Alongside revealing the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro today, Apple announced that it will release iOS 13 - the latest version of its iPhone operating system - on September 19 (potentially September 20 locally, depending on exactly what time Apple decides to take it live). Key new features include a Dark Mode, performance updates, swipe typing, and a suite of new privacy-related functionality.
Notably, iOS 13 will drop support for the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. Anything newer, starting from the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and the seventh generation iPod touch will be able to upgrade to iOS 13 when it launches.
In addition, iPads are getting their own unique operating system called iPadOS. While iPadOS is built on iOS 13, it has a number of iPad-specific features not found in iOS 13. You can read about iPadOS here.
Here's a closer look at what's new.
Dark Mode
iOS 13's headline new feature is a Dark Mode, which trades in the operating system's traditional bright white colour scheme for a predominantly black interface. Switching on Dark Mode should help reduce battery usage - especially on iPhones with an OLED display - as rendering white on a display draws more power. All of Apple's first party apps will support Dark Mode.
Performance improvements
Apple says "everything is faster" in iOS 13. Face ID unlocks should be 30% faster, app downloads should be 50% smaller, app updates are 60%, and apps should launch up to twice as fast.
QuickPath Keyboard
Third-party iOS keyboards have had swipe-to-type for years, but Apple is now adding this to the default iOS keyboard. As with Swype, Gboard, and SwiftKey, you'll be able to drag your finger across letters to quickly spell out words. Apple is calling this feature QuickPath.
Privacy
iOS 13 adds a whole host of new privacy features. One of the biggest relates to location. If an app requires your location, you can choose to share it "just once". If you let it access it continuously, iOS will give you reports about how the app is using it.
Looking a bit broader, Apple will roll out a "Sign in with Apple" button that will let you use your Apple ID to register new accounts with apps, websites, and services. This is a clear shot at "Sign in with Google" and "Sign in with Facebook", with Apple pitching it as a "fast, easy way to sign in without all the tracking".
Sign in with Apple uses Face ID to start a new account, without revealing any personal information. Some platforms will want your name and email, but Sign in with Apple will let you hide your address. Apple will create a unique private email address that forwards to your actual email. Each app / service gets its own random email address, which can be disabled at any time.
Sign in with Apple will also work on the web.
Camera and Photos
Portrait mode in the iOS 13 camera is getting a new more portrait lighting effect, and you'll be able to customise the intensity of existing portrait lighting effects.
Apple is also adding a new photo editing interface which lets you tap and drag to make adjustments to brightness, saturation, et al. In addition, there are a couple of new adjustments available, such as sharpening, noise reduction, and white balance.
For the first time, these same adjustments - including rotation, filters, and effects - will all be available to video.
In addition, the Photo app is getting a new viewing mode which uses machine learning to hide to duplicates and clutter (like screenshots) so that you only see your best shots. You'll be able to view by day, month, or year,
Memoji stickers
Apple's personalised emojis are becoming stickers, and will be available on all iOS devices powered by at least an A9 processor (iPhone 6s and up). Previously, Memojis were only available on iPhones with Face ID.
Memojis will also be more customisable in iOS 13, with features like makeup, piercings, and accessories including glasses, hats, and naturally, AirPods.
Maps
Apple Maps has always played second fiddle to Google Maps, but Apple is hoping to change that with iOS 13. The app has been rebuilt from scratch, Apple is collecting more comprehensive map data (which will cover the entire US by the end of the year, and select other countries next year), and a Look Around mode that's pretty much just street view. You'll be able to set favourite locations, and share ETA information with friends and family when using navigation.
Audio
iOS 13 will make your AirPods and HomePod more useful. If you've got AirPods, Siri will now be able to read messages to you as they arrive, and you can instantly respond.
If you've got friends with AirPods, you'll be able to share music from your phone to someone else's AirPods so you can listen to the same song at the same time. You can do this by tapping on one iPhone on the other.
If you've got a HomePod, you'll be able to hand off music by tapping your iPhone on your HomePod. In addition, HomePod is getting multi-user support for personalised music, messages, and reminders. It's about time, to be honest.
Everything else
iOS 13 also has plenty of other features. These include:
- A redesigned Reminders app
- Time-synced lyrics in Apple Music
- The ability to send unknown callers directly to voice mail
- Sharing suggestions based on who you regularly interact with
- iMessage profile pictures that let you share your name and photo with other iMessage users
- A low data mode
- A new gallery view in the Notes app
- Per-website preference in Safari
- A redesigned CarPlay interface
Alex Choros
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