All the changes & new features in Apple's iOS 16.1 beta

Posted:
in iOS
Following the release of its massive iOS 16 update, Apple has already moving on. Here's what we've found hiding in the iOS 16.1 developer beta.

iOS 16.1 beta
The iOS 16.1 beta


This initial developer beta arrived a mere two days after iOS 16 was fully released. Thus far only the developer beta has been released while a public beta will follow.

These point updates usually refine many of the flagship features that debuted in the major update and that is the case here with improvements to the Lock Screen, Matter, and more.




New changes afoot

In iOS 16, you can customize your Lock Screen with new fonts, colors, wallpapers, depth effects, and widgets. With iOS 16.1, Apple has modified the setup process,

When you tap customize, you can now choose Lock Screen or Home Screen from the get-go rather than after making your changes. This should make it more apparent how you can edit the Home Screen.

The button to link a Focus mode to your Lock Screen is gone in beta one. Instead, you must link the Focus from Settings. In the Settings app, you can trigger a Focus mode from multiple Lock Screens whereas, in iOS 16.0, you were limited to a one-to-one relationship.

The Settings app has a new panel for Matter smart home accessories now. Apple says you need to have a profile installed to use Matter devices, though that may change as we approach the official launch of Matter.

Clean energy charging
Clean energy charging


Previewed by Apple with iOS 16, iOS 16.1 will be adding Clean Energy Charging. This will prioritize off-peak hours for charging to help reduce the load on the electrical grid and reduce your overall carbon footprint.

The battery percentage indicator now supports more devices. iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 13 mini now supports the numbered status in the batter icon.

After being removed late in the development cycle, the Shared iCloud Photo Library is back. You can share your photos with friends and family and move between a personal and shared library.

Other changes include the ability to remove the default Wallet app and redownload from the App Store as well as a modified screenshot UI. Developers also have access to the Lock Screen Live Activites API.

Available soon

Apple will beta test iOS 16.1 with developers and public users before releasing it, likely later this year. If you haven't done so already, you can update your existing iPhone to iOS 16.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6

    Previewed by Apple with iOS 16, iOS 16.1 will be adding Clean Energy Charging. This will prioritize off-peak hours for charging to help reduce the load on the electrical grid and reduce your overall carbon footprint.

    The battery percentage indicator now supports more devices. iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 13 mini now supports the numbered status in the batter icon.

    After being removed late in the development cycle, the Shared iCloud Photo Library is back. You can share your photos with friends and family and move between a personal and shared library.

    Available soon

    Apple will beta test iOS 16.1 with developers and public users before releasing it, likely later this year.
    Point number 1 above is pretty interesting. I had a Nissan Leaf when I lived in the US that had a similar feature. I wonder if we here in the EU will get pricing tiers to further incentivize/deincentivize electricity consumption during the day. It seems that we are heading for an energy price led recession no matter what though.

    Point number 2 will surely appease the vocal critics who have bitterly bemoaned the oversight on their Xr, 11 and minis. I’ll enjoy this tweak, even if I didn’t curse the Apple-overlords when it was “withheld”.

    Point 3 is the feature of iOS 16 I was most looking forward to. I hope it lives up to the hype.

    A side point regarding the release date. @Andrew_OSU  Hedging your bet a bit, huh? Haha. I’d be surprised if we didn’t get this release by Halloween, absolutely shocked if it doesn’t come by Thanksgiving.
    edited September 2022
  • Reply 2 of 6
    fred1fred1 Posts: 1,112member
    I’ve read elsewhere that 16.1 will also allow the battery percentage to be seen on more models, including the Minis. Is that true?

    Also, what is the purpose of uninstalling the Wallet app and reinstalling it?
    edited September 2022
  • Reply 3 of 6
    mike1mike1 Posts: 3,286member
    fred1 said:
    I’ve read elsewhere that 16.1 will also allow the battery percentage to be seen on more models, including the Minis. Is that true?

    Also, what is the purpose of uninstalling the Wallet app and reinstalling it?

    OMG! Right from the text...The battery percentage indicator now supports more devices. iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 13 mini now supports the numbered status in the batter icon.
    mbenz1962appleinsideruserdoozydozen
  • Reply 4 of 6
    mike1 said:
    fred1 said:
    I’ve read elsewhere that 16.1 will also allow the battery percentage to be seen on more models, including the Minis. Is that true?

    Also, what is the purpose of uninstalling the Wallet app and reinstalling it?

    OMG! Right from the text...The battery percentage indicator now supports more devices. iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 13 mini now supports the numbered status in the batter icon.
    Woo hoo!
  • Reply 5 of 6
    fred1fred1 Posts: 1,112member
    mike1 said:
    fred1 said:
    I’ve read elsewhere that 16.1 will also allow the battery percentage to be seen on more models, including the Minis. Is that true?

    Also, what is the purpose of uninstalling the Wallet app and reinstalling it?

    OMG! Right from the text...The battery percentage indicator now supports more devices. iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 13 mini now supports the numbered status in the batter icon.
    You’re right of course. How did I miss that? Wait, don’t answer that!  :o
    edited September 2022
  • Reply 6 of 6
    danoxdanox Posts: 2,872member
    fred1 said:
    I’ve read elsewhere that 16.1 will also allow the battery percentage to be seen on more models, including the Minis. Is that true?

    Also, what is the purpose of uninstalling the Wallet app and reinstalling it?
    16.0 allows battery percentage…
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