In a few weeks, Apple will release iOS 16.1 for all compatible iPhones, marking the first major update to the iOS 16 operating system since its public release in September.
In iOS 16.1, Apple brought some new changes, features, and bug fixes to iPhone users. We’ve highlighted five notable changes below. iOS 16.1 is currently still in beta testing with developers and public beta testers.
Live Activities
In iOS 16.1, Apple is enabling Live Activity on the redesigned iOS 16 lock screen and Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro. Live Activity is a new type of interactive notification that dynamically displays real-time information from an application without directly opening the application.
For example, Uber can display real-time activity notifications on the iOS 16 lock screen to show the car’s ETA. Sports apps will also be able to take advantage of live events to showcase game results in real time.
On the latest “iPhone 14 Pro” models, “Dynamic Island” also integrates live activity, allowing users to view real-time information from apps while using the phone. Live activity is also displayed on the lock screen in always-on display mode. Apps will begin adopting support for Live Activity once iOS 16.1 is released to the public.
Redesigned Battery Indicator
This summer, Apple added a battery percentage indicator to the status bar on iPhones with a notch. The initial version of the battery indicator included a battery icon that visually remained fully charged regardless of the actual charging status of the iPhone. In iOS 16.1, Apple is changing the behavior of the battery icon to accurately reflect the iPhone’s charge level when displaying percentages. iOS 16.1 also extends the battery indicator to more devices, including the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini.
Apple Fitness+ With Just an iPhone
Starting with iOS 16.1, iPhone users can subscribe to and use Apple Fitness+ without an Apple Watch. Fitness+ is an Apple subscription service that offers an extensive catalog of fitness videos and shows from different trainers. At launch, Apple Watch is required to display real-time metrics on-screen with Fitness+.
Clean Energy Charging Option
In iOS 16.1, Apple added a new clean energy charging option that selectively charges iPhones when low-carbon-emission electricity is available, providing a greener way to charge. Apple says the iPhone will still be fully charged before needed, depending on the user’s daily habits, and the feature can be turned off if desired.
Pre-Load In-App Content
iOS 16.1 adds a new toggle for apps downloaded from the App Store that automatically runs newly downloaded apps in the background to download content before you launch them for the first time. The new toggle is designed to make it faster for users to start using apps immediately after downloading, without waiting for in-app content to load.
More
iOS 16.1 is the first major update to iOS 16, so as expected, several smaller but noteworthy changes and bug fixes are included in the update.
- Redesigned Wallpaper section within Settings
- Constant Copy and Paste prompt has been fixed
- Includes the groundwork for the smart home standard Matter and Emergency SOS via Satellite
- Ability to delete the Wallet app
Hazel Yu 
