Apple today released the iOS 14 software update for the iPhone and iPod touch, as well as the iPadOS 14 update for the iPad, bringing an array of improvements such as true Home screen widgets, a new App Library, Apple Pencil enhancements and a whole bunch of quality-of-life improvements. Here are the top features you’ll like.
Videos: The best of iOS and iPadOS 14
Start off by sitting through this eight-minute video walking you through a collection of what we think are the best 50 new features for your iPhone and iPad.
Speaking of the little things and quality-of-life improvements, here are the ten hidden iPhone and iPad features in iOS 14 that you’ll definitely want to discover.
One of such features is Tap Back, which lets you assign custom actions that automatically run when you tap the back of your phone twice or thrice.
Once you’ve mastered those, progress to the following hands-on video walkthrough video in which Harris highlights everything new in Health, Sleep and Fitness on iOS 14.
In this one, we show you everything you need to know about the new Apple Maps features in iOS 14, including Speed Lights, Electric Vehicle routes and more.
And rounding it all off is this video showing off eight cool new things you can do with your Apple Pencil on an iPad with iPadOS 14.
List: The best iOS and iPadOS 14 features
Here’s a quick list of the top new features in iOS and iPadOS 14:
- Widgets: Apple has redesigned widgets and they can now live on your Home screen, offering glanceable snippets of information. You have widgets for many stock apps, including special ones like widget stacks, smart stacks and other Siri-powered widgets.
- App Library: The central place for all your apps, the App Library is the rightmost page on the Home screen. There, you can browse your installed apps alphabetically, see recently downloaded and other apps and more. You can also choose if new app downloads appear on the Home screen or go directly to the App Library, hide notification badges and more. iOS 14 also lets you  organize your Home screen by hiding individual apps and app pages for quicker access to the App Library.
- Enhanced search: The Search feature now comes with as-you-type suggestions, with the most relevant result selected at the top. This lets you use Search as your quick app land website launcher, like in macOS. Plus, you can start a web search or in-app search from this overhauled interface.
- Compact views: iOS 14 brings compact interfaces for Siri and phone calls that don’t take up the whole screen. And on your iPad, you get a macOS-like Search interface in a new compact layout as well.
- Picture in Picture: After having been available on the iPad for years now, picture-in-picture video is now available on your iPhone as well, letting you multitask better by watching a video in an overlay while using another app.
- Messages pinning and more: In Messages, you can pin up to nine conversations up top so they’re easier to find. Other new Messages features include inline replies, customizing group chats with photos, enhanced filtering options, mentions and more.
- Maps cycling routes and more: Maps in iOS 14 brings cycling routes, EV charging stations, curated city guides and other enhancements, like the ability to rate places and upload your own photos of places of interest.
- Translate app: With the ability to translate your voice from one language to another or provide text translations, the new Translate app’s technology also powers a new Safari translations feature.
- Siri audio messages: Siri now lets you send audio snippets via iMessage just by asking.
- Home app: The Home app now suggest automations for your smart devices, adjusts smart lighting color throughout the day to match your ambient color temperature, take advantage of the new visual status for accessories and more.
- Safari: Safari is faster, has new privacy warnings, supports inline translations, breached password warnings and more.
- CarPlay: Apple’s in-car infotainment feature now supports a new digital CarKeys feature in select vehicles. CarPlay in iOS 14 also supports new app types, dashboard wallpapers, enhancements for audio, messaging and VoIP apps and more.
- AirPods: iOS 14 brings spatial audio support to your AirPods which uses sensors and machine learning to adapt the sound as you’re turning your head around. You also get automatic switching between devices, AirPods battery notifications and all-new headphone accommodations.
- Cam and mic indicators: If an app is using your microphone or camera, you will now see a dot in the top-right corner along with the app’s name in the Control Center.
- Approximate location: Instead of sharing your precise GPS location, iOS lets you share a rough location with apps that don’t really need to know your precise location, such as weather apps.
- Camera: The stock Camera app launches faster and has faster shot-to-shot performance. You can shoot bursts and QuickTakes with the volume buttons, mirror your selfies easily, lock focus and exposure separately and more.
- Health: The Health app has been updated with support for the new sleep settings in watchOS 7.
- Default apps: You can now change your default web browser and email apps that launch when you tap links throughout iOS instead of the stock Safari and Mail apps.
- Voice Memos: In addition to the new organization features, the Voice Memos app can now enhance your recordings with a single tap.
- Weather: You now get minute-by-minute forecast and some hyperlocal weather features, like severe weather warnings. These appear to be based on Apple’s acquisition of the popular hyperlocal weather app Dark Sky earlier this year.
For more details, visit apple.com/ios/ios-14 and apple.com/ios/ipad-14.
Your favorites
What are your favorite new features in iOS and iPadOS 14?
Let us know by leaving a comment down below.