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iOS 16.5: Betas, new features, images, and everything you need to know

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iOS 16.5 is here!

Ios 16 Features Tiles
(Image credit: Apple)
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The public beta program of iOS 16.5 has been underway since March, begin only a few days after the launch of iOS 16.4. The latest version of iOS 16 -- that's iOS 16.5 beta 4 -- brings only a handful of new features to the OS, since Apple is likely saving the good stuff for iOS 17 and WWDC 2023.

With the release of the developer beta, new features in iOS 16.5 that will make sports fans very happy have been revealed. We're going to give you a rundown of everything you need to know for when iOS 16.5 officially releases in the next few months.

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iOS 16.5 beta timeline

May 3: beta 4 of iOS 16.5 was released.

While not a huge change, iOS 16.5 does include a new wallpaper section for LGBTQ+ wallpapers under the Pride banner. There are no new wallpapers as such, but the previous Pride wallpaper is present and correct. Now it's just under a new heading which suggests that there are more wallpapers en route.

April 26: Beta 3 of iOS 16.5 was released. No major changes announced or detected.

April 12: Public beta version 2 of iOS 16.5 was released, two weeks after the first public betas.

March 28: First public beta of iOS 16.5 was released.

New Features in iOS 16.5

Sports Tab in Apple News app

Apple has been making strides in the sporting world recently, including the return of MLB in April. With iOS 16.5, My Sports in the News app will get even better with the much-requested move of the Sports Tab to the bottom of the application. 

The Sports Tab now sits right in the middle of the News app giving sports fans a quick way to access their sports news and results without having to scroll through the Today feed. 

This change comes as Apple looks to build its stature in the sporting world with the increase of sports in Apple TV, including MLS Season Pass.

Quad picture-in-picture for Apple TV sports

Meet your Apple TV apps

(Image credit: iMore)

The iOS 16.5 developer code also hints at a new quad picture-in-picture mode for Apple TV that will allow viewers to watch multiple sports streams at once. Hopefully, this means that you don't have to choose between MLS or Friday Night Baseball if both are on at the same time.

First spotted by Steve Moser, the iOS 16.5 beta 1 code shows a "multi-view" grid with the option to add up to four streams simultaneously. 

Screen recording via Siri

Siri

(Image credit: iMore)

Now users who want to voice activate screen recording on iPhone can do so with Siri in iOS 16.5. Just say, "Hey Siri, start screen recording," and your smart assistant will activate screen recording on your iPhone.

More to come

More bug fixes and features will be revealed as more information and betas release in the build-up to the official release of iOS 16.5 later this year.

How to install iOS 16.5 beta

For iPhone users who want to try out iOS 16.5 before its official release, you'll have to wait a while longer before you can download and install the iOS 16.5 public beta. When the public beta does release, here's how to install it. 

Note: The iOS 16.5 beta isn’t intended to be installed on your primary device as there are likely to be performance issues and bugs.

  1. Make a backup of your iPhone
  2. Open Settings
  3. Tap General
  4. Tap Software Update
  5. Tap Download and Install on the iOS 16.5 update
John-Anthony Disotto
John-Anthony Disotto
Editor

John-Anthony Disotto is the Editor of iMore, helping you get the most from your Apple products and fixing things when your technology isn't behaving itself.

Based in Scotland, where he worked as a Genius Bar technician repairing iPhones, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself on closing his Apple Watch activity rings.

He leads iMore's work on AI in the newsroom, testing where it genuinely improves editorial work and where it doesn't. Every story is written, edited, and signed off by a person.

Previously in editorial at TechRadar and Tom's Guide, John-Anthony is an avid film geek who won the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019. Away from Apple, he tinkers with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck.