Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicks off Monday at 10:30 pm IST with a keynote address. During that keynote address, Tim Cook and other Apple executives will reveal the future of the company’s software efforts. Of course, Apple will preview the next version of iOS that could fundamentally change its iPhones. But this year’s changes on iOS are likely to be less dramatic. That being said, we are still expecting a lot of new features to be rolled out as part of iOS 15.
Here’s everything we know so far about Apple’s next major mobile operating system update.
When is WWDC 2021?
Apple will hold its all-digital Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) online from June 7-11. Consumers and developers will be able to watch online for free.
What will be announced at WWDC 2021?
iOS 15
It’s all but certain that Apple will announce the next version of iOS, the operating system that powers the iPhone next week. For iOS 15, rumours say that that iOS will bring more granular controls over notifications. Apparently, users will be able to set different notification preferences depending on their current status (for example, sleeping or driving). iOS 15 might also add new device privacy protections, an updated lock screen and a redesigned iPad home screen with widgets. Apple is also rumoured to be working on revamping iMessage, with the aim to turn into a competitor to WhatsApp.
iOS 15: What devices will it support?
With iOS 15, we may see that the new iOS update will probably work on iPhone 7 and later devices. That means the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and the original iPhone SE won’t work with iOS 15. If the information is correct, then these iPhones will work with iOS 15:
Well, if you are a developer, you will be able to download the iOS 15 developer beta after the new iOS update will be announced. For the iOS 15 public beta, you have to wait till July. Apple, like the previous year, will release iOS 15 later this year. This usually happens in September. That is when Apple announces the new iPhone. Once iOS 15 is available to download this fall, you will be able to download the update by going to the Settings app>General>Software update.
We're about to get our first good look at iOS 15, even though the full version of Apple's software update won't arrive until later this fall. But Apple is expected to preview iOS 15 at this month's Worldwide Developer Conference, giving us an extensive look at the features planned for Apple smartphones, including the iPhone 13 due out later this year.
iOS 15 follows a fairly significant update for the iPhone. Apple really changed things up with last year's iOS 14 overhaul that brought a new look in the form of widgets on the home screen. iOS 14 also added the App Library for automatically organizing your apps and the ability to change your default browser and email client. iOS 14.5 brought even more changes, highlighted by privacy features, and iOS 15 figures to continue the steady stream of enhancements and improvements.
Based on the leaks and rumors thus far, here's everything we know about iOS 15 so far, which will debut on the upcoming iPhone 13 lineup and be available as a download for many other iPhone models.
iOS 15 latest news and rumors (Updated June 1)
iOS 15: Release date and betas
Apple usually launches the new version of iOS about the same time as a new iPhone. (Usually, the iOS update shows up a few days ahead of time.) This typically happens in September. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Apple delayed the launch of the iPhone 12 series until October 2019; iOS 14 still released in September 2020. With that in mind, we think iOS 15 will drop in September of this year.
You won't have to wait that long to get a glimpse of iOS 15. Apple is almost certain to address the software update during WWDC, its annual developer conference. WWDC 2021 runs from June 7 through June 11, with the opening keynote happening that Monday (June 7) at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.
(Image credit: Apple)
Developers will get an iOS 15 beta at WWDC, and Apple will likely follow the pattern of the last few iOS releases, including iOS 14, by offering a public beta. Typically, the public beta comes out a few weeks after WWDC — we'd certainly expect it by the end of June.
To enroll in Apple's public beta program, just head to Apple's beta website and login with your Apple ID. (It's best to visit that site on the device where you wish to install the beta.) You'll be able to download the public beta once that software becomes available.
iOS 15: What devices will it support?
Apple has not officially released a list of which devices will get iOS 15. However, rumors suggest that the new version will come only to the iPhone 7 and above. That would leave the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, and original iPhone SE out in the cold.
If that holds true, then here’s what iPhones we believe will get iOS 15:
iPhone 7
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone X
iPhone XR
iPhone Xs
iPhone Xs Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2020)
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
And, obviously, the iPhone 13 series will come with iOS 15 out of the box.
There's a potential silver lining if you've got an older iPhone that might miss out on future iOS updates. As of iOS 14.5, users have the option of separately toggling between regular updates and security updates — the idea being that older phones might still be able to receive security updates, even if the device can't handle a full update. It's unclear if that feature will allow devices that miss out on iOS 15 to still get security patches going forward.
