How iOS 16 makes your iPhone more personal

Posted:
in iOS edited June 2022
Apple's upcoming iOS 16 release for iPhone continues a departure from the norm. It's full of customizable touches that make it Apple's most personal yet.

The new Home app in iOS 16
The new Home app in iOS 16


There's historically been this distinction between iOS and Android where the former was ridiculed for its lack of customization options while the latter was almost entirely open. This general rule hasn't dissipated, but Apple now allows more customization than it ever has.

With iOS 16, Apple has focused on allowing customizations that are meaningful and emphasized how personal your iPhone is as it sits in the center of your life.




Lock screen

For the first time, users will now be able to fully customize their Lock Screen with iOS 16. Apple has added support for up to five widgets that can convey information that is most important.

As a few examples, your current Apple Watch fitness rings can be shown or the weather for your immediate location. Reminders or calendar appointments are options too.

Climate widget in iOS 16
Climate widget in iOS 16


We're big fans of HomeKit and this new Lock Screen experience allows you to see your lock status, home temperature, and more.

Widgets aside, you can also now have the Lock Screen show a new featured photo each time you pick up your phone. This goes further than just a static image.

Sleep tracking

Sleep data is quite personal and we appreciated that Apple added it to Apple Watch a couple of years ago. This update doubles down.

Sleep tracking stages in iOS 16
Sleep tracking stages in iOS 16


When you track your sleep with Apple Watch, you can see exactly when you were in bed, how long it took you to fall asleep, the various stages of sleep, and the total time asleep.

It's much more granular than what Apple had offered before.

Medication

Apple followed a similar trajectory for medication tracking. It has been a feature in the Health app for some time, but iOS 16 builds out the feature on its own.

Logging medications in the Health app
Logging medications in the Health app


All your medication and vitamins can be tracked via the Health app, including regular alerts so you don't forget a dose. Each time you track your medication, it's logged in the app and displayed on a calendar.

Apple uses third-party data to also monitor your medications for possibly harmful interactions. These interactions can be between multiple medications or through recreational vices such as alcohol, marijuana, or tobacco.

Other changes

Focus modes were welcomed with iOS 15 and the ability to control app access and notifications. The iOS 16 update now allows Focus controls to be more personal.

Employing Focus Filters, you can control access to certain content within apps. Our favorite use is Safari where you can hide and show tab groups as needed.

This level of personal touches continues throughout the operating system. Some features are small, such as the ability to see local news in the News widget, while others are larger such as the goal of replacing passwords with passkeys.

Your iPhone can act as your password with Passkeys that sync between all your Apple devices. This is massively vital to a passwordless future and another way the iPhone remains central to your life.

It's been a slow transition as Apple has moved the iPhone from a generic consumption and communication device to a vital necessity. All of these changes in iOS 16 just elevate the personal nature of your iPhone.

Coming soon

At the moment, iOS 16 is currently in developer beta. A public beta is scheduled to be released in July before a full release this fall. Stay tuned to AppleInsider as we walk through more features for Apple's upcoming software updates.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    Anilu_777Anilu_777 Posts: 572member
    I love Focus modes and use one for work, one for generic Do Not Disturb Mode and one for personal and another for Sleep. I’m really looking forward to the enhancements in iOS 16 to make the modes even better with a custom Lock Screen and iOS offers for each mode. 
    williamlondon
  • Reply 2 of 7
    davembelldavembell Posts: 3unconfirmed, member
    IOS 16 Beta is bad so bad and glitchy don’t download …..


    edited June 2022 Japhey
  • Reply 3 of 7
    geekmeegeekmee Posts: 646member
    To all the Samsung users who cry “We had those features first!”…I think this proves, Apple has it’s priorities in order.
  • Reply 4 of 7
    digitoldigitol Posts: 276member
    Is there a feature to remove the notch? :D 
    pulseimages
  • Reply 5 of 7
    avon b7avon b7 Posts: 7,977member
    geekmee said:
    To all the Samsung users who cry “We had those features first!”…I think this proves, Apple has it’s priorities in order.
    After having used both iOS and Android for years, I'd say Apple got its priorities very, very wrong in that case. 

    Going from Android to iOS felt like having shackles put on. These personalisation options are good but way overdue. 
    muthuk_vanalingam
  • Reply 6 of 7
    HedwareHedware Posts: 92member
    Wow - how Earth shattering. Not. 

    I wish Apple could harmonise the alarm chocks on iPhones and iPads so the snooze and stop buttons are in the same place. Can’t be that hard..
  • Reply 7 of 7
    davembelldavembell Posts: 3unconfirmed, member
    I’ve noticed over the years APPLE likes to be in control.
    We own our iPhone but we are still limited.
    edited June 2022
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