Build Number

You can navigate to Device Settings > General > About to check the build number. Then, you can find the build number for the beta of iOS 16.3 (20D5035i). This could be the last beta before the release candidate, or there could be Beta 3.

iPhone 14 Pro Max Modem on IOS

The most recent iPhone 14 Pro Max firmware on iOS is 1.41.00. The modem number will vary depending on the device, and it typically helps with connectivity and fixing bugs. Since connectivity is already reliable for most users, it is recommended to do this update.

Emergency SOS: New Features

Emergency SOS features are small changes, but they are finally here. Open Device Settings > Emergency SOS > Emergency, and you’ll find the most recent changes. You’ll see some wording with the same function, as well as various options, including “Call with Hold and Release” instead of “Call with Hold,” “Call with 6 Button Presses” instead of “Call with 6 Presses,” and offering features such as “Call Quietly” and “Call After a Server Crash.” These enhanced features could be beneficial. The iPhone 14 Pro Max also has crash-detection capabilities.

Dynamic Island, having fewer outline lines, appears fainter.

When you open Music, you’ll notice that the black wallpaper and the outline of activity on the dynamic island on the dark wallpaper are barely visible. They have changed this a few times, but you can change it in some apps more than others. Overall, the outline is less prominent than in some other versions. I won a small amount on my latest bet.

New Parking Options in Apple Maps in Some Cities

Apple Maps has been updated with a new feature for parking in certain major cities and those with upgraded map details. When searching for a location such as Carnegie Hall, you will see a new parking option redirecting you to its partner, Spot Hero. From there, you can book parking at Carnegie Hall starting today, pick a date, and see the current prices. This feature is now built into the maps but is only available in some places. It depends on the city you’re searching in; some major cities in the U.S., like New York, have this option.

Include Security Key Features

With Beta 1, we had a couple of significant features. Under Settings > Account, within the Password and Security section, there is now an option to add a security key. This helps provide a physical security key for strong two-factor authentication. For example, if you add a Fido Security key with NFC, such as the Google Titan Key, you can tap it to sign into your account. This Fido Certified Security Key allows third-party hardware to verify your identity when you sign in. Many people may still need to be made aware of this feature.

To use the key:

Insert it and activate it as your first security key.
If you have a compatible NFC key, bring it to the iPhone, and you will see it added after a short while.
Name it a security key; you will need two keys to do this.

After pairing, in your iCloud settings, if you navigate down to Private Relay, you will notice that if it’s enabled, there is now an option to turn it off.

With this update, you now have one less choice: cancel. You still have the option to turn it off tomorrow or turn off the remote relay. Apart from these, there are no additional updates or features. One noticeable thing is that under accessibility, there are various changes within the code. These changes are mostly wording changes, but nothing significant other than 2FA authentication with the Fido Security Key and the update to Emergency SOS that we have shared. So far, there have been no significant changes.

Airpods Connectivity

One thing to note is that AirPods connect very quickly, and switching between devices is faster than before.

Performance

Regarding motion, everything now appears more smooth, and interactions are much quicker. Apple made some changes, but the overall release notes provided by Apple do not contain a lot of helpful information. They have been providing scant information lately, which has become more common. However, stable releases do have all the notes, and beta releases should also have them to help both users and developers.

Battery

For most users, the battery does not perform well. Over the past two beta releases, many users have encountered poor battery performance, and Apple will likely fix these issues with future updates. Some reports suggest that the device is warmer than before the last update.

Bugs

There don’t seem to be any noticeable bugs with this update. The UI is relatively smooth and responsive. Even the easy-to-operate home shutter is absent. However, the YouTube rotation bug is still there, likely a bug from Google, and they are expected to roll out an update soon. A second issue is with the camera—an overprocessing issue with images. However, this issue occurs primarily in dimly lit areas, and the company has yet to address it.

Another common problem is that iPhone storage takes up a lot of system data. This may be because something is being processed in the background, as most of these are cached data and should be cleared over time. And it uses different applications, so some applications are doing something in the background that users are not aware of yet. However, either way, it takes a long time to load. If you are on Beta 1, you should install the developer or public beta and report your feedback to the company. If you aren’t in the beta, you should wait for the public release, which could be iOS 16.2.1; although Apple hasn’t confirmed this yet, it seems highly probable. We’re probably a few versions away from iOS 16.3, and Beta 3 could be released next week or an RC (release candidate).

IOS 16.3 beta 2 is now available. Check out the updated and added features.