The world has evolved for the better. Apple is now distinctly not just a fruit but a household name for the most commercial phone name ever. Consequently, iOS remains the front-runner in paving way for new features and functionalities for end-users. Everybody wants to know what’s new in iOS in 2024.

Apple as a company remains the pioneer in inventing solutions that stand apart from the crowd. In terms of customer-centricity, no one can surpass it. iOS apps have always held a special place for their brilliance and innovation globally and in the United States.

Businesses and IT companies also see what the latest iOS release brings. Therefore, they develop advanced iOS apps that can appeal to the audience. It’s about constant innovation and remaining grounded by keeping up with the new iOS releases.

Latest iOS Updates: Releases & Versions of Apple iOS

Every time an iOS version comes out, it brings new excitement for consumers. They want to be aware of what’s new in iOS instantly. Here we get you covered on all major iOS releases brought by Apple till 2024.

Next, we discuss these biggest versions of iOS in detail.

Apple iOS 15

Mobile platform leader Apple announced iOS 15 with a loud audible bang on 7th May 2021. It is currently in the beta cycle. A stable public release is likely to launch in September 2021.

With each release of an iOS version, what is promised is excitement, thrill, and ways for dictating the consumer market. The 15th release of iOS has been no different. So, it has rocked Apple devices to bring some great innovation to the forefront.

The personal assistant Siri has greater control, with users to command Siri even without any internet connection. Users can watch shows through a range of on-demand TV channels with a variety of pause, play, and forward features. You now no longer need to carry your Driver’s license that can be saved in your Apple Wallet.

Revert to a news story without digging through the entire iMessage list. Your phone can even help you identify an object in a photo and even give you cool information about it. You have the Focus mode for muting notifications for a selected time.

Apple Maps are cooler with more updates. So is your Safari browser with greater capabilities. iOS 15 makes you the boss of text on all photos that can be literally copied, pasted, or even translated.

You have greater privacy controls on how apps take up your information. Apple iOS 15 enables you to decide who sees your email address as well as browsing activities. All of this makes iOS 15 a great extension to a long-running tradition of awesomeness from Apple.

Next: iOS 15 Benefits

iOS 14.7

Apple iOS 14.7 is available as beta in the market. iOS 14.7 Beta 4 build was introduced on 29th June 2021. The final release of Apple iOS 14.7 is projected for release somewhere in July 2021.

iOS 14.7 allows users to set timers for HomePod in the Home app. It has expanded the Air Quality feature in the weather app to more countries. Apple is refining the Podcasts app, to improve the new Podcasts Subscription feature. The battery drain bug in iOS 14.6 is fixed in iOS 14.7 seemingly.

Apple is still keeping the features unraveling in the covers. So, there is a lot more we are anticipating. However, all the bug and security fixes will also be available in this upcoming release.

Apple iOS 14.6

The final release of Apple iOS 14.6 came out on 24th May 2021. iOS 14.6 introduced new features like Apple Card Family, Find My network accessories, and AirTag tracking with an email address. Accessibility with voice, Greater support for Apple Music with Dolby Atmos, and Apple Podcast Subscriptions are the latest additions.

Previous: iOS 14.6 Advantages

iOS 14

Apple iOS 14 kicked off on 16th September 2020 with support for devices running on iOS 13. With the point-seven release, iOS 14 became the second iOS version to have most releases to tie with iOS 13. Having a stable iOS dedicated to supporting iPhone makes Apple’s job easy. This also means that iOS 14 is more about various small to medium changes on user interfaces.

It came loaded with features to make the overall experience of the phone a more elevated one for the users. You get to experience the Homescreen widgets, for selecting your default apps and improved privacy controls. With Apple iOS 14, you also get many other benefits.

Smart Stacks delivers different Homescreen Widgets at different times of the day based on your habits. You can set third-party apps as default for email and web browser apps. It offers you App Library, a new way of organizing apps and keeping your home screen neat.

App Clips and picture in picture mode are nice features. Improved privacy allows you to block tracking online. The 14th release of iOS has built-in language translation for 11 languages.

Spatial audio for AirPods delivers surround sound, along with other AirPods improvements. Design changes allow phone calls and FaceTime calls to take up less space on the screen. This enables you to do other things at the same time. Numerous improvements for group texts in iMessage, including threaded replies and mentions.

