Apple has finally started rolling out iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 to iPhone and iPad users. At Apple’s iPhone 13 event, Apple announced that iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 would be available for free to download from next week. The new Apple iOS comes with features like Focus Mode, Live Text, SharePlay to iPhones, whereas the iPad OS 15 brings features like home screen widgets to iPads with some minor improvements to FaceTime.
Apple has announced that the iOS 15 is compatible with all iPhone series beyond the iPhone 6s that includes iPhone SE Generation 1, iPhone SE 2020, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The iPadOS brings a lot more new features for iPad users to experience. In terms of compatibility, Apple has stated that the iPadOS is compatible with all iPads beyond the iPad mini-series that include iPad (beyond 5th Generation), iPad Air beyond 3rd Generation), iPad Air 2, and iPad Pro (All models). The iOS 15 brings a lot more new features for iPhone users to explore. Let’s have a look at the key new features of iOS 15.
iOS 15 Features and Updates
iOS 15 brings some big changes to the iPhone lineup. The features are also similar to what we’ll see on the iPadOS 15 with a few tweaks here and there. With that said, here’s everything new to iOS 15.
Focus Mode
Focus Mode is essentially a revamped version of Apple’s existing Do Not Disturb feature that allows users to establish specific apps and contacts to ping them at specific times. Focus Mode allows users to filter notifications based on the work and helps organize the application along with the widgets on the user’s iPhone’s home screen. Moreover, third-party app developers can integrate the Focus status in the messaging apps as well.
FaceTime
Apple has updated its video calling software in the upcoming iOS 15 update. Applications like Zoom and FaceTime will now present the participants in the video call in grid view. Users will also be able to add non-Apple users to FaceTime calls which makes it easier for other OS users. Moreover, users will be provided an option of creating FaceTime links to share and invite others to a video chat.
Spatial audio has been added to FaceTime, which makes the users more comfortable and neutral. That’s not the only one, and Portrait mode has also been added in FaceTime that helps blur the background and keeps the users in focus. Apple has also stated regarding FaceTime that the calls will be end-to-end encrypted.
iMessage Sharing
iOS 15 adds with an upgraded iMessage feature where news articles, pictures, or playlists that are shared with you by contact will now be collated in the Shared with You folder. Users can send multiple photos over iMessage as the images appear in a dynamic collage formation, which allows users to swipe through them or tap through them to view your gallery application. The Shared with you works with Apple News, Apple Music, Safari, Apple podcasts, and the Apple TV app.
LiveText
Apple users will now be able to view a wide range of elevation data, road colors, and driving directions, 3D landmarks, along with an improved night mode. For public transportation, users can also pin nearby public transport stops and station information to their iPhone and Apple Watch devices. They can receive automatic updates and notifications as they ride and approach their destination.
In addition, Apple is also gearing up to add an augmented reality feature in its map. With the help of the feature, users can scan buildings and infrastructures in the nearby locality with the help of a camera. Apple Maps also features factor weather warnings into suggested routes in iOS 15.
New Safari
Safari gets a new redesign on the iPhone making the controls much easier to reach. It focuses on one-hand usability, and you can switch it back to the previous interface if you don’t like the new one. In addition to that, the new Safari comes with Tab groups making it easy to group tabs across Apple devices. Furthermore, Apple is bringing customizations to the Start Page and Extensions to iPhones, similar to macOS.
Other Features
There are a ton of updates coming to the iOS 15. While we mentioned the best ones on the top of the list, there are some others that are coming to iOS 15. Here they are:
- Notifications redesigned and Summary feature
- New Apple Maps
- Key and State IDs coming to Apple Wallet
- Redesigned Weather app
- Collaboration in Notes app
- iCloud+
- Auto Translate in Translate app
- Updates to Siri, and Health app
- New iPhone Setup
iOS 15: How to Download it
Apple announced that iOS 15 would be available for free download on Sept. 20. The iOS 15 started rolling out to users in India at 10:30 PM on September 20 for Indian users. As iOS 15 is available for all the users now, All the users will get a notification from Apple that users can update.
If the users do not get a notification of the latest update for download, users can move to the Settings section to check for the update. Users need to go into Settings > General > Software update, and then under the available option, users can find an “Upgrade to iOS” option and tap on it.