever discount on the new iPad mini 6. You'll find the 64GB Wi-Fi tablet in all colors except Purple at $459.99, down from $499.00.
Note: 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.
Today's sale matches the same discount we saw at Walmart, which has since expired. This makes Amazon the best place to get a solid discount on the all-new iPad mini 6.
Only the 64GB Wi-Fi model is on sale at this time, and we're not seeing any cash discounts on Amazon for the 256GB model or either cellular version of the tablet. For the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6, you can get the discount in Pink, Space Gray, or Starlight.
This is technically a pre-order on Amazon, as the iPad mini 6 will not officially launch until this Friday, September 24. But once you place your order and lock in the sale price, Amazon Prime members will get the usual two-day shipping estimate.
For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
Just ahead of the release of iOS 15, Algoriddim today announced it has integrated Apple's new ShazamKit framework into its award-winning DJing app djay.
ShazamKit brings Shazam's music recognition technology to the djay app, allowing users to discover music playing in their surroundings. Once a song has been identified, djay instantly loads it onto the virtual decks and plays the audio in sync with the external music source. The app's Automix feature can then create a mix with similar tracks. djay also saves previously identified songs to users' Shazam history in Control Center on iOS 15.
"Integrating Shazam into djay completely transforms the creative workflow of DJs," said Algoriddim CEO Karim Morsy. "As a DJ you are constantly on the lookout for great new music to play at your next gig, but identifying a track and the process of getting it into your library has been a challenging task with no seamless way to do it. Now, whenever you hear a great song you can load it into djay's decks with the tap of a button."
We've partnered with Anker again this week to bring our readers a collection of coupon codes that introduce notable discounts on Anker's best wall chargers, portable chargers, earbuds, and more. The highlight of the sale is a markdown on the Anker Magnetic Car Mount for iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, priced at $17.99 ($12 off) with our exclusive code.
Note: 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.
You'll also find discounts on three of Anker's best USB-C wall chargers, starting at $24.99 ($11 off) for the PowerPort Strip. If you're looking for portable chargers, this sale has everything from the PowerCore Wireless Power Bank at $25.99 ($10 off) to the high-end PowerHouse Station at $273.99 ($186 off).
Our readers should remember that all of the sales listed below require an accompanying coupon code to see the discount. Additionally, one accessory (the PowerHouse Station) requires a code and an on-page coupon, which you can clip before adding to your cart in order to see the full discount. All codes will remain valid through September 26, and only one code works per order.
The popular Apple TV+ comedy series "Ted Lasso" has been awarded four new Emmy awards, making history for Apple TV+ as it became the first streaming service to win an Emmy award in a program category in only its second year of eligibility. Ted Lasso has won a total of seven Emmy Awards in 2021.
As Apple touted in a press release, "Ted Lasso" made history by becoming the most nominated freshmen comedy series in Emmy Award history, including awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Hannah Waddingham, who plays Rebecca Welton in the series, and Brett Goldstein, who takes on the role of Roy Kent, won Outstanding Supporting Actress and Actor in a Comedy Series, respectively. The star of the show, Jason Sudeikis, who portrays Ted Lasso, was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The show itself was crowned Oustanding Comedy Series.
Apple TV+ has previously won Emmy awards for "The Morning Show," "Ghost Writer," and "Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10."
Apple recently updated its iOS 15 features page to highlight some additional information about the software update ahead of its imminent release.
In addition to revealing that Find My network support for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max has been delayed until "later this fall," Apple said iOS 15 allows users to seamlessly switch between phone numbers in the middle of an iMessage conversation on an iPhone with Dual SIM support, including the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and newer.
Regional updates to the page include the addition of Japanese in the list of new Voice Control languages and the addition of Singapore for countries with air quality maps in the Weather app on iOS 15. Apple has also revealed that iOS 15 has a new SF Arabic system font, and in India, users can choose from up to 10 of their most recently used UPI payment apps when they scan UPI QR codes using the Camera app for merchant payments.
Apple labeled iCloud Private Relay as a beta feature last month, and the iOS 15 features page now states that when using Private Relay, some websites may have issues, such as showing content for the wrong region or requiring extra steps to sign in. This mirrors fine print added to the iCloud Private Relay section of the Settings app on iPhone.
Note: 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.