Apple iOS 13

iOS 13 launched on 19th September 2019 for iPhone, iPod Touch, and HomePod devices. Apple iOS 13 was the first iOS version to have the most releases (7, later tied with iOS 14). Moreover, iOS 13 dropped support for iPhone 6 series, iPhone 5S, iPad, and 6th generation iPod touch.

Since Apple iOS 13, iPad tablets now run on iPadOS. The reason for having a separate OS for the iPad is to have more usability and productivity on the device. Apple is more focused on making the iPad devices a full companion for users.

This makes iOS 13 faster and lighter for its users with some great new features. For example, system-wide dark mode, sign in with apple user account system, and new Portrait Lighting options. The 13th major release of iOS had new privacy and security options such as unlocking devices with Face ID faster.

It came armed with Look Around – a Google Street View-style feature for Apple Maps. New improved Siri voice and overhauled stock apps like Reminders and Notes were good additions. iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 only support devices having a minimum of 2 GB of RAM.

iOS 12

Apple iOS 12 started on 17th September 2018 and focused on performance, quality, and security. iOS 12 capitalized on the previous release with nothing major released for showcasing. However, it more emphasized updating commonly used features so that consumers get a more uplifted user experience. For this reason, Siri has Siri Shortcuts, Augmented Reality with ARKit 2, and Screen Time.

Apple iOS 11

iOS 11 started on 19th September 2017, with its last release on 9th July 2018. Moreover, Apple iOS 11 dropped support for iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPad 4, and iPad 3. Apple had developed iOS primarily for iPhone. But expanded it for iPod touch and iPad including Apple Watch and Apple TV.

This version was more focused on uplifting the iPad Pro Series. So that they become ideal companions for users to even replace their laptops. The logic was to make iOS run more like a desktop operating system through several changes.

For instance, drag and drop support, split-screen apps, multiple workspaces, and file browser app. The 11th major version of iOS had support for notation and handwriting with the Apple Pencil. It also included new features of Augmented Reality and AirPlay 2.

iOS 10

Apple iOS 10 emerged on 13th September 2016, with its last release coming on 22nd July 2019. iOS 10 dropped support for iPhone 4S, 5th generation iPad touch, 1st generation iPad mini, and iPad 2. Apple has a digital ecosystem where users can do many operations within that domain. But anything outside is hard to get in and vice versa.

The 10th major iOS release made it easy for apps to be welcomed in the domain through interoperability and customization. It also meant that apps could freely communicate with one another and even Siri’s availability to third-party apps. There were even apps built into iMessage and even delete inbuilt apps.

Apple iOS 9

iOS 9 came on 16th September 2015, with the last release coming on 22nd July 2019. iOS has gone through a series of radical changes that seemed improvised rather than properly planned. This meant that the stability and dependency of the operating system were questioned.

That’s why Apple iOS 9 was more about stabilizing the foundation of the OS more than anything else. Also, it had some new features including Night Shift, Low Power Mode, and Public beta program. However, consumers were happy with the speed and responsiveness of the OS in comparison to its previous versions.

iOS 8

Apple iOS 8 started on 17th September 2014, with the last version on 13th August 2015. Unlike its predecessor, iOS 8 was stable with Apple focused on delivering new features. For example, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud Drive, Handoff, Family Sharing, HomeKit, and Third-party Keyboards, etc.

The key feature of the contactless payment system Apple Pay was released with the iOS 8.4 update. Also, you had the Apply Music Subscription services. The major 8th iOS release also brought improvement in the iCloud platform with the addition of iCloud Drive (much like Dropbox), iCloud Photo Library, and iCloud Music Library.

Conclusion

New iOS release always brings excitement for the mobile consumers. Also, it pleases iOS app developers who get to put their thinking cap. Thus, they go on and develop some new exciting apps for smartphone users.

In case, you are a company that has a great idea to put into practice by developing an iOS app. Then, you must have complete knowledge about how iOS app development works. A proper team of consultants, designers, developers, QAs and DevOps, – puts you at a solid start for something great.

However, your budget may not be as such to hire a proper team. But you can have a few resources working dedicatedly on an outsourced model as a team extension. That way it can best suit your business requirements with less operational costs.

All this is possible during 2024 and upcoming years. It starts with a 1-1 discussion with Techliance – a highly reputable IT services development company since 2008. With the release of a brand-new iOS version, you can capture the audience with the launch of your mobile app. Contact us today to get on track.