Christmas is coming soon, and Apple is giving its customers a whole series of updates just before the festive season. Not only is iOS 16.2 now available for the iPhone, but all other devices will also receive updates.
Update from December 14: Just in time for Christmas, Apple releases a whole series of updates for all device platforms. The focus is on the new iOS 16.2 for the iPhone. It not only contains some new features, the Freeform app announced in the summer, and the karaoke function. Apple has also plugged more than 30 security holes. Ergo: A download is highly recommended. But the iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Apple TV and HomePod also get corresponding updates. Specifically, the following updates are available immediately:
- iOS 16
- iPadOS 16
- tvOS 16
- macOS 13.1
- watchOS 9.2
- HomePod 16.2
Worth mentioning: For those who cannot or do not want to update to the new versions, Apple also provides suitable security updates with iOS 15.7.2, macOS 12.6.2 and macOS 11.7.2 – exemplary.
Paying developers now have access to the “Release Candidate” of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2, which means that the release of the major service update for iPhone and iPad is imminent, because the version formerly known as “Golden Master” is actually already finished and will then be released. When?
iOS 16.2 for iPhone: Release already in the next few days
Most likely already in the course of the coming week. If we should type: At the earliest, probably already on Monday, December 12, 2022, or on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Provided Apple does not find a bug that there is to fix. The update should be available in the early evening hours after 6 or 7 p.m. in this country.
The release candidate of iOS 16.2 also contains a few surprises in addition to the already known features, such as the expected Freeform app:
- Apple Music Sing: The recently announced karaoke feature for Apple Music is integrated in iOS 16.2. However, not all iPhones and iPads with iOS 16 will be able to use the feature. Accordingly, all new iPhones from iPhone 11 upwards (along with iPhone SE of the third generation), iPad Pro (12.9 inches from 5th generation, 11 inches from 3rd generation), iPad Air (from 4th generation), iPad (from 9th generation), iPad mini (from 6th generation) are compatible. The limitation to Apple TV 4K (2022) was already known.
- Apples also introduces some new security features. For example, the extension of end-to-end encryption to iCloud backups or even additional authentication features (source: Apple). However, all this will only come to us outside the US in 2023, not this year.
- The new and controversial 10-minute limit for free AirDrop connections will also be introduced. A “feature” that is already available in China at the insistence of the government there.
- Not concretely confirmed by Apple, but still doing the rounds, is the introduction of the emergency SOS function via satellite in Europe. There are reports that the function will premiere with iOS 16.2 for the UK (source: MacRumors). An introduction in Germany would then no longer be fundamentally ruled out.
More updates for Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV.
But not only iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 are about to be released. Likewise, macOS 13.1 Ventura, watchOS 9.2 and tvOS 16.2 have also been given a “release candidate”. Ergo: The next updates are already in the starting blocks for all other Apple devices.
