iOS 15 is here: these are the most important features

No iPhone 13 but the latest version? You can now install iOS 15 on most Apple devices.

When a new iPhone comes out, there’s a group of people who jump right on top of it. There is an equally large, perhaps larger group that thinks ‘well, I’ll wait a little longer before upgrading’. Fortunately, the latter group can still enjoy something new, because the release of a new iPhone goes hand in hand with a major upgrade in the operating system. Today it is the turn of the operating system that comes with the iPhone 13: iOS 15.

Upgrade to iOS 15

Let’s start at the beginning. How do you get iOS 15 on your iPhone? That is always very simple: you go to settings -> general -> software update and there should be the upgrade to iOS 15. The supported devices are as follows:

• iPhone 13 (all models)
• iPhone 12 (all models)
• iPhone 11 (all models)
• iPhone XS/XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8/8 Plus
• iPhone 7/7 Plus
• iPhone 6S/6S Plus
• iPhone SE (Gen 1, 2016)
• iPhone SE (gen 2, 2020)
• iPod Touch (gen 7, 2019)

Just download and install and you are ready to go. These include the features you can enjoy from now on:

FaceTime

For people who often call via FaceTime, there are a few things that are new. First, that you can now continue with what you were doing and still keep FaceTime. Before iOS 15, your image would then pause. This sharing with people goes further than that: you can share what you are watching or listening to with the person you are calling. It gets the same thing you watch or listen to in sync with you on its screen.

FaceTime is also improving visually or audio-technically. For example, portrait mode comes to FaceTime, which blurs the background to better bring the face into view. There will also be a feature for group conversations that is fun: you can put each person somewhere on your screen, then the sound of each person will come from exactly that angle.

Notifications on iOS 15

Notifications are also getting an overhaul in iOS 15. First, they’re going to be slightly different in shape. For example, with certain notifications, such as text messages, you can receive the profile picture of the person as a notification. That way it all becomes a little clearer.

You can also ‘focus’ your notifications. You can create profiles in which you will or will not receive certain notifications. One of the profiles is driving, for example, in which you do not receive things that distract you while driving. You can create different profiles.

Cards

The Maps app has also been completely revamped. A new interface with a new map that shows a lot in 3D and goes into more detail. For example, you can see separate lanes on the road. Apple is also working on street view on Maps and, just like Google, Augmented Reality is used.

Safari on iOS 15

Safari has a few new features, perhaps the most important of which is the URL bar that is now at the bottom. You can now view your tabs by swiping. The overview of tabs now also works better and more clearly.

live text

Finally, a feature of iOS 15 that may make life a bit easier. You can now scan text and it will be converted into a ‘tangible’ piece of text for your iPhone. In concrete terms: you come across a sign with information, including a telephone number, then you can scan that number and call immediately.

And the rest

In addition to all these features, there is more in iOS 15. Broadly speaking, most of it will of course remain the same, but you will probably also encounter some new features.