In late October, Apple began testing iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 updates, making beta versions available to developers and public beta testers. We have four betas so far, with the fourth beta released earlier this week. iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 are expected by the end of the year, and we thought we'd try to tighten up the release schedule.
With only four beta releases since October, there's still some testing time to wait for the release of iOS 16.2. At least we'll have a release candidate before iOS 16.2 is released, but it's possible we'll see another beta.
We usually see five or more betas before a release candidate is released, but deadlines tend to get shorter during the holiday season. Last year, Apple only released four beta versions of iOS 15.2 before and after the RC release, so we could see something similar this year. If that's the plan, Apple could give us the iOS 16.2 release candidate next week, possibly on Tuesday, December 6.
With that in mind, we could see the release of iOS 16.2 on December 12. The week of December 19th is also an opportunity when new betas are on the horizon, but that happens around Hanukkah and Christmas. Last year's iOS 15.2 release was on Monday, December 13, after Apple released the fourth beta on December 2 and RC on December 7.
Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman says we can expect iOS 16.2 to arrive in mid-December, matching estimates for the week of December 12. Apple has confirmed that some update features, such as the Freeform app, will be available by the end of the year.
We can even expect to see the first beta versions of iOS 16.3 by the end of December.
The most notable features
iOS 16.2 is a major update that brings a number of new features to iPhone and iPad, the main changes are detailed below.
- Freeform software: Freeform, draw notes, draw, save links, and more with built-in collaboration features. is an open, cross-platform whiteboard software that you can use for It is available in the latest beta versions of iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- Stage Manager Support for External Displays iPad owners of iPad M1 or M2 can again use Stage Manager with external displays. Up to eight apps can be used for multitasking, and there's a handy new feature for dragging and dropping a window from the iPad to an external display and vice versa. While older iPads can use Stage Manager, external display support is limited to Apple's silicon models.
- New Home Apps architecture : The iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 updates add support for Apple's updated Home Apps architecture, which has been introduced since the launch of Matter. The new software architecture offers faster and more reliable operation in homes with many smart accessories, but requires all your devices to be updated with the latest software.
- Always-on updates - For iPhone 14 Pro models, there are two new toggles to turn off wallpapers and notifications when the always-on display feature is on. It dims screen content when turned off to reduce distractions.
- Sleep widget on the lock screen – The lock screen has received a sleep widget for those who use the sleep feature on the Apple Watch.
- Lock screen medication widget – There is also a medication widget to let you know when to take your medication.
- News in the weather app - If there is relevant weather information in your area, e.g. For example, information about a hurricane or fire will show you headlines in the Weather app.
- 5G in India - iOS 16.2 brings 5G connectivity to India.
continue reading
Our dedicated iOS 16.2 guide has a comprehensive list of every feature available in the iOS 16.2 update.
