Apple seeds iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, macOS 12.1, and watchOS 8.3 Release Candidate to developers

We’re still waiting for Apple to publicly launch the next big update for iOS and iPadOS. To that end, Apple has to continue the prerelease cycle to build it up. To make sure it’s ready for the public. And now we’re one step closer to that goal.

Today, December 7, 2021, Apple has released the Release Candidate version of both iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 to developers. This arrives a month after Apple launched iOS 15.1 and iPadOS 15.1 to the public, so the company is keeping things going at a steady pace.

While it’s the RC version of both mobile operating systems, and it’s about as finished as it can be, it’s still meant for developers. As such, if you aren’t a registered developer it’s probably best to wait for the public launch of the software. That will happen in the very near future, but we don’t have a date to circle on the calendar just yet.

Registered developers can download the latest software via the over-the-air (OTA) update function on their device(s). It can also be downloaded and installed via the Apple Developer Center.

What’s new in iOS 15.2

There’s quite a bit new in the iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 releases. Apple has been adding to the mix with each beta seed over the course of the prerelease schedule. Here’s a quick look at the major bullet points:

  • Apple adds the Messages Communication Safety feature, which is built into the Messages app on those platforms, and it serves to offer up warnings of potentially explicit photos being shared in the app. Both children and the parents will be notified of that potentially harmful material. Those warnings will be issued when a photo is shared to the child or sent from the child’s device.
  • App Privacy Report is now available in iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2. This allows users to see just how often apps are accessing a range of sensitive information based on the permissions the user has allowed. That includes camera, location, and much more.
  • iOS 15.2 adds support for Legacy Contacts, which will allow someone to declare individuals as those who can access the “digital legacy” of someone who has passed away.
  • The new software supports a new feature in the Find My app called “Items That Can Track Me.” This allows users to quickly see if an item tracker, like an Apple AirTag, is near them — even if it’s not theirs.
  • iOS 15.2 adds a dedicated toggle in the Camera app to switch on or off the Macro photography mode.

There’s a bit more, but those are the major new additions.

Apple also seeded the Release Candidate version for macOS Monterey 12.1 and watchOS 8.3 to developers as well.

Apple will likely launch iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 to the public in the near future.