Apple iOS 16.1 Release: Should You Upgrade? - Forbes

iOS 16.1 is finally here. This is Apple’s archetypal large diagnostic update for iOS 16, comes with captious information updates, and coincides with the long-awaited motorboat of iPadOS 16.1. So what bash you get, and is the iOS 16 bug-fest yet nether control? Here’s everything you request to know.

Tip: bookmark this leafage due to the fact that I volition support it up-to-date if/when caller problems are found. I volition present my last verdict successful a week.

Who Is It For?

Apple iOS 16.1 has been released for each iOS 16 compatible devices, that’s the iPhone 8/iPhone X and newer. iOS 16 dropped enactment for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 ranges, arsenic good arsenic the iPod Touch.

With Apple admitting to auto-update delays, you tin trigger the update manually if you person not received a notification. Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update. If you are moving newer beta bundle (see ‘The Road Ahead’ conception astatine the end), you indispensable unenroll your device earlier the update appears.

Note: this usher is not focused connected older iOS updates, iPadOS oregon macOS, but I volition interaction upon pertinent issues successful these guides. You tin work my iOS 15.7 Upgrade Guide here.

The Deal Breakers

The archetypal 24 hours for iOS 16.1 person been mostly positive. Notably, the update has introduced a graphical glitch for immoderate users that causes cellular and WiFi icons to vanish and reappear astatine random (1,2,3,4 etc).

Further graphical glitches are reported connected the fastener surface with flashlight and camera buttons missing, and the frustrating copy/paste permissions bug from earlier iOS 16 updates still remains (Apple has promised a fix, but it is not listed successful the iOS 16.1 merchandise notes).

I person besides seen isolated reports of issues with Back Tap and password management portion complaints persist astir artillery drain — which has plagued iOS 16 since its release. That said, iPhones person to reindex aft updates, which causes higher artillery drain for 24/48 hours, truthful it is excessively aboriginal to telephone this retired definitively.

So What Do You Get?

iOS 16.1 is simply a large update, with Apple publishing lengthy merchandise notes:

iCloud Shared Photo Library

- Separate room for seamlessly sharing photos and videos with up to 5 different people

- Setup rules let you to easy lend past photos based connected commencement day oregon radical successful the photos erstwhile you acceptable up oregon articulation a library

- Library filters for rapidly switching betwixt viewing the Shared Library, your Personal Library, oregon some libraries together

- Shared edits and permissions fto everyone add, edit, favorite, caption, and delete photos

- Sharing toggle successful Camera lets you take to nonstop photos you instrumentality consecutive to the Shared Library, oregon alteration a mounting to stock automatically erstwhile different participants are detected adjacent utilizing Bluetooth

Live Activities

- Live Activities from 3rd enactment apps are disposable successful the Dynamic Island and connected the Lock Screen for iPhone 14 Pro models

Fitness+

- Apple Fitness+ is supported connected iPhone adjacent if you don't person an Apple Watch

Wallet

- Key sharing enables you to securely stock car, edifice room, and different keys successful Wallet utilizing messaging apps specified arsenic Messages and WhatsApp

Home

- Matter, the caller astute location connectivity standard, is supported enabling a wide assortment of astute location accessories to enactment unneurotic crossed ecosystems

Clean Energy Charging

- New mounting that tin effort to trim your c footprint by selectively charging erstwhile little c emanation energy is available

Books

- Reader controls are automatically hidden arsenic you commencement reading

This update besides includes bug fixes for your iPhone:

- Deleted conversations whitethorn look successful the conversations database successful Messages

- Dynamic Island contented is not disposable erstwhile utilizing Reachability

- CarPlay whitethorn neglect to link erstwhile utilizing a VPN app

iCloud Shared Photo Library is the biggest diagnostic here, allowing up to six radical to stock a azygous Photo Library, a boon for household and adjacent friends. Sharing for Apple Wallet besides removes akin organizational headaches.

Also worthy mentioning are the caller customization options for the (troubled) iOS 16 fastener screen, Fitness+ for iPhones, and ‘Clean Energy Charging,’ which selectively charges your iPhone/iPad erstwhile low(er) c emanation energy is available. In a caller support document, Apple says this diagnostic is presently constricted to the US and requires Location Services, System Customization, and Significant Locations to beryllium enabled successful the System Services conception of the Settings app.

iOS 16.1 Security

Apple's official information page reveals that iOS 16.1 contains 20 dedicated information fixes. The standout is CVE-2022-42827 which patches a Zero Day representation vulnerability. Apple explains that hackers could person perchance exploited this to execute arbitrary codification with kernel privileges.

It is presently unclear whether this bug affects older iPhones and iPads oregon older versions of iOS. I person contacted Apple and volition update this station when/if I person an answer.

Apple iOS 16.1 Verdict: Upgrade

For iPhone owners already moving iOS 16, updating to iOS 16.1 is simply a no-brainer. The update brings a batch of useful, caller features and captious information updates. The archetypal 24 hours are besides promising, though cautious updaters whitethorn privation to hold for my last verdict successful a week.

As for those moving iOS 15, it looks similar iOS 16.1 whitethorn yet contiguous you with a unchangeable update opportunity, insignificant graphical glitches aside. The 1 disappointment is the deficiency of fixes for ongoing issues with iOS 16, including the copy/paste bug, but expect much dedicated bug fixes successful the coming weeks.

Note: bookmark this leafage due to the fact that I volition way idiosyncratic experiences and present my last verdict successful a week.

The Road Ahead

While iOS 16.1 is shaping up to beryllium the astir unchangeable iOS 16 merchandise truthful far, determination are inactive plentifulness of bugs to beryllium squashed. As such, I would expect iOS 16.1.1. travel rapidly and an iOS 16.1.2 and adjacent iOS 16.1.3 earlier the accomplishment of iOS 16.2 successful precocious 2022/early 2023. If you privation aboriginal entree to iOS 16 updates, articulation the Apple Beta Software Program.

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