The iOS 16 release in September brought some big changes to iPhones including customizable lock screens that now support new widgets and editing tools for messages and a new Fitness app as well as updates to many existing iPhone apps. Get ready for this iPhone software update as iOS 16.1 launches next Monday (October 24th) along with the releases of iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura.
As a major update, iOS 16.1 brings more improvements and bug fixes, as we’re expected to get the features that Apple promised in iOS 16 preview over the summer, but it’s delayed from the initial release. These include the new shared iCloud Photo Library and Live Activities; We’re also getting a new clean power charging feature that came out during the iOS 16.1 beta process.
Here is an overview of all the new features and upgrades coming to iPhones running iOS 16.1.
iCloud Shared Photo Library
iOS 16.1 introduces a new way to share photos with family and friends. iCloud Shared Photo Library will be a separate library where users can share photos and videos with up to five other people. Anyone with access to the shared library can share, edit, comment, and delete photos. Additionally, the Camera app now features a toggle that lets you add photos to your shared iCloud Photo Library while you’re taking them.
iCloud Shared Photo Library was briefly part of the iOS 16 public beta this summer before Apple delayed the feature until later in the year, likely to adjust. We’ll soon see the changes Apple has made to its new photo-sharing capture.
Direct activities for third-party applications
Here’s another feature that Apple introduced earlier in the year but kept away from the release of iOS 16 (although its absence was planned throughout to give app makers time to work on adding support). Live activities are interactive notifications that stay updated on the lock screen. Think about sports scores, delivery status reports, and other activities you monitor from your phone’s lock screen.
iOS 16.1 opens the feature to third-party apps, so expect plenty of app updates on Monday that include live activity alerts.
Live activities are not limited to the lock screen if you have an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max. On those phones, Live Activities will join other alerts and notifications in Dynamic Island that have replaced the iPhone score.
clean energy charging
Clean Power Charging, which is included in Battery Settings in iOS 16.1, is designed to reduce your iPhone’s carbon footprint by improving charging times when the power grid uses cleaner power sources. This feature will only be available to users in the United States. Apple first promised this feature in September.
Apple Fitness Plus
Once iOS 16.1 arrives, Apple Fitness Plus will now be available for iPhone even without the Apple Watch. This is in line with Apple’s previous move to add a Fitness app to iOS 16 regardless of whether or not you own one of the company’s watches.
During workouts, users without an Apple Watch will not be able to see real-time metrics, such as heart rate and calories burned. Instead, they will see the estimated calories burned (based on the information provided in the Fitness app).
Anyone running iOS 16.1 in one of the 21 countries where Apple’s fitness subscription service is offered will have access to all of Apple Fitness Plus’s services of more than 3,000 studio-style exercises and meditations.
Apple Card and Wallet changes
Apple Card users will be able to open a “high yield” Goldman Sachs savings account with iOS 16.1. You can then manage this account from the Wallet app and get daily cashback rewards automatically deposited into it, with no fees, no minimum deposits and no minimum balance requirements.
As promised during the iOS 16 preview, Apple’s Wallet app will also allow people to securely share keys like a car, hotel room, and more with friends and family using messaging apps like Messages and even Whatsapp, although this feature requires support from carmakers and hotels.
Dynamic island accessibility support
We noticed Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro models when talking about live activities. iOS 16.1 introduces another improvement to this specific feature – accessibility support. Essentially, iOS 16.1 will make it easier to access Dynamic Island with one hand. You can enable the feature under Settings.
