Apple has detailed the key new features of iOS 15 ahead of release later this year. Here's all you need to know.
Another year means another update for Apple’s iPhone software, iOS. So when can you expect iOS 15 to arrive and what new features will it bring?
When will iOS 15 be released?
Apple has a well-established release schedule when it comes to iOS. Each year the features are previewed at WWDC in June, then the full version is usually made available in September to accompany the arrival of new iPhones.
This was slightly different in 2020 due to the coronavirus disrupting not only the lives of customers but also the supply chain.
The resulting chaos meant that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro arrived in October, with the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone Pro Max following on in November. But iOS 14 still rolled out in September 2020, beating the new iPhones by at least a month.
Hopefully, if things return to a semblance of normality in 2021, we should see iOS 15 roll out in September alongside the iPhone 13 line-up. The fact that WWDC 2021 has returned to its regular early June slot is encouraging to see, and current rumours do suggest we'll see new Apple products in September.
To see what updates Apple introduced with the last version, read our review of iOS 14.
Can I install the iOS 15 beta?
While the iOS 15 beta was initially exclusive to registered Apple developers, Apple has since launched the iOS 15 Public beta. This gives keen Apple fans a chance to trial iOS 15 before full release later this year, although with the caveat that there might be bugs and glitches - we wouldn't recommend installing it on your main iOS device.
How much will iOS 15 cost?
As with all updates to iOS, iPadOS and macOS, Apple will offer iOS 15 for free to those who want to upgrade.
Which devices will work with iOS 15?
The big question each year for those who own older iPhones is whether they’ll make the cut this time around. iOS 14 was generous, in that all devices that could run iOS 13 were eligible for the upgrade, and despite rumours to the contrary, it's the same this time around too.
So, if your iPhone is running iOS 14, it'll run iOS 15 later this year. For clarity, the following devices will support iOS 15:
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11
- 2020 iPhone SE
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone SE (Original)
What's new in iOS 15?
As revealed by Apple at WWDC 2021, iOS 15 is set to be a big update for iPhone users.
FaceTime
FaceTime is getting a big upgrade in iOS 15. Apple wanted to make FaceTime calls feel more natural and comfortable – especially those big group chats – so it’s bringing spatial audio support to the video calling platform.
It’ll be used primarily in group video chats, spreading your friends voices out to sound like they’re coming from different areas in your environment. The focus on audio doesn’t end there, as it’ll also be introducing a new voice isolation mode to remove background audio and a wide spectrum mode to do the opposite.
With so many similarities to Zoom, it’s easy to see that Apple wants to make FaceTime the de facto standard for video calls, and to help do that, it’s rolling out FaceTime Links.
FaceTime links allow you to schedule FaceTime calls, with the links sharable via email, text, WhatsApp or any other messaging app you use. Crucially, the links will work on Android and Windows via browser, marking the first time that Android and Windows users will be able to use FaceTime, and it’ll offer the same end-to-end encryption enjoyed by Apple users.
Also new to FaceTime is SharePlay, allowing you to play music, watch TV shows and even share your screen during FaceTime calls, with all media synced perfectly with all participants.
It’ll work with the likes of Apple Music and Apple TV, but also third-party apps, with Disney+, TikTok and Twitch being among of the first big apps to confirm support for the functionality once it's available.
Sadly, Apple has since confirmed to developers that SharePlay will be absent in the initial release of iOS 15, and that it'll make an appearance "in future developer beta releases and will launch to the public in software updates later this fall."
It wouldn’t be an iOS update without a new Messages feature or two. While some reports suggested a major update to better help Messages compete with third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp, the actual update is a little more subdued.
The other big feature is Shared With You integration, which collects content recommendations from friends in the Messages app and brings them into different apps. There’s a new Shared With You section in the News, Music, Photos, Safari, Podcasts and Apple TV apps, filled with content that friends and family have shared with you in the messages app.
There’s also better integration with Do Not Disturb, letting your contacts know when you’ve got DND enabled. There’s also a new option to override the setting and notify you anyway, handy if the message is important.
iOS 15 also introduces a refreshed notification system with bigger icons that make them easier to identify at a glance – but Apple hasn’t stopped there.
It’ll order notifications in order of priority, with the most relevant at the top, which should help quieten the incoming stream of notifications. Don’t worry about missing messages from friends though; Apple claims that notifications from people won’t appear within the summary.
There’s also a new Focus mode, allowing you to adjust not only the notifications you receive but even the apps and widgets you see on your iPhone depending on what you’re doing. You can set statuses for home, work, exercise and anything else, with iOS 15 automatically suggesting your most relevant apps for each.
Improved intelligence
Apple is improving the onboard smarts of the iPhone in iOS 15, utilising the company’s machine learning and built-in AI on offer from recent Apple chipsets.
The big new feature is Live Text, allowing you to select, copy and paste text from within images found in the Photos app. It makes it easier to copy elements like phone numbers, and it works not only with images taken on the phone but screenshots and even web images, and it’s compatible with seven languages at launch.
Spotlight has been upgraded to take advantage of this, with the universal search now able to search for text within images – ideal for finding the photo of the old family recipe – as well as searching for images based on elements like location or the subject.
Wallet
Wallet is getting some TLC in iOS 15 too, with Apple expanding the use of keys from car keys to just about every form of key. Apple is introducing support for home locks, work locks and even hotel keys, with a handful of manufacturers and hotel chains already committed to the functionality.
Identity cards are also coming to Apple Wallet, allowing those in the US to scan a drivers license or state ID and have a digital copy ready at all times.
Maps
Maps is also getting a handful of new features in iOS 15.
There are also new road details when driving to help navigate busy city streets, including better lane support, bus and taxi lane details, bike lanes and intersections. When driving on motorways (or highways in the US) the app will show 3D renderings of bridges and nearby roads to help better understand your current position and where you need to go. It won’t be available on CarPlay initially, but it’ll be coming later this year.
There’s also a new AR mode for walking and transit, scanning the local area using your iPhone’s camera and overlaying the directions onto the real world to make them easier to follow.
New AirPods functionality
AirPods will also get an upgrade as part of iOS 15, with Conversation Boost helping those hard of hearing to better hear conversations by using the beamforming mics of the AirPods Pro to remove background audio and focus on the voice right in front of them.
There’s also the ability to announce notifications, use the Find My network and more – we cover the new features coming to AirPods in iOS 15 separately for those interested in finding out more, and we've discussed iOS 15 and WWDC 2021 in a recent episode of Fast Charge too. Take a watch below:
While iOS 15 comes with a plethora of new features and tweaks, it's not always straightforward getting the most out of them. We're compiling a range of tutorials talking you through some of the biggest new features in iOS 15, perfect if you're dipping your toe into the world of the iOS 15 public beta ahead of release later this year.
It’s still a while before iOS 15 arrives, along with the new iPhones, so if you’re considering upgrading your handset to ensure you’ll be able to access the latest version of the software, take a look at our best iPhone.
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