Apple Confirms iOS 16.5 Will Be Released Next Week With These New Features

[MacRumors]

In a press release introducing a new Pride Edition band for the Apple Watch today, Apple confirmed that iOS 16.5 and watchOS 9.5 will be released to the public next week. The software updates have been in beta testing since late March.

"The new Pride Celebration watch face and iPhone wallpaper will be available next week, and requires watchOS 9.5 and iOS 16.5," said Apple.

In addition to a new Pride Celebration wallpaper, iOS 16.5 includes just one small but useful change for the iPhone, a new Sports tab in the Apple News app. Overall, the update is a relatively minor one and comes just weeks ahead of Apple announcing iOS 17 at WWDC in June.

An overview of iOS 16.5 changes follows.

Pride Wallpaper

iOS 16.5 will include a new Pride Celebration wallpaper designed to match the new Pride Edition band for the Apple Watch.

Sports Tab in Apple News

Apple has added a Sports tab to the News app on iOS 16.5, giving you easy access to news, scores, and schedules for your favorite teams and leagues. This information was previously available in the Today tab, but it is now featured more prominently as Apple continues to push deeper into sports content across its services.

iOS 16.5 Release Notes

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

- A new Pride Celebration wallpaper for the Lock Screen to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture
- Sports tab in Apple News gives easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more, for the teams and leagues you follow
- My Sports score and schedule cards in Apple News take you directly to game pages where you can find additional details about specific games
- Fixes an issue where Spotlight may become unresponsive
- Addresses an issue where Podcasts in CarPlay may not load content
- Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices

Article Link: Apple Confirms iOS 16.5 Will Be Released Next Week With These New Features

 

[JePe]

I hope the battery life can be improved. I’m using an iPhone 13 mini, and every extra minute matters.

 

[contacos]

so GM should come out tonight?

my battery life was much better on 16.4 than those last few 16.5 betas, maybe i will do another full restore once officially released

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Screen recordings via Siri haven't been in 16.5 since the first beta.
Of course it can re-appear for the RC, but as it is now its nowhere to be seen in the latest beta.

 

[vegetassj4]

Hey Siri, Start screen recording:

Siri: I found this on the web for scream reporting

• call emergency services: 911
• Local police department

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Most important: Hoping for Stability and Performance improvements. The battery life on my iPhone 14 Pro Max has been terrible!

 

[DeLaSoul]

Pride colors include Android Green, that's really inclusive, Apple

 

[ThomasJL]

I'm hoping iOS 16.5 finally includes long-overdue bug fixes and stability improvements. I've been using iOS since the very first iPhone, and iOS 16 is the buggiest of them all.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Pride colors include Android Green, that's really inclusive, Apple

I hope Google introduces iMessage Blue as an option.

 

[airwalk331]

I'm all up to date on iOS and still getting "No Weather data"....

 

[roland.g]

Forget real bug fixes, we got new wallpapers.

 

[antiprotest]

Captain's Log 10.6743:
It's been 67 days since the Weather app's been down. I wonder what's it like outside?

Seriously though. The weather app is down for me again today. Is it a server issue or the app?

Update: It's working again for now.

 

[BuffaloTF]

I like that color on the wallpaper… but then I noticed it’s candy sprinkles. Boo.

 

[ValerieDurden]

Forget real bug fixes, we got new wallpapers.

Let’s forget fixing iOS and put out more bs wallpaper that no one cares about, oh and weather is down again. I came back to Apple last year after being on Samsung for 10 years and really regret my decision, I’ll be seeing myself off this ship as soon as possible. iOS used to be great albeit boring and locked down, Android seems like the real premium OS now.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

So annoying. Apple is too busy announcing the subscription model Final Cut Pro and the new Apple Watch bands but the Weather App is down once again.

 

[Candy Apple+ Nutz]

Captain's Log 10.6743:
It's been 67 days since the Weather app's been down. I wonder what's it like outside?

Seriously though. The weather app is down for me again today. Is it a server issue or the app?

Same. Checked status and of course everything is working perfectly on Apple’s end. 🙄

 

[Bryan Bowler]

That new Siri feature sure is innovative. 🙄

 

[jimlat]

Sounds like RC/GM will be at 1pm EDT or so today…?

 

[sparkinstx]

Restore the ability to turn on Do Not Disturb until the end of a meeting in the Calendar app, that was taken away in 16.4? I sent Apple feedback about it.

 

[WilliApple]

The Siri feature isn't even in iOS 16.5 anymore...

 

[sparkinstx]

Add wallpapers and features, while breaking stuff - sounds like a plan!

 

[winxmac]

iOS 13.7
iOS 14.8.1
iOS 15.7.5
iOS 16.9

 

[rforno]

[in a Jack Sparrow drunken tone]

Yes, yes ... but what about more emojis?

/sarcasm

 

[sw1tcher]

iOS 16.5 includes two small but useful changes for the iPhone, including a new Sports tab in the Apple News app and the ability to start a screen recording with Siri.

The tabs section should be customizable. Not everyone follows Sports and some people may not want the Sports tab constantly sitting there. I don't.

And I'd like to do away with the News+ tab as well. That should only be there for people who subscribe to News+

 

[Pecka]

So RC is coming tonight?