The 8 best iOS 13 new features you’ll want to try

After tons of Beta testing since Apple announced its latest iOS operating system back in June at WWDC, the final version of iOS 13 is finally here.

The new update brought a plethora of new features like a new system-wide dark mode, an overhauled Photos app, a revamped Apple Maps, a more mature Reminder app. But most of the changes focus on performance improvements and the aesthetic.

The update is currently rolling out to all iPhone users. It’s available to download both over-the-air in the Settings app, and by connecting your device to iTunes. You can go ahead and download it to your iPhone.

In the meantime, here are the biggest iOS 13 new features you should be excited about.

iOS 13 New Features

1. Dark Mode

Apple has finally added the long-overdue Dark Mode to iOS. Now you’ll be able to use a system-wide dark mode on your iPhone when working at night to reduce eye strain in low light conditions. Your iPhone battery will last longer if it uses an OLED display, which was debuted on the iPhone X.

All Apple apps will be updated to work seamlessly with Dark Mode. However, you may have to wait for third-party app developers to add support to their apps before you can enjoy Dark Mode.

2. Photos and Videos Editing Tools

iOS 13 brings new photo and video editing tools to your iPhone. It lets you adjust many dynamic ranges like the noise reduction intensity of portrait lighting, shadows, brilliance, contrast, highlights, saturation, white balance, sharpness, etc. You can also rotate videos right in the Photos app, which comes in very handy.

3. Privacy and Security

The consumer giant tech has long been a champion in terms of Privacy and Security. With iOS 13, Apple doesn’t seem to slow down any time soon as the company has implemented a few new features to keep your data safe and secure.

The most notable new feature is “Sign in with Apple”. Multiple apps made it way too easy for you to sign in or sign up to their services with options like “Sign in with Google” or “Sign in with Facebook”.

Now you’ll be able to sign in with Apple without sharing any of your personal data with third-party apps, unlike Google and Facebook which are data-hungry.

You can, of course, share your email with the third-party app if you want to. But if you don’t trust the app and prefer to not share any of your personal data, Apple can create a random email address for you that forwards directly to your real email address.

4. Apple Maps

For those who use Apple Maps as their main navigation app, this update is for you. The updated Apple Maps is getting a makeover. It now includes a Street View style feature similar to Google Street View.

You’ll be able to look around a location in a 360-degree photo to have an idea of what it looks like. The new maps will be available in the U.S. by the end of the year, and in more countries in 2020, according to Apple.

5. iMessage Profile Pictures

iMessage, one of the best messaging apps, will get a personal touch with iOS 13. If you’ve used WhatsApp and Messenger, you’ll be familiar with this new update.

You can personalize your iMessage with your name and a profile picture, which will be helpful to differentiate who’s who in your iMessage threads.

Like Bitmoji, Apple now will create a variety of new stickers whenever you create a new Memoji to use within iMessage.

6. Download Files in Safari

If there’s one thing Safari does not excel at is certainly how to download files locally. iOS 13 will add a download manager at the top right corner of the Safari browser, which will allow you to download files directly to iCloud Drive by default.

When you come across a download link, tap on it a new window will pop up asking if you want to download it.

If you tap on the download manager button, you’ll see everything you’ve downloaded. From there you can share it or find the location where the file has been saved.

7. Revamped Reminders App

From a complete redesign to new features, the Reminders app got a facelift in iOS 13. When you open the app, you’ll find a dashboard at the top 4 boxes in a grid-style view of your reminders organized into different categories: Today, Scheduled, All, Flagged.

One of the biggest features is that you can use natural language to create reminders via Siri. The app will also support the ability to add photos, weblinks, and documents, which makes it more competitive against a lot of third-party reminders apps you’ll find in the App Store.

8. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in Control Center

iOS 13 now gives iPhone users the ability to quickly connect to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks through the Control Center without needing to go to the Settings app.

From the Control Center, tap and hold the connection area to expand it, then tap and hold on the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection icon to view and connect to available networks.

Will my iPhone work with iOS 13?

iOS 13 requires iPhone 6S or later. If you own an earlier model you’re in bad luck, you’ll be stuck with iOS 12. Yes, the iPhone SE will support iOS 13 as it has the same specs as an iPhone 6S.

iOS 13 compatibility

Here’s a list of all devices that will support iOS 13

• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• 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
• iPod touch (seventh generation)

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