Apple Now Testing iOS 16.5 Internally as One of Final Updates Before iOS 17

Apple ramped up testing of iOS 16.5 internally this month, according to mounting evidence of the update in our website's analytics logs. iOS 16.5 will likely be one of the last notable updates before Apple announces iOS 17 at WWDC in June.

iOS 17 on Phone Feature
It's unclear what features will be introduced with iOS 16.5, but the wait continues for some previously-announced features, including the Apple Card savings account, Apple Music Classical app, and iMessage Contact Key Verification security option. Apple Pay Later is also coming soon, but is expected to be enabled with a server-side update.

As for iOS 17, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this week said he has yet to hear about "anything especially game-changing" planned for the iPhone, but the update is still months away and there could still be some notable features uncovered.

iOS 17 will introduce Apple's next generation of CarPlay, which will offer deeper integration with vehicle functions like the A/C and FM radio, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, increased personalization, and more. Apple said the first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay would be announced in late 2023, with committed brands including Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Volvo, and others.

iOS 17 is also expected to allow alternative app stores on the iPhone in Europe, as required by the Digital Markets Act. Gurman previously reported that the change would be implemented by mid-2024 as part of a later version of iOS 17.

In the meantime, Apple has made the first iOS 16.4 beta available to developers and public testers. The update includes a range of new emoji, support for web push notifications, Podcasts app improvements, and a change that will prevent iPhone users from getting access to the iOS 17 developer beta for free when it becomes available.

WWDC typically begins in early June. At the weeklong developers conference, Apple will also announce macOS 14, watchOS 10, tvOS 17, and reportedly the realityOS/xrOS operating system for Apple's long-rumored AR/VR headset.

Related Roundups: iOS 16, iPadOS 16, iOS 17
Related Forum: iOS 16

Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving ? Avatar
4 weeks ago
Anyone here not excited for iOS 17 at all this year?
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PhantomStar Avatar
4 weeks ago

Anyone here not excited for iOS 17 at all this year?
At this point, there's nothing to be excited about.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dantracht Avatar
4 weeks ago

Simon and Garfunkel are rolling over in their graves.
Neither are in their graves, but I digress.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dantracht Avatar
4 weeks ago
Still waiting for the HomeKit fixes, Apple. My HomePods turn their lonely sensors to you.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
4 weeks ago

As for iOS 17, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this week said he has yet to hear about "anything especially game-changing" planned for the iPhone, but the update is still months away and there could still be some notable features uncovered.
Hoping Apple uses iOS 17 to focus on stability and optimizations ('https://www.macrumors.com/2015/02/09/ios-9-stability-optimization-focus/')
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dantracht Avatar
4 weeks ago

Sorry, it’s late in the evening.
You can call me Al.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 15 Pro Buttons CAD Leak

iPhone 15 Pro Leak Reveals Unified Volume Button and Mute Button

Monday March 20, 2023 8:33 am PDT by
As previously rumored, the next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a unified volume button and a mute button, according to leaked CAD images shared in a video on the Chinese version of TikTok and posted to Twitter by ShrimpApplePro. Instead of separate buttons for volume up and volume down, the iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to have a single elongated button for...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 for iPhone Nearing Launch With These 5 New Features

Monday March 20, 2023 11:50 am PDT by
Apple says iOS 16.4 is coming in the spring, which began this week. In his Sunday newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the update should be released "in the next three weeks or so," meaning a public release is likely in late March or early April. iOS 16.4 remains in beta testing and introduces a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone. Below, we have recapped five new features ...
original iphone auction

Factory-Sealed Original iPhone Sells for $55,000 at Auction

Friday March 17, 2023 1:08 pm PDT by
A first-generation iPhone still sealed inside its box sold for $54,904 at auction, which is more than $54,000 over the original $599 price tag of the device when it was released in 2007. The original iPhone was put up for sale by RR Auction on behalf of a former Apple employee who purchased it back when it first came out. Back in February, an original, sealed iPhone sold for over $63,000,...
voice isolation

iOS 16.4 Adds Voice Isolation for Cellular Phone Calls

Tuesday March 21, 2023 11:01 am PDT by
The iOS 16.4 update that is set to be released to the public in the near future includes voice isolation for cellular calls, according to notes that Apple shared today. Apple says that Voice Isolation will prioritize your voice and block out the ambient noise around you, making for clearer phone calls where you can better hear the person you're chatting with and vice versa. Voice...
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Feature

iPhone 12 Pro vs. 15 Pro: New Features to Expect if You've Waited to Upgrade

Friday March 17, 2023 10:29 am PDT by
While year-over-year iPhone upgrades are not always groundbreaking, new features can begin to stack up over multiple generations. For example, the iPhone 15 Pro will be a notable upgrade for those who still have a three-year-old iPhone 12 Pro. If you are still using an iPhone 12 Pro and are considering upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro when it launches later this year, we have put together a...
top stories 18mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Pricing, New iOS 16.4 Beta, Siri vs. ChatGPT, and More

Saturday March 18, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's high-end iPhone models have started at $999 in the U.S. since they first launched back in 2017 with the iPhone X, but could this finally be the year that starting price sees an increase? This week also saw some more rumors about Apple's upcoming headset and the company's explorations in the booming AI industry as well as the release of a new round of beta updates, so read on for all...
smart monitor m8 samsung

Deals: Samsung's iMac-Like Smart Monitor M8 Drops to Lowest Price of Year So Far With $250 Discount

Monday March 20, 2023 8:27 am PDT by
Samsung today kicked off a special "Discover Samsung" event, which will be a week-long savings event focusing on Samsung monitors, smartphones, TVs, appliances, and more. While some deals will stick around the entire week (through March 26), others will refresh every day. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small...