iOS 16
iOS 16 is the sixteenth major release of Apple's iOS mobile operating system for the iPhone. It is the successor of iOS 15, and was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 6, 2022, alongside iPadOS 16,[3] and released on September 12, 2022. It was succeeded by iOS 17 on September 18, 2023.
It is the first iOS release to be exclusive to iPhones since the first version release of iPhone OS 1, as it drops support for the last iPod Touch. It is also the last iOS release to support iPhone models with a 5.5-inch display, especially the iPhone 8 Plus.[4]
System features[edit]
Security and privacy[edit]
Lockdown mode[edit]
Lockdown mode is a special mode that, when activated, raises the security to the highest possible level by restricting some features of the OS, apps and web platform, in order to protect users from the rarest and most sophisticated attacks.[12]
Unlike many other security features, lockdown mode is regarded as an “extreme, optional”[12] mode that is not intended to be activated by the majority of users. Rather, it is designed as a defense against advanced malware and mercenary spyware, such as clickless exploits or zero-click attacks, which are often hyper-targeted toward influential individuals such as journalists, diplomats, politicians, activists, lawyers, and high-profile business people.[13][14]
It is possible to disable the Lockdown mode on specific websites and apps by acting from the Safari’s Website Settings and the Lockdown mode's Web Browsing setting.
Safety Check[edit]
Safety Check resets all access permissions given to people, apps, and devices for an iCloud account when activated; this is designed to help those in abusive relationships.
Clipboard security improved[edit]
Applications and websites now require permission to copy from the clipboard.
Brand Indicators for Message Identification[edit]
Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) helps users to easily verify authenticated emails sent by brands by displaying the brand's logo alongside the email's header.
iOS 16 requires iPhones with an A11 Bionic[a] SoC or later, which means it drops support for devices with an A9[b] and A10 Fusion[c] SoC, iOS 16 is the first version of iOS to drop support for iPhone without a 3.5 mm headphone jack, officially marking the end of support for the iPod Touch. iOS 16 is the first version of iOS to drop support for an iPhone SE. However, iPhones with an A11 Bionic SoC have limited support[d] while iPhones with an A12 Bionic SoC or newer[e] have full support.[18]
The cutoff for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus has been criticized due to the iPad 5th, 6th and 7th generations supporting iPadOS 16 despite having similar or even weaker hardware.[19]