Apple began testing iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2 and others at the end of October and made betas available to both developers and public beta testers. So far there have been a total of four betas, the fourth was released earlier this week. But when exactly will the new versions be available to all users?
Of course, with only four betas released since October, iOS 16.2 still needs to be tested before we can expect a release. At the very least, there will be a release candidate before iOS 16.2 hits the market. But there's also a chance we'll see another beta. Usually, there are five or more betas before a release candidate. During the holiday season, however, the schedule is tighter. Last year, Apple only distributed four betas of iOS 15.2 before the RC and subsequent release. If that's the plan, Apple could give us the release candidate version of iOS 16.2 next week, probably on Tuesday, December 6th.
That means iOS 16.2 could launch the week of December 12. December 19 is also a possibility, if more betas are due. Last year, iOS 15.2 was released on Monday, December 13, after Apple provided the fourth beta on December 2 and the RC on December 7. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said we can expect iOS 16.2 in mid-December, which would align with the estimated week of December 12. Apple has confirmed that some of the update's features, such as the Freeform app, will indeed arrive before the end of the year, so we can even expect to see the first betas of iOS 16.3 in December.
iOS 16.2 New Features at a Glance
iOS 16.2 is a major update that adds a number of interesting new features to the iPhone and iPad, the biggest changes of which are described below.
- Freeform App – Freeform is a cross-platform, open whiteboard app that can be used for note-taking, sketching, drawing, saving links, and more, with collaboration features built in. It is available in the latest betas for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
- Stage Manager supports external displays – iPad owners who have an M1 or M2 iPad can use Stage Manager with external displays. Up to eight apps can be used for multitasking and there's a useful new option to drag a window from an iPad to an external display and vice versa. While older iPads can use Stage Manager, support for external displays is limited to the Apple Silicon models.
- New Home app architecture – The iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 updates add support for an updated Home app architecture that Apple is introducing after the debut of Matter. The new app architecture delivers faster, more reliable performance in homes with many smart devices, but requires that all devices be updated to the latest software.
Two new widgets
- Always On Display Updates – For iPhone 14 Pro models, there are two new switches to disable wallpapers and notifications when the Always On Display feature is enabled. This reduces the amount of information on the screen when it is off, reducing distractions.
- Sleep widget for the lock screen – A sleep widget has been added to the lock screen for those who use the sleep feature on Apple Watch.
- Lock Screen Medication Widget – There is also a medication widget that notifies you when you need to take a medication.
- News in the Weather app – When there is relevant weather-related news in your area, such as information about a hurricane or fire, you'll see the headlines in the Weather app.
By the way, as Apple announced in mid-November, the functions The iPhone 14's "Emergency Call via Satellite" and "Find My via Satellite" were introduced in four more countries in December, including Germany. The feature could therefore be activated on the day iOS 16.2 is introduced or shortly thereafter. Are you looking for new accessories? Then take a look in our Amazon Storefront - there you will find numerous products from leading providers, also for HomeKit and Co.! (Photo by Unsplash / Nubelson Fernandes)
