We discuss whether or not you should install the iOS 16 beta on your iPhone and talk about our experience in terms of teething issues, bugs, battery life and so on.
- iOS 16 is currently in its third developer beta. Apple recently launched the iOS 16 public beta, but should it be on the iPhone you use on a daily basis?
- There are pros and cons to using pre-release software. In this video, we talk about our experience with the iOS 16 beta, bugs, speed, battery life and more.
- We are almost halfway through the iOS 16 beta testing cycle. Apple will continue to release new iOS 16 betas ahead of the public launch this fall.
Should you install the iOS 16 beta on your iPhone?
Our videographer Michael Billig (@michael_billig) discusses these topics in the video included at the top of this post. Michael participated in the first iOS 16 developer beta and also installed betas 2 and 3 on his iPhone, making it perfect for comparing the developer betas to the first public beta of iOS 16. Apple allows the general public to download and test beta versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Read: How to dramatically speed up watchOS software updates on Apple Watch
How to enroll in the Apple Software Beta Program
All you have to do is sign up for a free account on the Apple Beta Program website at beta.apple.com with your Apple ID (regular Apple ID will do, no need to have an Apple Developer ID account). After that, you need to register your device for the beta, which involves downloading a special configuration profile from the website. This configuration profile configures the software update mechanism so that iOS 16 beta appears as an over-the-air download. Read: How to update AirTag firmware
If you’re not a pioneer and don’t want to live on the cutting edge, wait until iOS 16’s public launch in September. We’ve released several how-to videos on iOS 16 that highlight various aspects of the operating system, including the magic of the lock screen, as well as hidden and little-known features.