Focus modes were introduced with iOS 15 last year and have been expanded and refined in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, and macOS Ventura. Accompanying the redesigned customizable Lock Screen in iOS 16, each Focus mode now has a linked Lock Screen. In addition to all of the pre-existing ways to activate a Focus mode, such as in Control Center or via automations, iPhone users can swipe between Lock Screens to enable a corresponding Focus. Users can also directly tie an Apple Watch face to a specific Focus.

One of the biggest additions to Focuses in iOS 16 is Focus filters. Focus filters allow users to set boundaries within apps like Calendar, Mail, Messages, and Safari to only display relevant content, such as a particular Tab Group in Safari, set of calendars in the Calendar app, or email accounts in Mail. With a new Focus filter API, developers can build this functionality into their apps and change content based on a user's current Focus.

The process of setting up Focus modes has also been improved with a personalized setup experience for each option. Now, iOS suggests a relevant set of Home Screens and Lock Screens for each Focus mode with relevant apps, wallpapers, and widgets. There are also more configurable options inside Focus modes, with a new ability to silence notifications from apps and people, effectively adding the ability to exclude notifications rather than only include as is the case in iOS 15.

iCloud Shared Photo Library provides a way for up to six family members to share photos together with a separate iCloud library. Users can choose to share existing photos from their personal libraries, or share based on a start date or people in the photos. A user can also choose to send photos to the Shared Library automatically using a new toggle in the Camera app. Additionally, users will receive intelligent suggestions to share a photo that includes participants in the Shared Photo Library.

Every user in the Shared Photo Library has access to add, delete, edit, or favorite the shared photos or videos, which will appear in each user's Memories and Featured Photos.

In iOS 16, users can edit or recall recently sent messages, recover recently deleted messages, and mark conversations as unread so they can come back to them later.

In addition, SharePlay is coming to Messages, making it possible to enjoy synced content like movies or songs and shared playback controls all while chatting in Messages.

Apple has redesigned the voice messaging experience on iMessage with ‌iOS 16‌, making it its own separate iMessage app that lives in the app bar. The app lets users tap, hold, and record messages more quickly. Apple has replaced the previous hold and swipe-up gesture to record voice messages with a new Dictation button. On a related note, users can now skim through voice messages on ‌iOS 16‌.

When mentioning a contact on iMessage, mention suggestions now include a contact image in the Quick Tap bar. This can be particularly helpful in group chats where multiple people may share a first name.

Users can schedule emails ahead of time and have up to ten seconds to cancel the delivery of a message before it reaches a recipient's inbox. Mail detects if the user forgot to include an important part of their message, such as an attachment. Users also have the option to resurface a message at any date and time with Remind Later, and Follow Up suggestions automatically remind users to follow up on an email if they have not received a response.

Mail also includes a significant overhaul to search, and uses state-of-the-art techniques to deliver more relevant, accurate, and complete results. Users see recent emails, contacts, documents, and links the moment they begin to search for emails.

Apple Pay Later

Users in the U.S. can use Apple Pay Later to split the cost of an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments spread over six weeks, with zero interest and no fees. Apple Pay Later is built into the Wallet app, where users can track and repay Apple Pay Later payments. Users can apply for Apple Pay Later when they are checking out with Apple Pay, or in the Wallet app. Apple Pay Later is available everywhere Apple Pay is accepted online or in-app, using the Mastercard network.

Apple Pay Order Tracking

Additionally, with Apple Pay Order Tracking, users can receive detailed receipts and order tracking information in Wallet for Apple Pay purchases with participating merchants.

Digital Keys and IDs

Keys and IDs in Wallet get expanded support in iOS 16. Users can use their ID in Wallet for apps requiring identity and age verification. Only the necessary information required for the transaction will be provided to the app for maximum security and privacy, and the user can review and consent to share it using Face ID or Touch ID. Additionally, users can securely share their home, hotel, office, and car keys in Wallet through messaging apps, including Messages, Mail, and more.

The Home app in iOS 16 makes it easier for users to navigate, organize, and view their accessories, and enhancements to the underlying architecture offer users more efficient and reliable control of their smart home.

A later software update to iOS 16 will bring support for the Matter smart home connectivity standard once it becomes available later this fall, enabling a wide variety of accessories to work together seamlessly across platforms.

Safari features shared Tab Groups in iOS 16 to share a collection of websites with friends and family, making it easy to add tabs and see what others are viewing.

