The public betas of all Apple operating systems have been available since Monday. I have already tried iOS 16 and watchOS 9.
As in previous years, Apple releases a public beta of all new operating systems a few weeks after WWDC. Unlike the developer betas, these versions are not only available with a paid developer account. The beta software can be installed on any supported device via a dedicated website. However, this entails some risks. In general, experience has shown that a beta version contains bugs and errors. Anyone who is dependent on the error-free functioning of their devices should therefore wait until the official release.
iOS 16
I irrationally installed the iOS beta on my main device, an iPhone 11 Pro Max. Before that I made an offline backup via the Mac and backed up all important files in the iCloud again. It is important to also check the compatibility of your own bank apps and, as a precaution, to set up all tan apps on another device. After the installation, I immediately configured the new lock screen. The new widgets are pretty and helpful. So far, there are still no offers from third-party apps, but hopefully that will change soon. It’s a pity that the new depth effect doesn’t work with widgets.
The depth effect also works with your own images (left)
Hopefully that will change before the final release. The object recognition in the photo app still has problems for me, but when an object is recognized, it looks very good. I noticed the new home app positively. This is now much clearer and more intuitive. However, functions such as calling back or changing messages in iMessage only work if both sides have iOS 16 installed.
New Home app (left), stickers in iMessage (right)
The first bugs I found were all rather harmless. In the new search on the home screen, the search field jumps into its actual position after the animation. Similarly harmless bugs are scattered throughout the system. Airdrop doesn’t really work reliably for me and the new play screen on the lock screen occasionally flickers. The battery consumption is uncomfortably high, which is also the reason why I cannot recommend installing the beta at the moment. My iPhone 11 Pro Max doesn’t last a full day even with the Smart Battery case. In strong sunlight, the iPhone throttles the brightness directly.
WatchOS 9
After more or less good experiences with the iPhone, I installed the watchOS 9 beta on an Apple Watch 4. In contrast to the iPhone, I used a second device with the Watch. That’s because it’s not possible to downgrade to a secure version of WatchOS without the help of an Apple Store. So far the watch is running better than the iPhone. The new dials (as far as they are available on the Apple Watch 4) look chic and can be extensively adapted to your own look as usual.
Neuen Watch Faces in WatchOS 9
There are small changes in many places, such as the new animation for notifications, which now comes in from above, similar to iOS, instead of filling the entire screen. The revised sleep tracking function is clear. I can’t say anything about the accuracy of the sleep phase detection.
Conclusion
At this time, I cannot recommend installing the beta software. The problems with the increased power consumption and the bugs, most of which I probably haven’t discovered yet, are a limitation in everyday life. For a second device or the spare iPhone in the drawer, I can still recommend it for those who are curious.
further link: Apple Public Beta