iOS 16.3: The New Features That Just Landed on Your iPhone - CNET

Apple's iOS 16.3 update is disposable now, and it brings caller features, bug fixes and security updates to your iPhone. The update was released alongside updates for different Apple software, too, similar iPadOS, Safari and erstwhile versions of iOS. The latest iOS update arrives astir a period aft the merchandise of iOS 16.2.

Here are the caller features landing connected your iPhone with iOS 16.3.

Support for the second-gen HomePod

Apple's iOS 16.3 bundle volition enactment the second-generation HomePod, which is acceptable to beryllium released connected Feb. 3 for $299 (£299, AU$479). Apple announced the merchandise of the caller HomePod 4 days earlier the latest iOS bundle was made available.

New Unity wallpaper for Black History Month

Screenshot by Zach McAuliffe/CNET

The latest iOS update includes a caller iPhone wallpaper arsenic portion of Apple's Black Unity Collection. The postulation celebrates Black History Month with a special-edition Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop, a mosaic ticker look and the caller iPhone wallpaper. Apple besides plans to merchandise a enactment of Black History Month contented for Apple TV, Fitness Plus, Music, Maps, Books, Podcasts and the App Store arsenic portion of the collection.

New ways to usage Emergency SOS via outer

Emergency SOS via outer was introduced at Apple's lawsuit successful September. In iOS 16.3, the Call with Hold option has been replaced with Call with Hold and Release. If you enable Call with Hold and Release, you tin clasp the broadside fastener and a measurement fastener to initiate a countdown and an alarm. After the countdown, you merchandise the buttons and your iPhone volition telephone exigency services connected its own. Before with Call with Hold, pressing the broadside fastener and a measurement fastener would archetypal bring up the Emergency SOS telephone slider. If you continued to clasp the buttons, a countdown started and an alarm would spell off. After the countdown ended, your telephone would marque an exigency call.

Security keys adhd much extortion to your device.

Screenshot by Zach McAuliffe/CNET

There's besides an enactment to Call Quietly in Emergency SOS. By enabling this option, erstwhile you effort to marque an exigency SOS call, your telephone won't commencement flashing oregon making an alarm sound.

Security keys travel to Apple ID

Users tin present usage third-party information keys alternatively of two-factor authentication for their Apple ID. 

Security keys are a batch similar keys to your home. You inactive usage passwords, but this other furniture of information tin assistance support you against phishing scams and hackers.

"Hardware information keys are very, precise secure," Diya Jolly, main merchandise serviceman of authentication work institution Okta, told CNET's Stephen Shankland.

Apple's information keys diagnostic lone works with FIDO Alliance-certified information keys.

Here is the database of caller features and changes included successful iOS 16.3.

• New Unity wallpaper honors Black past and civilization successful solemnisation of Black History Month.
• Security Keys for Apple ID let users to fortify the information of their relationship by requiring a carnal information cardinal arsenic portion of the 2 origin authentication motion successful process connected caller devices.
• Support for HomePod (second generation).
• Emergency SOS calls present necessitate holding the broadside fastener with the up oregon down measurement fastener and past releasing successful bid to forestall inadvertent exigency calls.
• Fixes an contented successful Freeform wherever immoderate drafting strokes created with Apple Pencil oregon your digit whitethorn not look connected shared boards.
• Addresses an contented wherever the wallpaper whitethorn look achromatic connected the Lock Screen.
• Fixes an contented wherever horizontal lines whitethorn temporarily look portion waking up iPhone 14 Pro Max.
• Fixes an contented wherever the Home Lock Screen widget does not accurately show Home app status.
• Addresses an contented wherever Siri whitethorn not respond decently to euphony requests
• Resolves issues wherever Siri requests successful CarPlay whitethorn not beryllium understood correctly.

For much iOS 16 news, spot what caller features were added successful iOS 16.2 and iOS 16.1. Here's however you can sign up to trial Apple's iOS beta software, too.