Browsing in Safari is safer with passkeys, unique digital keys that are easy to use and stay on-device for maximum security. Designed to replace passwords, passkeys use Touch ID or Face ID for biometric verification, and iCloud Keychain to sync across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV with end-to-end encryption. They will also work across apps and the web, and users can sign in to websites or an app on non-Apple devices using just their iPhone.

Health

The Health app adds Medications, allowing users to conveniently build and manage a medications list, create schedules and reminders, and track their medications, vitamins, or supplements. In the U.S., users can simply point their iPhone camera at a label to add a medication, read about the medications they're taking, and receive an alert if there are potential critical interactions for their medications.

In addition, users can share their Health data with loved ones, and easily create a PDF of available health records from connected health institutions, right from the Health app.

Fitness

In iOS 16, the Fitness app is available to all iPhone users to help track and meet fitness goals, even if they don't use an Apple Watch. iPhone users can set up a daily Move goal in the Fitness app and see how their active calories will help close their Move ring. iPhone motion sensors can track steps, distance, flights climbed, and workouts from third-party apps, which can be converted into an estimation of active calories to contribute to users' daily Move goal. Users can also share their Move ring with friends for additional motivation.

Apple Maps now features multistop routing, allowing users tp plan up to 15 stops in advance and automatically sync routes from a Mac to an iPhone. Maps also gains transit updates, making it easy for riders to view how much their journey will cost, add transit cards to Wallet, see low balances, and replenish transit cards, all without leaving the Maps app.

Apple News introduces a new My Sports section to easily follow favorite teams and leagues; receive stories from hundreds of top publishers; access scores, schedules, and standings for the top professional and college leagues; and watch highlights right in the News app.

Live Text can recognise text in video as well as images. Users can pause a video on any frame and interact with text. Live Text also adds the ability for users to quickly convert currency, translate text, and more.

Visual Look Up takes photos further by introducing a new feature that allows users to tap and hold on the subject of an image to lift it from the background and place it in apps like Messages. Visual Look Up also expands to recognize birds, insects, and statues.

In iOS 16, Siri can run shortcuts as soon as an app is downloaded without requiring setup. Users can easily add emoji when sending a message, choose to send messages automatically, skip the confirmation step, and hang up phone and FaceTime calls hands-free by simply saying "Hey Siri, hang up."

Dictation offers a new experience that allows users to fluidly move between voice and touch. Users can type with the keyboard, tap in the text field, move the cursor, and insert QuickType suggestions, with no need to stop Dictation. Dictation also now features automatic punctuation and emoji dictation.

• Personalized Spatial Audio enables a more precise listening experience. Listeners can use the TrueDepth camera on iPhone to create a personal profile for Spatial Audio that delivers a listening experience tuned just for them.
• Family Sharing offers an easier way to set up an account for a child with the correct parental controls in place from the start. It includes suggestions for age-appropriate restrictions for apps, movies, books, music, and more, and a simpler process for setting up a new device that applies existing parental controls automatically. When a child asks for more screen time, guardians can approve or decline directly in the Messages app.
• Game Center features a redesigned dashboard that shows friends' activity and accomplishments from games in one place, making it easy for players to jump in to play with or compete against their friends.
• Safety Check is a new privacy tool designed to help users whose personal safety is at risk from domestic violence by quickly removing all access granted to others. It includes an emergency reset that helps users easily sign out of iCloud on all their other devices, reset privacy permissions, and limit messaging to just the device in their hand. It also helps users to understand and manage which people and apps they have given access to.
• Accessibility updates include Door Detection, which helps users who are blind or low vision to use their iPhone to navigate the last few feet to their destination, and Apple Watch Mirroring for users with physical and motor disabilities who may rely on assistive features like Voice Control and Switch Control to fully control Apple Watch from their iPhone. Additionally, Live Captions make it easier for the Deaf and hard of hearing community to follow along while on a phone or FaceTime call, using a videoconference or social media app, streaming media content, or having a conversation with someone next to them.
• Privacy history in Control Center allows users to check which apps have recently accessed their camera, microphone, and location.
• A redesigned video player UI is cleaner by getting rid of unnecessary clutter while highlighting basic controls such as volume, play/pause, and Picture in Picture.
• FaceTime now features a transparent call UI, with larger buttons for the camera, microphone, message, speaker, and SharePlay.
• Fix duplicate contacts with a dedicated feature for highlighting and merging duplicate contacts, solving problems with multiple contacts once and for all.