iOS 16 vs iOS 15: Biggest changes coming to your iPhone

The next-generation version of the operating software that powers Apple’s iPhones and iPads is coming this fall, and it promises, as usual, a slew of updates, design changes, and performance tweaks to enhance the user experience. They include everything from Lock Screen customizations to a few long-requested improvements to Apple’s Messages app that are coming in iOS 16, as we saw during the software’s unveiling at WWDC 2022 in recent days.

In this post, we want to walk through some of the biggest changes the new software is bringing to Apple’s mobile devices. Not everyone will be happy, of course (as we noted in our recent post, about Apple dropping the support for some older iPhones to get the software update). Other Apple users, however, especially those who’ve been calling for certain new Messages features — they’ll finally get their wish.

All-new Lock Screen experience in iOS 16

To get right into it, one of the many new features coming with the release of iOS 16 this fall is a redesigned lock screen experience. The new experience will encompass some live wallpapers, plus new widgets and other customizations that will now be available.

Customizing the lock screen in iOS 16 will actually feel a bit like setting up “complications” on the Apple Watch. iOS 16 will, in fact, let you change everything about the lock screen, including colors and fonts. You can even set up multiple lock screens and switch between them with a swipe.

“iOS 16 is a big release with updates that will change the way you experience iPhone,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, in an announcement about the software update. “We have reimagined how the Lock Screen looks and works with exciting new features that make it more personal and helpful, introduced iCloud Shared Photo Library for families, streamlined communication through new capabilities in Messages and Mail, and harnessed enhanced intelligence with updates to Live Text and Visual Look Up.”

The lock screen features widgets also make it easy to get information at a glance. That information includes details about the weather, battery levels, alarms, time zones, Activity ring progress, and more.

Long-awaited Apple Messages app updates, and more

Other iOS 16 features to look forward to, meanwhile, include a new notification design. Plus an updated Messages app, with the ability to unsend messages and recover deleted messages. Additionally, we’re getting improved dictation, Apple Pay Later, and much more.

With Live Activities, users can now keep tabs on sports scores from the lock screen in real-time. It also makes it possible to track the progress of your Uber or food delivery service from the lock screen.

Messages

Power users of Apple’s mobile Messages app will also appreciate the changes coming therein. The iPhone maker is finally bringing some long-requested features to Messages that users have been wanting for so long. Like:

• The ability to edit a message that you just sent to someone
• Users can also now un-send messages. Importantly, though, you’ve got a time limit on editing and recalling messages. You can only do either of these within 15 minutes of sending
• If you’re busy, meanwhile, and you want to highlight a message you’ve just read, to remind you to respond to it later? Finally, you can do that, as well.
• There’s also a recovery option for deleted messages coming as well. But only for up to 30 days after you’ve deleted the message

Apple Pay Later in iOS 16

Apple Pay Later, meanwhile, provides users in the US with a secure way to split the cost of an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments. They can be spread over six weeks, with zero interest and no fees.

Image source: Apple

From Apple: “Built into Apple Wallet and designed with users’ financial health in mind, Apple Pay Later makes it easy to view, track, and repay Apple Pay Later payments within Wallet.

“Users can apply for Apple Pay Later when they are checking out with Apple Pay, or in Wallet. Apple Pay Later is available everywhere Apple Pay is accepted online or in-app, using the Mastercard network. Additionally, with Apple Pay Order Tracking, users can receive detailed receipts and order tracking information in Wallet for Apple Pay purchases with participating merchants.”

You can read more about how to download the iOS 16 beta right here. Also, be sure and check out Apple’s preview page for iOS 16.

More iPhone coverage: For more iPhone news, visit our iPhone 14 guide.