We should have a full list of which devices support iOS 15 after Apple's WWDC keynote.
iOS 15: Features
While we don't know a whole lot about what we'll see in iOS 15, we have heard some rumors and seen some leaks. According to a report from Bloomberg, iOS 15 will offer more granular controls over notifications. This means setting up statuses such as driving, sleeping, working, etc and adjusting how notifications and auto-replies work within each of those statuses.
Bloomberg also reports that iPadOS 15 will include widgets for the iPad home screen, something that is long overdue. The publication claims it'll be the biggest change to how users interact with the tablet since its launch.
iOS 15 might also include a new privacy menu so that you can see exactly what information apps are gathering about you. In theory, this might be similar to the privacy labels in the App Store.
While it may come with iOS 15 or with a later update, Apple seems to want to iMessage to take on some more useful, social features. Bloomberg says that the company wants to take on WhatsApp and if anyone can do it, it's Apple.
(Image credit: Nicholas Ghigo / YouTube)
The WWDC keynote will bring a full-scale preview of iOS 15, but until then, you can tide yourself over with iOS 15 concept art that shows what customizable lock-screens and a side-by-side multitasking view might look like on the iPhone.
iOS 15: What we want to see
We’re bound to see a lot of new stuff in iOS 15, but nothing is set in stone until Apple's preview next week. That’s why we have a little wishlist of things we want the new iOS to have. There are still some things Android does well that iOS could benefit from, especially with Google giving us a preview of the new features in Android 12.
Improved notifications: This has been a pain point for iOS for a long time. It’s something that Google continues to refine in Android and we’d really like to see Apple take some of those lessons learned and apply them to iOS 15. Notification triage is a nightmare on iOS. Inline replies are sorely needed for apps that support them. Grouping needs adjustment to not bury important information. Actionable notifications, like deleting an email, should be clearer and more intuitive.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
A better Siri: Let’s admit it, Siri isn’t that great. Sure, it’s improved quite a bit with each new iteration, but it lags significantly behind Google Assistant. Apple has a lot of room to grow in this regard. We’d like to see better speech recognition and better native answers. Pulling up web searches is fine and all, but part of what makes Assistant so useful is its ability to answer a lot of your questions directly. Siri just can’t compare, and we want to see that change.
Allow more default apps: With iOS 14, Apple finally let users choose their own default browsers and email clients. This was a very good step in the right direction. However, we’d like to see Apple continue to let loose a little bit, starting with changing the default SMS. Using iMessage is fine, but being able to switch to something like Signal to have all chats in the same app. Other app defaults would be welcome, too, like music and video.
Following the release of iOS and iPadOS 14.6 last week, some users have taken to social media and online forums to note that their devices have been experiencing excessive battery drain since installing the software updates.
The Apple Support Community and MacRumors forums are riddled with posts from users stating their device now drains faster following the update. One user on the Apple support forums notes their experience with their iPhone 11 Pro and Apple Smart Cover draining faster than normal following the update:
iPhone 11Pro did the same after update. I have had an Apple Smart Cover on it since day 2 of being new. Never had to remove it. Today, after yesterday’s update, it wiped out my phone to 2% and ran my cover down to 15%. Normally the phone stays at 100% and the cover might get as low as 20% after a 15 hour day with no plugging in. Battery health has maintained 100% for over a year. Must be part of the health recalibration. The Smart Cover battery icon is no longer on the lock or Home Screen when plugging or unplugging it.
It is worth noting that many factors contribute to a device's battery life, including its battery health. Users with degraded batteries can expect shorter battery life. According to the forums, however, the issue seems to be impacting all devices, regardless of specific battery health.
On the MacRumors forums, one user notes that their iPhone 12 Pro not only drained faster than normal but also began to overheat while simply browsing Safari. An accompanying post recalls a similar experience with an iPhone 12 mini:
Yes I updated my 12 mini from 14.2 to 14.6 a couple days ago, and in the proceeding last 2 mornings when I woke up i used my phone for a few minutes looking at messages and checking Macrumours, and battery dropped suddenly with the back of phone warming up just like others have reported. School boy mistake on my part, I always check reports of battery drains before updating IOS versions, but didnt this time
With iOS 14.5, Apple introduced a new battery health recalibration feature for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The new feature allows the system to recalibrate the battery health of the device in order to address possibly inaccurate battery health readings. Following the update released last month, users have noticed that their iPhone 11 battery health has changed following the recalibration process.
