iOS 14.5 is the next version of iOS, and while it will not be as big an update as iOS 15, which is expected to land in its completed form only in September, it will still add a bunch of new features and improvements.
We know this because iOS 14.5 is already in beta, so developers and members of the public have come up with all sorts of interesting add-ons.
Here we have highlighted the five best things we expect in iOS 14.5. It is noteworthy that there is a chance that some of these things will not pop up, as features in beta sometimes do not reach the final version, but we will certainly expect most of them.
We’ve also included information on when iOS 14.5 is likely to land, so those who do not want to face the beta will know how long to wait.
iOS 14.5 release date
There’s no news on exactly when iOS 14.5 may launch, but we have reason to believe it’s coming soon.
There are a few reasons for this. In the first place, it is already available in both public and developer beta, indicating that it would probably appear soon. But secondly and more importantly, Apple has been releasing a new 14.x version every calendar month since the launch of iOS 14, and iOS 14.4 landed in January so we could see iOS 14.5 this month (February).
That said, iOS 14.4 started rolling out at the end of January, and the actual gap between new versions is on average just over a month, so it could be by the end of February or even beginning of March by the time we get iOS. 14.5, but it’s only weeks away at the time of writing.
Five things that will bring iOS 14.5 to your iPhone
We expect a lot of updates as part of iOS 14.5, but below we’ve listed the five most interesting we’ve heard so far.
1. Mask support for Face ID
Face ID was great until we all started wearing masks, but with iOS 14.5, Apple is doing well again, at least for Apple Watch owners.
This is because as long as your Apple Watch is unlocked, you can now use it to verify your identity on your phone, which means you can simply lift your phone as if you want to use Face ID, and it will unlock with a buzz on your wrist to tell you that your watch has done the hard work.
While it will work to unlock your iPhone, it currently does not work for other things that rely on Face ID, such as verifying purchases.
2. A standard music player of your choice
On iOS 14.4 and below, you’m stuck with Apple Music as the default music player, but with the iOS 14.5 beta you can finally change that.
The first time you request a song from Siri, you should ask which player you want to use, including Spotify, and then it should always be with the player from now on, so that you do not have to specify every request.
We say that it ‘should’ do, because the beta version seems to have problems with teeth, and does not work consistently for humans, but hopefully these problems will be ironed out in time for the finished version of iOS 14.5.
3. Transparency of applications
IOS 14.5 is also expected to include a major new privacy feature called App Tracking Transparency. For this, programs must get your permission before sharing activity and data with websites and programs owned by other businesses.
This data exchange is often used for advertising, for example by using Facebook largely, but with transparency by tracking apps, you can prefer it if you prefer, and Apple insists that users still have full access to apps, even if they choose they do not for this.
4. Support for PS5 and Xbox Series X Controller
If you’re a gamer, you probably appreciate the support of PS5 and Xbox Series X controllers as part of iOS 14.5. The Verge reports that this feature has been found in the public beta, and it should be a handy upgrade for anyone who owns one of these consoles, especially those who also use Apple Arcade.
It would probably be even more useful to play on an Apple TV, and although the feature has not yet been confirmed for tvOS, we would expect it to be added to it soon as well.
5. Bulk Alerts in Apple Maps
Many of us are not really going to at the moment, but for those who use Apple Maps a lot, there is a handy new feature in the iOS 14.5 beta.
MacRumors reports that you can now report accidents, hazards, and speed checks on your trip, and presumably if enough people indicate the same, a warning about it will appear on Apple Maps – even though so many people stay home and the feature is still in beta, it’s not enough use to confirm it as far as we can confirm.