Apple’s iOS 16 beta 3 release comes with more user and developer-friendly features for its iPhone and iPad devices. Read on to learn the best iOS 16 beta 3 features below to get a glimpse into the new iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3 editions that Apple going to launch soon.
Apple publishes new beta editions of its iOS software for developers so that they can test the upcoming features and submit their reviews. Developers also get the chance to improve their apps way before any new stable iOS or iPadOS editions come to the market.
The beta releases of iOS or iPadOS aren’t just limited to the developers. As the end-user, anyone with a compatible iPhone or iPad can sign up to participate in the beta program run by Apple to download, install, and experience the upcoming OS editions of Apple though it’s not in the market for public use.
Similarly, one of the most hyped Apple beta programs since the launch of iOS 16 is iOS 16 beta 3. It’s rumored that Apple has introduced some extraordinary features in this new beta edition of iOS that’ll soon hit the market as a stable release after extensive testing, feedback, and debugging.
Let’s find out the most awaited functionalities of the upcoming Apple iOS 16.3 edition by reviewing what’s new in iOS 16 Beta 3.
Is iOS 16 Beta 3 Stable?
The iOS 16 beta 3 release is a developer-centric operating system for iPads and iPhones. This isn’t a stable release. Also, you may or may not see all the features you tried in the iOS 16 beta 3 in the upcoming stable iOS release.
1. Improved Stage Manager
Apple’s most innovative multitasking app in its iPadOS 16 major software upgrade is the Stage Manager. It has received extraordinary acceptance from iPad users who use the device for professional and business purposes.
However, new users may find it a bit challenging when they try the Stage Manager feature for the first time. Apple is going to make the Stage Manager onboarding easy and intuitive with its latest Stage Manager onboarding splash screen available on the iOS 16 beta 3 release.
The splash screen will provide a walkthrough when you activate Stage Manager. Also, there will be a new multitasking menu bar with better labeling of running apps.
2. iCloud Shared Library
Shared Library is another best iOS 16 beta 3 features you’ll soon find in the latest stable iOS and iPadOS.
You’ll find this functionality in the Settings section of the Photos app of iPhone and iPad. Under the Library menu, you’ll get the Shared Library Set Up button.
The feature will allow you to create a shared folder of photos and videos and invite up to five family members to add, edit, and delete content in this folder.
3. Lockdown Mode for iPhone and iPad
To help prevent targeted cyberattacks on high-profile individuals from various professions like government employees, journalists, activists, etc., Apple has introduced the Lockdown Mode in its iOS 16 beta 3.
Lockdown Mode will disable various features on iPad and iPhone so that mercenary spyware can’t infiltrate your device. The apps like Messages, FaceTime, Safari, Shared Albums, Apple Services, Configuration Profiles, etc., will function differently than they operate in the normal mode.
4. Calendar Lock Screen Widget
Previously, the Calender Lock Screen widget was showing a glimpse into the new notifications on iOS and iPadOS 16. However, with the new upgrade already available as a feature in iOS 16 beta 3, the OS will blur the notification details.
You’ll only see that there are new notifications and estimated time, and not the actual time. The rest of the information will be blurry. You need to unlock the device to view the content of the notification.
5. Lock Screen Time Font Customizations
You no longer need to stay happy with the built-in typeface on the iPhone or iPad Lock Screen running iOS 16 or better.
This iOS 16 beta 3 feature shows that you can customize the lock screen content font from a library of 12 beautiful selections for fonts.
6. Exciting Built-in Wallpapers
The third beta of the iOS 16 edition included some exciting wallpapers that you might like and these are as mentioned below:
Clownfish
There’s a clownfish wallpaper in the Wallpaper Settings section of some iPhone devices that downloaded the iOS 16 beta 3.
Earth Lock Screen
A view of the earth from space is also available as wallpaper in iOS 16 beta 3 download. You can also use it as the Lock Screen wallpaper. If there are no active widgets on the Lock Screen, then the earth wallpaper will be visible.