After any iOS update, users can expect normal battery drain in the days following due to the system reindexing Spotlight and conducting other housekeeping tasks. However, iOS 14.6 was released more than a week ago, and users continue to note the battery drain on their devices. If the issue is indeed software related, Apple may decide to address it in a subsequent update to iOS 14.6 or provide a patch in iOS 14.7, currently in beta testing.
Here's every rumor about iOS 15 we've heard so far and every educated guess we can make, including when it may be available to download, and what new features we may see.
Apple typically reveals new versions of iOS at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Last year's virtual WWDC started on June 22, and we got our first look at iOS 14, iPadOS 14 and MacOS Big Sur. This year, WWDC 2021 will again be all virtual, and will take place June 7-11.
After the new iOS is announced, it becomes available to developers for testing and, usually later in the summer, as a public beta.
The final version of iOS 15 is likely to launch in September, alongside the iPhone 13. Even though last year, the iPhone 12's release was delayed to October due to the pandemic, we still saw iOS 14 released in September. So it's a pretty good bet that iOS 15 will follow the same schedule.
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Device compatibility: iOS 15 will probably work on iPhone 7 and later
The only rumor we've heard about device compatibility so far is that iOS 15 will require an iPhone 7 or later, according to Israeli site The Verifier and French site iPhoneSoft. That's not a huge surprise, since the iPhone 6 models are now more than five years old, and run on the A9 chip. It seems that iOS 15 will require devices with an A10 chip, which include the iPhone 7 and beyond, and the seventh-gen iPod Touch.
New iOS 15 features: Upgrades to notifications and autoreply, changing default apps, making widgets interactive
iOS 14 added widgets that you can customize in smart stacks. iOS 15 will likely add more widget capabilities.
GIF by Jason Cipriani/CNET
We won't have a good idea of what features are actually coming to iOS 15 until it's actually unveiled at WWDC 2021. Since iOS 14 was a large update, it's possible that iOS 15 will make fewer changes, and instead build on the base iOS 14 set up and improve its functionality.
An April 22 report from Bloomberg said that iOS 15 will include upgrades to notifications, new device privacy protections, an updated lock screen and a redesigned iPad home screen with widgets. Users will be able to set different notification preferences depending on their current status (for example, driving, working or sleeping), and have the option to set automatic replies for each situation, according to the report. Apple is also working on changes to iMessage, with the goal of turning it into more of a WhatsApp competitor, though that may come later, the report said.
PhoneArena also predicts that iOS 15 will make widgets interactive, the way they are on Android, which would let you do things like change volume or toggle things on and off. We may also see more widget size options, the site reported.
The iPhone 13 is rumored to have an always-on display, similar to the Apple Watch. While this is a hardware change, iOS would also likely change to accommodate it, possibly by updating the lock screen to display notifications in a different format, according to PhoneArena.
Now playing:Watch this: iPhone 13 rumors and what the next Apple phone needs
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iOS 15 download instructions: The same as always
If you're part of Apple's developer program, you'll likely be able to download the iOS 15 developer beta after the new OS is announced in June to test your apps. The OS will likely be available to download as a public beta later in the summer (it was in early July for iOS 14), so you could download it then if you like, but be warned: Betas are usually buggy, and we don't recommend that you download it on your primary device.
Once iOS 15 is generally available, which we expect to be in September, Apple will likely send a notification letting you know you can update. Or, you'll be able to do it manually, by going to the Settings app > General > Software Update.
iOS 15 is expected to arrive this fall alongside the iPhone 13, but if Apple was short of inspiration for new features, the company could do worse than take a look at this new concept video shared on YouTube by Nicholas Ghigo.
Over the course of the video, Ghigo mocks up many of the most requested iOS features into a video that feels it could be bookended by Tim Cook platitudes on a stage in Cupertino.
The most frequent request is a customizable look, and this concept isn’t short of options there. In addition to icons that look like they’re straight out of macOS’s Big Sur update, the concept goes big on widgets, allowing various health, smart home and media toggles to be applied to any screen, Android style. The lock screen also gets this treatment, with a selection of small, stylish icons below the time and date. It’s a strong look.
(Image credit: Nicholas Ghigo / YouTube)
Going further with Apple’s privacy options, Ghigo also imagines that individual apps could be locked, with a small padlock icon appearing above sensitive icons. It would certainly be reassuring to know that your emails, iMessages and WhatsApp account were all locked safely behind an extra layer of Face ID protection.
