iOS 13 is now available for download for your iPhone. But what are the most important innovations now? These are the 12 most important iOS 13 features.
iOS 13 Features: More than a dark mode
iOS 13 is an update that consists of numerous minor tweaks. When added together, this makes for an incredibly pleasant user experience. Since the improvements are very subtle, you may have a hard time finding them after installing. In this overview of iOS 13 functions, we therefore list our favorite innovations.
1. Dark mode
The moment has arrived. With iOS 13, iPhone users can finally take advantage of a dark mode. With this you change the white menus of iOS in a dark version with the push of a button. This is not only pleasant for your eyes, the dark mode also consumes less power so that your battery lasts longer.
The dark mode ensures that all apps from Apple now have a dark theme. Think of Music, Notes and the background of your iPhone. From now on, the lights have also been turned off in the Phone app.
→ Read more: Tip: This is how you turn on the dark mode of iOS 13
2. Optimized charging
Optimized Charging is a small addition to iOS 13, but one of the best. Because of this, your iPhone will extend the life of your battery in a smart way. The battery retains its capacity longer, so that even after years of use you still have a device that can last for hours without a socket.
→ Read more: This is how iOS 13 optimized charging works
3. Block telemarketers
Are you regularly harassed by telemarketers or other unwanted callers? The new iPhone update makes it easier than ever to silence these calls. When you activate the function, unknown callers, or phone numbers that are not in your contact list, will be automatically forwarded to your voicemail.
→ Read more: How to automatically block unknown callers in iOS 13
4. Pair Bluetooth devices at lightning speed
How annoying is it if you want to watch a series on your iPhone or iPad, but find out that your bluetooth headset is no longer connected? IOS 13 makes it a lot easier to reconnect paired Bluetooth devices. Previously you had to do this in the settings menu, but from iOS 13 this can be done from the Control Panel.
→ Read more: How to quickly connect Bluetooth devices to your iPhone in iOS 13
5. Attach USB sticks and hard drives
You probably store more and more in the cloud, but in some cases an external drive, such as a USB stick or hard drive, still comes in handy. For example, if you have a slow internet connection and need to transfer a lot of files, copying to online storage takes a long time. From iOS 13, you can therefore easily connect hard drives, USB sticks and SD cards to your iPhone (or iPad).
→ Read more: This is how you connect USB sticks and external drives to your iPhone and iPad
6. Siri will collaborate more
Apple’s smart voice assistant can help you even better. The voice assistant has especially been given more options to control other apps. In addition, the voice now sounds a lot more natural and you can listen to the radio via a command, among other things. Siri is also better tailored to your habits and you get better suggestions in Podcasts, Safari and Maps.
→ Read also: These 5 improvements for Siri are hidden in iOS 13
7. Log in securely
With Sign in with Apple, Apple offers an alternative to logging in via Facebook or Google, with a focus on your privacy. The data that is shared when you log in via Apple consists only of your username and your email address. But it will even be possible to block your email address. The service you log in to will then see a fake address and Apple will forward the emails to your real address.
→ Read more: Sign in with Apple: these are all advantages at a glance
8. Quickly connect to a WiFi network
In iOS 13 and iPadOS you can connect to a WiFi network faster and easier. You no longer have to dive into the settings, but you can do it from your Control Panel. When the WiFi network is protected with a password, you will still be forwarded to the Settings. Of course, the access codes are saved, so that you can connect directly from the Control Panel next time.
→ Read more: iOS 13 tip: how to quickly connect to a WiFi network
9. Favorite locations in Maps
For lovers of favorite location capture, Apple Maps was not the easiest navigation app. In iOS 13 that has been improved a lot and you can create a collection of your favorite restaurants in no time. You can save frequently used favorite locations as well as entire collections of, for example, the best restaurants in a certain city.
→ Read more: iOS 13 tip: add favorite locations and lists in Apple Maps
10. Two pairs of AirPods on one iPhone
A small but useful addition to iOS 13 is the ability to listen to the same audio with two pairs of AirPods. This is useful if you have the same taste in music, or, for example, watch a movie on the iPad on public transport. The feature is officially called ‘Audio Sharing’ and is available from iOS 13.1.
You can control the audio settings in pairs. With Audio Sharing, it doesn’t matter whether you have first or second generation AirPods: it works on both versions. Unfortunately, other headsets are not (yet) supported. So you really both need a set of AirPods to listen together.
→ Read more: Tip: Watch a movie together on one iPhone or iPad with two pairs of AirPods
11. Pair the controller with your iPhone
iOS 13 takes gaming on your iPhone to the next level. From now on you can easily connect a PlayStation 4 or Xbox controller to the phone. When an app recognizes these joysticks, you don’t have to do anything to use it. The good news is that hundreds of apps already support this feature, with more programs to come in the future.
→ Read more: How to connect a PlayStation or Xbox controller to your iPhone or iPad
12. HomeKit Improvements
iOS 13 makes HomeKit simpler and more secure. For example, the entry threshold to get started with the smart home platform is a lot lower. You will notice this in the simplified operation in which so-called cards are central. IOS 13 also makes it possible to store images from your security camera securely in the cloud, after which you can watch them back up to ten days.
→ Read more: In these 5 ways, iOS 13 makes HomeKit simpler and more secure
More about iOS 13
Do you want to know more about the biggest iOS update of 2019? Read our extensive iOS 13 review, watch the video discussion or be surprised with the overview of small iOS 13 functions.
- Summary: 16 Small iOS 13 Features That Are Worth It
- Read our iOS 13 review