iOS 15: Launch date, new options and every part else we all know after Apple’s occasion

This story is a part of Apple Occasion, our full protection of the most recent information from Apple.

Apple’s iOS 15 is lastly on the way in which. After Apple’s iPhone 13 occasion Tuesday, the tech large revealed that iOS 15 could be typically obtainable without spending a dime obtain on Monday, Sept. 20, alongside iPadOS 15. On the occasion, we additionally noticed 4 iPhone 13 fashions, new iPads and the Apple Watch Collection 7 all debuted. 

To not be confused with yesterday’s launch of iOS 14.8 which addresses a safety situation, iOS 15 will carry new options to a number of generations of the iPhone.

We received a primary have a look at Apple’s iOS 15 replace on the firm’s digital Worldwide Builders Convention in June, adopted by a developer beta after which a public beta. (Here is how one can obtain the iOS 15 public beta, the three issues that you must know earlier than putting in and how one can test in case your telephone can run iOS 15.) 

Whereas we noticed plenty of new options arrive this spring and summer season with iOS 14.5, iOS 14.6 and iOS 14.7, together with with the ability to unlock your iPhone with Face ID whereas carrying a masks, cease apps from monitoring you for promoting functions and select from 4 Siri voices, iOS 15 provides much more. New iOS 15 options embrace the power to begin FaceTime calls with Android customers, simpler sharing in iMessage and higher instructions in Maps. Preserve studying for every part we have realized about iOS 15 to this point, together with when it is going to be typically launched, how one can obtain it and a few of the greatest new options. 

iOS 15 launch date: Sept. 20

Apple initially revealed iOS 15 at its annual Worldwide Builders Convention on June 7, as is typical. The brand new OS was first obtainable for builders to check and have become obtainable to obtain as a public beta on June 30. 

On the iPhone 13 occasion on Sept. 14, Apple introduced that iOS 15 will likely be typically obtainable without spending a dime obtain on Sept. 20. 

This follows Apple’s typical iOS launch sample, with the software program sometimes arriving inside per week after an iPhone launch occasion. 

And in case you’ve been holding onto the identical iPhone since 2015 or later, you’ll seemingly be eligible to obtain iOS 15. Apple’s iOS 15 will likely be obtainable on the iPhone 6S and each iPhone onward.

iOS 15 new options

Listed here are a number of of the important thing new options coming to iOS 15, unveiled at WWDC 2021. (And here is an summary of all the new options in iOS 15.)

FaceTime upgrades: Spatial audio, help for Android and Home windows

FaceTime will supply spatial audio to make individuals’s voices seem to come back from their place on the display screen, making your video chats really feel extra pure and lifelike. FaceTime may also begin to look extra like Zoom, permitting you to see all members in a grid view, schedule calls and share hyperlinks to calls that may be accessed by way of browser on Google Android and Microsoft Home windows gadgets.

Learn extra: Enjoyable FaceTime date thought: Attempt Apple’s new SharePlay function in iOS 15

iMessage sharing options

iOS 15 provides some new iMessage sharing options for photographs, information articles and playlists. When a pal sends you a number of photographs over iMessage, they’re going to seem in a dynamic collage formation that permits you to swipe by means of them or faucet by means of to view the entire bunch in your photographs app. If you wish to entry the identical photographs later, you will discover them saved in a brand new Shared with You folder, in addition to combined in with your individual featured photographs and reminiscences. You will additionally discover information articles and playlists shared by means of iMessage in new Shared with You tabs in your Information and Apple Music apps. 

Apple Maps replace: 3D road knowledge, AR strolling instructions and climate warnings

Apple Maps will get an improve with extra elevation knowledge, street colours and driving instructions, wealthy labels, 3D landmarks and improved night time mode. When it comes to public transportation, you can even pin close by public transit stops and station data to your iPhone and Apple Watch gadgets, and obtain automated updates and notifications as you trip and method your cease. When touring on foot, a brand new augmented actuality function helps you to scan close by buildings within the space with the iPhone’s digicam to find out their exact place for extra correct strolling instructions, that are additionally introduced in augmented actuality.

Maps additionally may issue climate warnings into prompt routes in iOS 15. Redditor ChrisSDreiling, who noticed the replace in iOS 15 beta 3, says Maps will let you understand if there are flash floods in your journey, and counsel alternate routes to keep away from the acute climate. Though different forms of climate alerts weren’t talked about in ChrisSDreiling’s submit, it is going to be fascinating to see if extra climate warnings will likely be added earlier than the iOS 15 basic launch. 

Facial recognition selfies to validate digital ID playing cards within the Pockets app

At WWDC this spring, Apple introduced that it’ll add ID card help for the Pockets app in iOS 15, permitting you to hold digital variations of government-issued identification playing cards like your driver’s license in your iPhone. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless unclear how precisely the brand new function will work. In line with code uncovered by 9to5Mac within the newest iOS 15 beta 4 for builders, Apple may very well be utilizing facial recognition selfies to validate your digital ID playing cards when including them to your pockets. Some banking apps already use this selfie validation function to authenticate customers when logging on with new gadgets. 

How do you obtain iOS 15?

As soon as iOS 15 is mostly obtainable, Apple will most likely ship a notification letting you understand you possibly can replace. Or you’ll do it manually, by going to the Settings app > Normal > Software program Replace. 

If you would like to check out iOS 15 earlier than it is typically launched, you possibly can obtain it now as a public beta. (Verify in case your iPhone can run iOS 15 right here.) Simply be warned: Betas are normally buggy, and we do not advocate downloading them in your main machine — particularly so near the ultimate launch. However if you wish to, here is how one can obtain the iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 betas. (And if the bugs get you down, here is how one can change again to iOS 14.) 

Learn extra: Apple’s iOS 15 beta is right here, however be careful for these bugs

For extra, here is every part to know in regards to the iPhone 13. You too can check out the cool new options for WatchOS 8, one of the best issues about MacOS Monterey and test in case your laptop is suitable with the brand new MacOS.