7. iCloud Upgrade Splash Screen
If you try to upgrade your iCloud subscription on the iOS 16 beta 3, you’ll see a new splash screen with a lot more info. Here’s what you can see on the splash screen:
- Perks of iCloud+ plans like HomeKit Secure Video, Custom Email Domain, etc.
- The Learn More button for an in-depth understanding of iCloud+ subscription
- A few plans to choose from with their costs
- The Upgrade Plan button
8. Online Shopping Using Virtual Cards on Safari
With the Virtual Card support feature for Safari with the iOS 16 beta 3, you can create a virtual image of the physical card or generate a virtual card number to shop online securely using the Safari app on iPhone and iPad.
However, the bank that issued the card must support specific card payment technologies so that you can create virtual cards from physical credit or debit cards.
If your bank doesn’t yet support this feature, you can still use Apple Pay.
9. Always On Display Upgrades
The Always On Display feature of iPhone 14 models showed too many elements on the Lock Screen.
It’s apparent from the iOS 16 beta 3 features that Apple is now including customization features in this Always On Display function. The iOS 16 beta 3 shows that you can toggle on or off elements like Always On Display, Show Wallpaper, and Show Notifications.
10. Enhanced Live Activity
Apple is improving the Live Activity API support with its iOS 16 beta 3 release.
Now, third-party apps can push more timely updates about online orders, product deliveries, etc., with the new More Frequent Updates feature. It enables faster real-time information on activities by apps at the cost of the battery.
11. Freeform App
Freeform is a brainstorming app from Apple for the latest iPadOS and iOS editions. You can effortlessly take notes, draw flow charts, sketch ideas, and share the board with collaborators without switching to Mac or PC. Thus, you can even record those extraordinary ideas that you think up during traveling.
12. Improved Apple Health App
Apple Health app will include some new features like the Lock Screen widget for Medications and Sleep. Thus you can get a timely reminder to take your medication on your iPhone or iPad. Also, you can monitor your sleep pattern on the Sleep widget of the Apple Health app and make adjustments for healthy sleep.
The Health app now also includes AFib History. You must use an Apple Watch paired with an iPhone or iPad for a minimum of 12 hours for five days to get reliable data on Atrial fibrillation (AFib).
13. Upgraded Apple Home App
Apple included a new architecture for the Apple Home App with the launch of the iOS 16 beta 3 developer edition. At the start, the Home app will ask you to apply the new architecture for reliability, efficiency, and performance upgrade to the existing Home App.
If you apply the new architecture, you can’t use your iPad as the HomeKit hub for your Apple Home setup. Also, all the Apple HomeKit devices made by Apple, like Apple HomePod, must run HomeKit 16.2.
14. Report Accidental Emergency SOS Triggers
According to a Guardian report, the latest iPhone 14 models have been making 911 calls automatically due to the activation of Emergency SOS when the device owners were enjoying rollercoaster rides.
However, Apple stated that the users themselves activated the Emergency SOS system accidentally by pressing the side buttons and any of the volume buttons for a prolonged period.
However, Apple is now collecting feedback on the unintentional activation of Emergency SOS by showing a pop-up on iOS 16 beta 3 release. It also asks you to submit a feedback form when you go to cancel an Emergency SOS.
15. Regional News on Apple Weather App
The new Apple Weather app launched with iOS 16 doesn’t give you the option to access local and regional news stories related to the current weather conditions.
That’s going to change with a new update to Apple Weather on iOS beta 3 release and subsequent release of the stable iOS 16.3 operating system.
It’s similar to Apple Stocks app that shows you relevant business new articles from the Apple News app for stocks, bonds, and companies you follow.
iOS 16 Beta 3 Features: Final Words
So, these are the new developments on iOS by Apple available as iOS 16 beta 3 features. You can experience the functionalities by downloading iOS 16 beta 3 on a compatible Apple device.
However, you must know that the developer preview editions aren’t stable releases. So, it’s smart to wait for the upcoming iOS 16.3 software upgrade, and you’ll automatically get the above functionalities.
If you know of any iOS 16 beta 3 features I missed here, don’t forget to add a comment below with the name of the feature.
Next up, should you update your iPad to iOS 16 and how long does iPhone update take.
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