Apple is expected to bring new iPhone features with iOS 16.3, predicted to launch February and March to coincide with early 2023 Mac releases.
- What’s happening? Apple is said to launch iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.3 between early February and the beginning of March 2023.
- Why care? Apple hasn’t delivered each and every new iPhone feature in iOS 16 yet though this mid-cycle update should address that.
- What to do? Update to iOS 16 if you haven’t already and watch this space as we’ll be reporting on new iOS 16.3 features when Apple starts testing the update.
When will Apple launch iOS 16.3?
Mark Gurman, writing in his Power On newsletter on Bloomberg:
I’m told that Apple is aiming to introduce the upgraded models—including M2-based versions of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros—in the first quarter of calendar 2023 and has tied the launches to the upcoming macOS Ventura 13.3 and iOS 16.3.
He specifically says that iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.3 “are expected” to publicly launch “between early February and the beginning of March.” Gurman doesn’t mention it but tvOS 16.3 and watchOS 9.3 should also drop alongside iOS 16.3. Read: How to view image EXIF data in macOS
What new iPhone features does iOS 16.3 have?
As of this moment, we don’t know much in terms of new iPhone features in iOS 16.3. As we said before, Apple has yet to start testing iOS 16.3 with developers.
Before iOS 16.3 is available for developer testing, however, Apple will push iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2 and macOS Ventura 13.1 (currently in testing) to the public. Those will add some of the missing features like Apple’s Freeform app for collaboration and brainstorming. Read: How to collaborate in Apple Pages, Numbers and Keynote
Other improvements coming with iOS 16.2 include more frequent live activity updates, Apple’s new Sleep widget, accidental Emergency SOS reporting and more.
Be sure to check out our roundup for all the new features in iOS 16.3.
When are new Macs arriving?
As we separately reported, no new Macs are expected to launch in the remainder of 2022—despite the rumors suggesting contrary.
Gurman says the company did plan to launch refreshed 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M2 chips as early as this fall but has changed its mind.
Now the company is reportedly aiming to launch those laptops in early 2023, between early February and the beginning of March ahead of new Macs.