Introduction
iOS 16.5 Beta 2 has been out for a few days, and it’s time to dive into the experience, bugs, battery life, and more, based on my usage and the feedback from the Community. Additionally, we’ll explore some Apple news and what to expect next as iOS 16.6 is in testing and iOS 17 is coming up soon.
What’s New in iOS 16.5 Beta 2
There aren’t many new features in iOS 16.5 Beta 2. With Beta 1, we gained turning on screen recording using Siri and a new sports section in the News app. In Beta 2, the beta profile is gone, and you can now install updates with 50% battery without having the device plugged in.
iOS 16.6
Surprisingly, iOS 16.6 is already in testing, according to analytics from MacRumors and other sites. This could mean that iOS 16.5 will be released sooner than expected, and we’ll move into iOS 16.6 betas.
App Updates
Spotify
Spotify received an update this week, adding a new lock screen widget for quick access to the app.
Apple Card Savings Account
The Apple Card Savings Account may finally launch this week.
HBO Max
HBO Max is changing its name to Max.
SwiftKey
SwiftKey is integrating with Bing AI chatbot, offering AI-powered tools for users. You can sign up for the Bing preview waitlist by signing into SwiftKey or visiting bing.com/new.
Apple News and Rumors
There are plenty of rumors about the iPhone 15, including the possibility of USBC, a titanium frame, and changes to the physical buttons. Apple is also set to open new stores in India with Tim Cook attending the grand openings.
iOS 17 Updates and Leaks
We’ve heard a lot about iOS 17 recently, including a potential redesign of the control center, updated focus modes, a redesigned Health app, interactive widgets, Dynamic Island updates, notification changes, and an updated camera app. The best news is that supported devices won’t change, and the update will focus on stability.
iOS 16.5 Beta 2 Experience
The overall stability of iOS 16.5 Beta 2 has improved. However, there are still some bugs, such as the alarm bug and notification glitches. The camera processing and storage bugs have improved but still need work.
Should You Install iOS 16.5 Beta 2?
It’s not recommended to install iOS 16.5 Beta 2 yet due to the critical bugs, especially the alarm issue. However, iOS 16.5 Beta 3 may release this coming week, potentially fixing these issues.
iOS 16.5 Public Release
With iOS 16.6 in testing, we might see the public release of iOS 16.5 by the end of this month or early May.
Battery Life
Battery life on iOS 16.5 Beta 2 has been disappointing. Adjusting settings for the lock screen and notifications hasn’t significantly improved battery life.
Conclusion
With iOS 16.5 Beta 2, there are some new features and improvements, but it’s not quite ready for widespread use due to bugs and battery life issues.