Updates About The Latest iOS 13

iOS 13 release date and features list

Apple's big iPhone 11 launch event has come to a close and you can catch up on all the announcements here. It was a busy keynote with a bunch of new hardware products announced like the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 10.2-inch iPad and Apple Watch Series 5. With so much going on, the company did not spend a lot of time talking about the new software updates and when it would release its new operating systems for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac. 

Apple first announced iOS 13, iPad OS, watchOS 6, tvOS 13 and macOS Catalina at its WWDC developer conference a few months ago. Since then, Apple has released public beta builds for its new operating systems. Next week, Apple will release the stable iOS 13 for iPhones on September 19, which is a day before the iPhone 11 releases.

1. iOS 13 developer beta: First launched at WWDC 2019, this a version restricted to paid Apple developers, and initially required Xcode or macOS 10.15 to install. The second developer beta fixed that with an over-the-air (OTA) update. Simply put, it was not meant for average consumers, but for serious app developers.

2. iOS 13 public beta: Apple's larger-scale features test began on June 24, and has gone through 8 versions, culminating, oddly, with a beta for iOS 13.1 (before iOS 13 is even out). The public beta is the version to download if you're curious – it's often a more refined version of the iOS developer beta, although it can still be rough, and never includes all of the features implemented in the final version of the software.

3. iOS 13 golden master: Out now, this is the final version of the iOS 13 software for beta testers. It has launched one week early and is very stable. it gives app makers nine days to adapt before the final software launches to the masses.

iOS 13 features

Here's a list of the top new features that iOS 13 brings, in a handy bullet form:

• Dark mode
• Performance boost
• New editing tools and more in the Photos app
• New privacy features
• New app to find missing devices and track loved ones
• Revamped Reminders app
• Quick Path keyboard
• Maps app gets more refined data and new features
• Siri gets a new voice
• Memoji stickers expansion
• Health app brings new useful features
• Safari gets better
• Files app is a lot more useful now

Dark Mode the standout iOS 13 feature in 2019 – it inverts those bright white-screen backgrounds with more black and dark gray hues, making the display easier to read at night. It's a difference-maker in your day-to-day or night-to-night iPhone use.
The new QuickPath swipe keyboard is a big highlight too, and the new ways to edit photos have made us open Lightroom a lot less. It's plenty powerful compared to the native photo and video editing tools of iOS 12.4.

Note: iOS 13 is strictly for the iPhone (and iPod Touch). iPadOS is debuting for iPad with exclusive productivity features for the bigger tablet screen on September 30.

iOS 13 release date, eligible devices

iOS 13 will be released on September 19, and users will be able to download the operating system update globally from that day itself. Eligible devices for iOS 13 are the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, and the iPod touch (7th generation). Apple says that additional software features will be made available with iOS 13.1 from September 30. It won't be available to older devices that support up to iOS 12: iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus.

What time will the iOS 13 launches? 

Apple likes to time its new software updates for 10am PST (its local time in Cupertino) or 10:30 pm IST, but that sometimes gets a bit delayed (as observed last year by 90 minutes), and it can slowly roll out to people, as everyone is trying to download it at once. Apple servers often get jammed.