May 19, 2023, 12:44 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Shortly after the release of iOS 16.4, Apple is already working on the next update. Now iOS 16.5 is here, bringing a few minor changes.
With iOS 16.4, iPhone users received a host of new features as well as numerous security patches and bug fixes. The next update is somewhat less extensive. TECHBOOK summarizes the changes and reveals whether you should install the iPhone update right away.
Overview
What’s in the iPhone Update iOS 16.5
According to the release notes, the new iOS version includes bug fixes and improvements. Compared to iOS 16.4, the changes are rather modest.
New “Pride Fest” Background
Apple highlights the new “Pride Fest” background in the changelog. In honor of the LGBTQ+ community, there’s a colorful wallpaper. Along with it comes a new watch face and a matching new band for the Apple Watch.
News App Gets Sports Tab with iOS 16.5
The official News app on the iPhone now has a new Sports tab in iOS 16.5, where users can track the results of their favorite teams. Apple has recently invested heavily in sports content licenses, especially for the U.S. market.
In Germany, the app is not yet available as it only supports content in English. Those who want to try the app can change the region in the iPhone settings under General>Language & Region>Region to the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia. This keeps the iPhone’s display language in German, but the News app will show content in English. The app will automatically appear on the home screen after the change.
Numerous Bug Fixes
There are no other features with the iOS 16.5 update. Apple is using the iPhone update primarily for a series of bug fixes. A known Spotify issue that prevented the app from playing podcasts via CarPlay on many devices is now fixed. Another bug that repeatedly reset changes in the Screen Time settings has also been resolved.
Should You Install the iOS 16.5 Update Immediately?
iOS 17.5 Is Here: All the New Features in the Important iPhone Update
Critical Security Flaws Found on iPhone–Update Now!
Siri Doesn’t Get a New Feature with iOS 16.5
In the beta version, which TECHBOOK also tested in advance, there was a new feature for Apple’s voice assistant Siri. In the final version of iOS 16.5, however, it is no longer present. Apple may introduce the changes in one of the upcoming software updates.
Currently, the fastest way to start a screen recording is through the Control Center. The recording feature is handy for quickly creating small clips–for example, to explain a function or setting to others or to show something. With the beta version of iOS 16.5, a recording could also be started and stopped via Siri voice command.
Until now, Siri could only take screenshots, so many users would likely welcome such a feature. The two voice commands in the beta were specifically “Hey Siri, start screen recording” and “Hey Siri, stop screen recording.”
iOS 17 Already in the Works
In the coming weeks, Apple will increasingly shift resources from the development of iOS 16 to iOS 17. The next major version of the iPhone operating system is set to be unveiled on June 5 at the WWDC developer conference.
As part of iOS 17, Apple CarPlay is expected to receive a significant update, taking over car functions like volume control and radio management. As Apple demonstrated at WWDC 2022, CarPlay will also be able to run on multiple displays simultaneously, appearing on the dashboard as well.
Even bigger changes are expected due to the Digital Markets Act–an EU regulation that came into effect in October 2022. Apple will now have to allow other browsers that are not based on the company’s WebKit engine. Additionally, the company must permit so-called “sideloading” on the iPhone. This means users could not only download apps directly from websites but potentially install alternative app stores. The existing Apple App Store will, of course, remain available.