iOS 16 for iPhone Is Coming: This is Each Function We Wish to See Apple Announce Right now

This story is a part of WWDC 2022, CNET’s full protection from and about Apple’s annual builders convention.

Apple’s 2022 Worldwide Builders Convention begins at this time, and we’re anticipating iOS 16 to make its first look in the course of the annual occasion. It is also possible we’ll get a primary take a look at software program updates for Apple’s different main merchandise: iPadOS 16, WatchOS 9 and MacOS. However as the following large iPhone replace, iOS 16 will most likely be the star of the present, offering a glimpse of the brand new options coming to iPhones within the fall. 

Learn extra: Apple’s WWDC 2022 Is Hours Away: Tips on how to Watch Each Reveal Reside

The final three variations of iOS have been comparable — iOS 15 seems like a riff on iOS 14, which felt like a continuation of iOS 13. Any visible modifications are capable of be turned on and off as a substitute of being compelled onto your iPhone. For instance, should you do not like residence display screen widgets or Focus mode, you do not have to make use of them. Even should you choose out of the extra conspicuous modifications, operating iOS 15 brings a bunch of background enhancements to maintain your iPhone operating easily and securely. And that can possible be the case with iOS 16.

iOS 15 has been out for seven months and the working system has been comparatively steady with only a few bugs. Some options, equivalent to Common Management and SharePlay, took some time to roll out, however every thing appears to be up and operating now. iOS 16 will possible proceed the place iOS 15 leaves off, including new options to the prevailing design.

However that does not imply there aren’t issues Apple wants so as to add or enhance. My colleagues and I got here up with an inventory of enhancements, additions and fixes that we would like Apple to make for iOS 16. Some are large, like including assist for the Apple Pencil, and others are small however important, like giving residence display screen widgets extra performance. We’ll have to attend to see what Apple truly does.

iOS 16: The Pictures app wants copy and paste for edits

We use iPhones to take pictures and movies on a regular basis, and modifying pictures is simply as satisfying as taking them. Most individuals’s place to edit is the iPhone’s Pictures app: The interface is easy, and there are an abundance of instruments for getting the precise look you need. 

However the MacOS model of the Pictures app has one helpful function that might enhance modifying on the iPhone: the power to repeat and paste edits between pictures. That is particularly useful once you take a number of pictures on the similar place, equivalent to at a restaurant or occasion. Since all the pictures have been taken below the identical lighting and situations, you possibly can simply edit one photograph after which copy and paste these changes to the others.

As a substitute, in iOS 15, you are left making these changes one-by-one for every photograph on the iPhone. It is tedious. 

In iOS 16, it will be nice to see the same copy and paste function on the iPhone. We might give iOS 16 bonus factors if the edits you made within the Pictures app on the Mac could possibly be utilized to the Pictures app on the iPhone, and vice versa. However, one step at a time.

An always-on lock display screen for the iPhone

Think about having the ability to look at your iPhone when the display screen is off to see the time, notifications and missed calls. Such a function has been out there on Android telephones for years, the place solely necessary info is lit up and the display screen is in any other case black. It is known as an always-on show. Apple affords an always-on show choice for the Apple Watch Collection 5 and later, but it is nonetheless absent on the iPhone. 

However Apple might change that that quickly with iOS 16, which is claimed to deliver future assist for always-on show performance, in accordance with Bloomberg. The replace would make it doable for the iPhone to lower the lock display screen’s refresh price to indicate bits of knowledge, however Bloomberg’s report signifies this function could possibly be unique to the iPhone 14 Professional and 14 Professional Max. 

Carry the iPad’s split-screen view to iPhone Professional Max fashions

The iPhone Professional Max has been a part of Apple’s lineup since 2019. The 11 Professional Max has a 6.5-inch display screen, whereas the 12 Professional Max and 13 Professional Max each have a 6.7-inch show that make watching movies, taking part in video games and studying articles an absolute delight. 

However these giant screens really feel wasted in the case of software program. Some iOS apps like Mail and Messages can make the most of that additional display screen area in panorama mode to indicate a column of message previews subsequent to the at present opened message. However in any other case, there is not a lot else in iOS that takes benefit of these greater screens.

Apple might deliver some options from iPadOS to iOS 16 only for Professional Max fashions, particularly its cut up display screen Multitasking view. It will be fantastic to have Safari open on one facet of the telephone display screen after which launch Messages on the opposite.

Learn extra: iOS 15 Might Make the iPhone 12 Professional Extra Professional 

Apple Pencil assist for iPhone Professional Max Fashions

The big display screen on iPhone Professional Max fashions begs for Apple Pencil assist. Samsung proved there is a substantial viewers for a telephone stylus by way of its Galaxy Notice and S Extremely gadgets. Heck, there are even $300 telephones just like the Moto G Stylus that assist one.

The second-gen Apple Pencil is an excellent stylus that at present works with iPad Mini, Air and Professional fashions. However think about having the ability to apply it to the iPhone 13 Professional Max and its 120Hz display screen for sketching and note-taking. Even higher, what about an Apple Pencil Mini (assume golf pencil sized) that may clip to the facet of the iPhone Professional Max? Tech journalists can dream, cannot we?

iPhone widgets want extra performance

When residence display screen widgets got here to the iPhone with iOS 14, many people rejoiced. Apple’s widget implementation is clear, and even Samsung has began imitating them. Widgets match grid-like wherever on your property display screen. However there’s one wrinkle: residence display screen widgets are passive. Except for glanceable info or widget good stacks, essentially the most performance they supply is the power to open their corresponding app.

For instance, the Apple Music widget shows the track that is at present taking part in. Tapping on the widget brings me to the Apple Music app. However what should you might faucet on the widget to skip to the following track? What should you might swipe within the climate widget to modify areas? Let’s hope iOS 16 provides residence display screen widgets extra performance. 

We cannot know for positive till Apple publicizes iOS 16. However Bloomberg says the corporate would possibly introduce new lock display screen choices which have widget-like performance in iOS 16. It is probably not precisely what we’re asking for, however Bloomberg’s report suggests Apple might have some sort of enchancment deliberate for widgets in iOS 16. 

Allow us to place apps wherever we wish

Lately, Apple has improved the house display screen with new components like widgets and the App Library. You’ll be able to have a number of pages of apps, and even embody the identical app on completely different residence display screen pages (which is necessary should you’re a Focus mode energy consumer).

However in the case of rearranging the app icons in your app web page, nothing has modified. Apps are caught to the invisible software program magnet on the highest left of the display screen. So should you solely need to maintain a few apps on a particular residence display screen web page, these apps begin filling within the display screen from the highest left nook. You’ll be able to’t put them on the underside of the display screen with out filling the highest of the web page up first.

Apple, please give us the liberty to maneuver apps wherever we wish. This may be a giant boon towards making apps simpler to achieve one-handed with out utilizing Reachability. Additionally, when you have residence display screen wallpaper that you simply love, you could possibly prepare apps so you possibly can see your photograph higher.

Extra default app selections

You’ll be able to at present set the default browser app and default mail app on an iPhone to be one thing apart from Safari and Mail. In iOS 16, Apple might open up system defaults for extra apps, particularly for maps and messaging apps. If you happen to’re a daily Google Maps consumer, it will be handy to set it as the principle maps app as a substitute of Apple Maps. 

What do you need to see in iOS 16?

These have been a handful of issues we might wish to see within the subsequent model of iOS. However what about you? Are there options or bugs you need Apple so as to add and repair? If you wish to discover among the leaks for the iPhone’s subsequent software program, learn our iOS 16 rumor roundup.