Apple releases iOS 16.5 beta 2 with these new features [U]

iOS 16.5 beta 2 is now rolling out to registered developers. This release comes two weeks after the release of the first iOS 16.5 beta, which introduced a few minor changes. Head below for the full details.

Update April 12, 2023: Now available to public beta testers.

What’s new in iOS 16.5?

iOS 16.5 beta 2 will be available today to registered developer beta testers. As the update rolls out over the air within the next hour, you’ll be able to install it by going to the Settings app, choosing General, then choosing Software Update. The build number for today’s update is 20F5039e.

As attention starts to shift to iOS 17, which will be introduced in just two months at WWDC, iOS 16.5 doesn’t include many notable changes.

iOS 16.5 adds new screen recording commands to Siri, which allows you to start or stop a screen recording using the virtual assistant. The update also adds a dedicated Sports tab to the Apple News app, something that has been highly-requested among sports fans in the past.

Finally, code found within iOS 16.5 also suggests Apple has been working on a new quad-box picture-in-picture feature for the TV app, specifically for streaming multiple sporting events at the same time. Apple currently offers things like MLS Season Pass and Friday Night Baseball for live sports. Quad-box picture-in-picture for sports would match the experience offered by other streaming TV services.

Apple will likely release iOS 16.5 to the general public sometime in May. A new public beta will be released later this week as the company continues beta testing ahead of that general release.

Other new Apple betas

Alongside iOS 16.5 beta 2 today, Apple is also rolling out the following new betas for developers:

• iPadOS 16.5 beta 2
• watchOS 9.5 beta 2
• tvOS 16.5 beta 2
• macOS Ventura 13.4 beta 2

Spot any changes in today’s software updates? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter. Stay tuned for our full hands-on coverage with the new releases right here at 9to5Mac today and throughout the rest of the week.

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