Support for multiple timers is there in the iOS 15 concept, plus a ‘Goodnight mode’ that turns the display into a giant clock once the iPhone is safely connected to a MagSafe wireless charger – much like compatible Pixel phones when placed on the Pixel Stand.
iOS 15: Split-screen multitasking
The most appealing addition of the concept is a split-screen view for multitasking. When Steve Jobs was in charge and Apple created adverts boasting about smaller screen sizes, such a feature would be a waste of time, but now three of the four available iPhone 12 handsets have screens of over 6 inches in size it would certainly be welcome.
(Image credit: Nicholas Ghigo / YouTube)
The clip shows the ability to edit an email on one side of the screen, while dragging and dropping an attachment from the other, which would certainly make the phone most usable as a productivity device.
Of course, all of these changes are pure wish list stuff, and there’s no guarantee that any of them will be adopted by Apple for iOS 15 when it’s released later this year. Hopefully we should get our first look at the OS update very soon, as Apple’s annual WWDC 2021 is due to take place on June 7. If it looks anything like this concept, we’ll be very happy indeed.
Mozilla has officially launched Firefox 89 today for Mac, Windows, and Linux with the changes also applying to the latest iOS and Android builds. The update sees Firefox gain a fresh new design, easier to use tabs, streamlined toolbar, optimized iOS experience, and more.
Firefox detailed the big update in a blog post today:
In today’s major release, Firefox sports a fresh new design that gets you where you’re going online, fast and distraction-free. And since we’re all about privacy, we’re also expanding integrated privacy protections in Firefox, so you feel safe and free to be yourself online thanks to fewer eyes following you across the web.
For the design overhaul, Firefox listened to user feedback and studied how people actually use their browsers to optimize for a more seamless experience.
We obsessed over distractions, extra clicks and wasted time. The resulting new design is simple, modern and fast and delivers a beautiful experience to support what people do most in Firefox.
From Mac to iPhone and iPad, and other platforms as well, Firefox describes the new design as “bright and buoyant” with an all-new icon set and “crisp” typography giving a modern feel.
Other big changes include the new toolbar and menus:
The toolbar is naturally where you start every web visit. It’s the place where you type a URL to go somewhere online. After web page content, it’s what you look at most in Firefox. The new toolbar is simplified and clutter-free so you get to the good stuff effortlessly.
Menus are where key Firefox actions and commands live. We’ve consolidated extra menus to reduce clutter and be more intuitive through the three bars menu in the upper right or by right-clicking to activate it on your computer screen. The new look reorganized and streamlined our menus to put the best actions quickly at your fingertips.
Firefox also discovered more than 50% of users have 4+ tabs open at all times and used that to help guide the tabs redesign.
Tabs got a makeover so they are now gently curved and float above the toolbar. It’s an exciting change that also serves as a reminder that tabs aren’t stationary. So grab those tabs, move them around and organize them as you like. Tabs also got a glow-up to be a touch brighter when active.
When it comes to iPhone and iPad, Mozilla says the new Firefox is specifically optimized with “key actions now taking fewer steps for quicker searches, navigation and tab viewing.”
iOS 14.6 launched last week with Apple Card Family feature, AirTag improvements, and more. But since then, some users have started to report battery drain on their iPhones. Are you affected by this?
On the Apple Support Community there are several members discussing this issue. For the 9to5Mac team, we haven’t noticed any major differences between iOS 14.6 and previous iOS updates. On the Support Community forum, on the other hand, one member wrote:
I have the same issue with my iPhone 11. I upgraded the other day and I have woken up every morning to find it fully drained. Yesterday I turned off WiFi, Bluetooth, all background app refresh, and ensured that Personal Hotspot was off. It was fully charged at 6 pm last night and not used. It ran out of battery at around 10 am this morning (so, around 16 hours later) with no use in the meantime.
“Yesterday, i updated my iPhone 12 Pro to iOS 14.6. And now think the battery reduces faster than the iOS before.”
On Twitter, you can find a number users complaining about battery drain in iOS 14.6
This comes after iOS 14.5 added a new battery calibration feature for iPhone 11 users. This feature is said to help users see how their iPhone battery over is aging time.
As for now, Apple has not acknowledged the battery drain issues affecting some iPhone users with iOS 14.6. Currently, the company is in the early days of testing iOS 14.7, but it’s possible an iOS 14.6.1 update is also released soon. Usually, when updating to a new iOS causes this kind of problem, it’s recommended to erase the phone and make a fresh update.
Are you affect by excess battery drain on iOS 14.6? What iPhone model are you using? Tell us in the comments section below.
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