iOS 16.2, which Apple released Tuesday, brings many new features that make it a must-have update for all iPhone owners. From security advancements and productivity boosters to cosmetic tweaks and other fun stuff, it’s positively loaded with upgrades.
Here are the top new iOS 16.2 features you should try right now. (Note: Many of these features also appear in iPadOS 16.2, which Apple also released today.)
Apple is expanding iPhone 14’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature to more countries. The feature is now available to iPhone 14 owners in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Ireland starting today.
Emergency SOS was only available in the United States and Canada so far. Apple previously confirmed the feature would expand to more countries in December.
Amazon’s latest deal drops the iPad 10’s price to a much more reasonable $399, a sweet $50 off its retail price. This is the lowest price the tablet has been available for since its launch.
At $449, the new 10.9 iPad occupies an odd place in the iPad lineup. A $50 discount makes it easier to justify the higher price tag.
Apple has expanded its Self Service Repair program outside the US. Customers in selected European countries can order replacement components for their iPhones and MacBooks directly from the company.
The program is launching in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.
Apple’s AR/VR headset might launch later than anticipated in 2023. Instead of a Q2 2023 debut, Apple might release the headset in the year’s second half.
The delay, reportedly due to “software-related issues,” will impact the AR/VR headset’s shipment numbers for the year.
Apple has expedited plans to move a part of its supply chain outside of China. The company is asking suppliers to increase their assembly base in India and Vietnam.
Over the last year, China’s strict COVID-19 restrictions have disrupted Apple’s production lines in the country multiple times.
Apple reportedly changed the name of the operating system that will power its upcoming mixed-reality headset. Previously referred to as “realityOS,” Apple now calls the operating system “xrOS.”
This internal change is another sign of Apple ramping up work on the headset ahead of its official launch.
Apple crowned 16 apps and games as winners of its 2022 App Store Awards for “making a profound cultural impact.” The App Store’s editorial team honored apps and games on five platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV.
This time around, the company also selected five “Cultural Impact winners that have made a lasting impact on people’s lives and influenced culture,” Apple said in a press release Tuesday.
Apple’s 2023 iPhone 15 Pro lineup will reportedly use Sony’s new image sensor with some significant improvements. The next-gen sensor can seemingly capture more light and reduce overexposure and underexposure in challenging situations.
Sony is the primary camera sensor supplier for Apple. The change could allow the 2023 iPhones to deliver a massive leap in image quality.
Black Friday 2022 is now one for the record books, but you can still take advantage of hefty discounts on Apple products.
So, if you have been looking to buy a Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods or other Apple products for a while, take advantage of the best Black Friday deals on Apple gear right now. Just bear in mind that these deals can be slippery as an eel. If you see one you like, jump on it ASAP, because there’s no guarantee it will last.
Apple’s Black Friday deals are now live in the US and Canada. The company is bundling gift cards of up to $250 on the purchase of select products.
The four-day shopping event runs through Cyber Monday, i.e., November 28. You can place your order through Apple’s online or retail store to get the gift card.
Brazilian authorities seized “hundreds of iPhones” across retail stores in the country on November 11. The phones were confiscated because Apple was selling them without a bundled power adapter.
Apple has already been granted an injunction against the seizure by a Brazilian court. So, the company can continue selling iPhones until Brazil’s regulatory body takes a final decision.
A sketchy rumor claims Apple planned to introduce a $49 Apple Pencil with iPhone compatibility. The company wanted to launch the budget Apple Pencil alongside new iPhones in September.
For unclear reasons, though, Apple changed its mind at the last minute and canceled the product’s launch.
The Apple Watch Ultra has dropped to its lowest price for Black Friday. You can grab the watch with an Alpine Loop wristband for $739, down from its $799 MSRP.
The rugged titanium case and multi-day battery life make the Apple Watch Ultra ideal for fitness and outdoor enthusiasts.
In an unexpected development, SwiftKey is back on the App Store just a month after Microsoft removed the virtual keyboard app.
The move comes following customer feedback about the discontinuation of SwiftKey for iOS.
Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro is getting a massive $499 discount on Amazon ahead of Black Friday. The attractive discount drops the entry-level 16-inch MacBook Pro price to $1,999.99—$499 cheaper than its MSRP.
You can also grab the 1TB storage configuration for $400 off.
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Apple will bundle gift cards of up to $250 with the purchase of certain products during its special shopping event for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
The deals on eligible Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and AirPods will stay live for four days, starting on Friday, November 25.
2023 iPhone 15 Pro models could feature faster data-transfer speeds over a wired connection. Rumors indicate Apple will transition to USB Type-C connectors across its entire iPhone lineup next year. But the faster data-transfer speeds could be limited to the Pro models.
Current iPhone models only support USB 2.0 transfer speeds over Lightning.
Looking to buy an Apple Watch Series 8 for your loved one this holiday season? Amazon has discounted the smartwatch by $50, bringing its price down to as low as $349.
The $50 off is available on the watch’s GPS and cellular variants. And if you place your order now, Amazon will deliver the wearable a week before Thanksgiving.
Apple added new customization options for the iPhone 14 Pro’s Always On Display in iOS 16.2 beta 3. Until now, you could only enable or disable the feature on the new iPhones.
The latest iOS 16.2 beta, released to developers Tuesday, provides toggles for disabling wallpaper and notifications in Always On Display mode, enabling a much simpler look.
Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 is down to its lowest price ahead of Black Friday. The battery pack is available for $71 — a massive 28% off its $99 MSRP.
This is the cheapest price Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack has dropped to so far. Stocks are unlikely to last long, so make sure to place an order before the deal expires.
Over the years, numerous celebrities have been caught promoting flagship Android phones on Twitter while tweeting from their iPhones. This could soon become a thing of the past, due to a change proposed by Twitter CEO Elon Musk.
The new Twitter owner plans to remove the “Twitter for iPhone” or “Twitter for Android” label below each tweet.
Ahead of the holiday season, Apple is providing up to 10% discounts to businesses on 2021 MacBook Pro models. The offer is only applicable on bulk orders.
Apple rarely provides such deep discounts to companies, especially in the lucrative holiday quarter.
Looking to buy a new MacBook Air ahead of Black Friday? Apple’s 2020 M1 MacBook Air is down to $799.99 on Amazon after a $199.01 discount.
This deal makes the M1 Air much more affordable and better justifies its dated design.
Apple job listings offer a peek into the development of the company’s long-rumored AR headset. Cupertino seemingly wants to create augmented reality and 3D content for its mixed-reality device, which could arrive in early 2023.
More importantly, one posting indicates Apple could be working on a metaverse competitor.
