Apple has officially launched iOS 16.5 and iPad 16.5, following an extensive period of beta testing. As WWDC 2023 and the impending release of iOS 17 draw closer, Apple has made minimal changes to iOS 16, with iOS 16.5 potentially being the last update before the arrival of iOS 17.
One notable addition in iOS 16.5 is the introduction of a sports page within the Apple News app. Users now can follow their favorite sports teams, players, and leagues. The My Sports score and schedule cards in Apple News will direct users to game pages, providing additional details about specific matches. In a release note, Apple stated, "Sports tab in Apple News gives easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more, for the teams and leagues you follow."
To honor the LGBTQ+ community and its culture, Apple has unveiled a new Pride Celebration wallpaper. This wallpaper can be utilized on both the lock and home screens and includes captivating animations.
iOS 16.5 also addresses several issues that users have encountered. Fixes include resolving unresponsiveness in Spotlight, addressing problems with Podcasts in CarPlay not loading content, and ensuring that Screen Time settings properly sync across all devices or do not reset.
During the beta testing phase of iOS 16.5, an earlier version included a new Siri command for initiating and terminating screen recording. However, this feature was removed in subsequent beta versions and has not made its way into the final release of iOS 16.5.
Furthermore, Apple recently announced forthcoming Assistive Features, speculated to be part of iOS 17, which will be released later this year. One particularly intriguing feature that has captured the attention of Apple enthusiasts is the Personal Voice feature. This innovative capability enables users to clone their voices in just 15 minutes.
With the release of iOS 16.5, Apple continues to refine and enhance the user experience, while simultaneously teasing upcoming advancements expected in iOS 17.