Update June 30: The first public betas of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 are now available to download. Public beta programs for watchOS 8 and tvOS 15 are also rolling out, but Apple has yet to release a public beta for macOS Monterey.
Announced in June at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 are Apple's next-generation operating systems for iPhone and iPad.
/article-new/2021/06/iOS-15-General-Feature-Purple.jpg?lossy)
iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 include a number of new features and changes such as updates to FaceTime, improvements to notifications, built-in two-factor authentication support, and lots more.
iPadOS 15 also includes some updates specific to Apple's tablet devices such as Home screen widgets and the App Library that came to iOS last year, new multitasking features, and more.
iOS 15 Public Beta: Out Now
iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 became available for registered members of Apple's developer program immediately following the WWDC keynote on June 7, with Apple saying they would be coming to the public beta program that's open to everyone sometime in July.
Apple ultimately released the first public beta versions of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15 just a bit early, on June 30. A public beta version of macOS Monterey has yet to be released.
A full public release of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 for all users will follow in the fall, likely in September or October.
Compatibility
iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 are compatible with all devices that support iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, which includes devices dating all the way back to the iPhone 6s and iPad Air 2.
As always, Apple advises that betas should not be installed on users' primary devices, particularly early in the beta testing period, as there can be significant bugs and usability issues.
For further details on all of the new features for iPhones and iPads in iOS 15, be sure to check out our dedicated iOS 15 roundup.
