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Apple iOS 16 Rolls Out Next Week: Does Your iPhone Support It?

Apple's watchOS 9 arrives the same day, but you'll have to wait a bit longer for iPadOS 16.

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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If you're not in the position to spend $800+ on a new iPhone 14, or your iPhone 13 isn't quite ready for the trade-in pile, you can still give your Apple smartphone a refresh by upgrading to iOS 16.

Apple gave us a preview of its new mobile OS at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June, and kicked off a public beta shortly thereafter. But now it's ready for primetime. At the iPhone 14 launch event, Apple announced that iOS 16 will be available to download on Sept. 12.

Apple's iOS 16 will launch alongside watchOS 9, but you'll have to wait a bit longer for iPadOS 16. Apple said the tablet-centric OS won't arrive until later this fall, and it will in fact launch as iPadOS 16.1 to fix some glitches.

We also don't have a launch date for macOS Ventura; Apple's website for the software just says it'll launch in October. But Apple is expected to host another event next month that's focused on the Mac and iPad, so we could get more details then.

iphones that work with ios 16
iOS 16-compatible iPhones

Among the more notable features coming to iOS 16 is a revamped lock screen and the abiliy to edit and unsend messages. All iPhones from iPhone 8 and up support iOS 16; the full list is above.

Here's how to download iOS 16 once it arrives (and a primer on whether your iPad will support iPadOS 16 once that drops).

For Apple Watch owners, watchOS 9 works with Apple Watch Series 4 and later; it requires an iPhone 8 or later and iPhone SE (2nd generation) or later running iOS 16.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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