8 of the best features of iOS 15 and how to download it

Apple have finally unveiled exactly what they’ve been working on since the launch of their iPhone 12 series and boy is it good.

They’ve graced us with not one but four brand new iPhones. Ladies and gentlemen, it gives us great honour to introduce to you the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Apple have really done themselves proud with this event and the new devices really boast the best of the brand.

So, many of you who’re paying close attention, will now be wondering what this means for iOS 15.

All new devices range iOS 15 meaning you’ll finally be able to get to grips with all the tricks that come with the new software update – yet another perk of pre-ordering one of the new devices today.

Fancy a recap on just how good iOS 15 is? You’re in luck. Here are 8 of the best features including the low down on The all new focus feature.

1) It's time to focus with Apple.

Heading back into the office? Want to ensure you spend less time staring at your mobile and more time finishing that report that was due last week? Need to spend less time browsing your socials before bed? You're in luck.

Apple's new focus feature is perfect. It's a handy way of ensuring you stay focused and keep distractions at bay.

The best bit about this new feature is that you can tailor it to suit your needs. Whether you're hard at work, having a digital detox or hitting the hay for the night, this feature has it all.

iPhone users can set their mobiles to create a custom focus or can select a suggested focus.

The suggested focuses are based on what you're doing in your day, be that your working hours or the time you settle down for bed.

It works by filtering out certain notifications and apps so you can pick and choose what you want to see.

If the group chat is popping off and you're sick of your iPhone alerting you every five seconds, you can tailor your focus to block out iMessage or WhatsApp. This is the same for calls too.

If you decide to block out your iMessage notifications, other iPhone users will be notified of your status and can recognise you as unreachable.

This new feature won't block out every app and you can create Home Screen pages with apps and widgets that will show you notifications when needed. This is great if you want to tune out of socials but still want to see your emails.

There's a whole bunch of other focus settings you can create when you don't want to be disturbed.

If you're working out and you're in a groove, you can block notifications from all apps except fitness related ones. If you're sleeping and don't want to be woken up, unless it's an emergency, you can allow notifications from certain numbers.

Perhaps you're actually a bit of a workaholic and you're taking a well deserved night off. Block notifications from your email account or Teams.

Here's how to set up a new focus:

• Head to Settings.
• Tap Focus and select the + button to add a new focus.
• Select from the list of existing focus modes or create your own by selecting custom.
• You'll be prompted to choose which of your contacts, if any, you'd like to be able to contact when that particular focus is activated.
• Select which apps, if any, you want to receive notifications from when that focus is active.
• Apple will ask whether you want to receive Time Sensitive Notifications when that focus is active. These are important notifications from apps that may not be able to wait.

It's time to get your focus on people!

2) Is there a new interior designer in the house?

Notifications are getting a complete revamp as iOS 15 is set to bring a whole bunch of updates that make them easier on the eye and much more practical.

With the new update, Notifications will display contact photos for people making it easier to distinguish who it is that’s popped up on your iPhone.

Your iPhone will also do the hard work for you and filter through your notifications to determine which are urgent and which aren’t.

The all-new personalised notification summary will collectively gather non-urgent notifications and deliver them at a better time.

How does it know which are urgent? You ask. We’re glad you did because this is when it gets cool. On-device intelligence will analyse your interactions with apps and then determine which apps and notifications you’d want to see.

Right now, you can mute any app or messaging conversation and iOS 15 will suggest muting a thread if you’re not particularly engaged with it.

Be it the old university group chat you wish you could leave but feel too bad, or it’s the family group chat with photos of babies and kitchen tiles to choose from.

3) FaceTime fun.

iOS 15 will bring more than one update to FaceTime making it more fun for everyone. Spatial Audio is a new funky feature that will allow voices to sound as though they’re coming from wherever the person is located on the screen.

With new microphone modes, you’ll be able to distinguish your recipients voice from any background noise, making for better calls no matter where they take place.

If you’re using FaceTime for a work call or your kitchen is messy and you don’t want people to see, Portrait mode is coming for you.

This will allow you to blur your background and put yourself as the star of the show – which is what we all want on a FaceTime isn’t it?

SharePlay is another super-cool feature that we want to talk about. It allows users to share experiences with each other during calls.

This means you could have a movie date over FaceTime as all media is synced and shared between participants. Anyone in the SharePlay session can interact with the content, be that to play, pause, fast forward or rewind.

Apple have even got Disney+, TikTok, HBO and more on board – making it easier to enjoy your favourite entertainment.

The major FaceTime update is the fact that it’s coming to Android. You read that right people. With iOS 15, FaceTime users can send a link to Android users, allowing them to join the call via the web.

This means Android users will never again have to feel left out of those big group calls – they’ll finally get a taste of what Apple has to offer.

4) See everything in 3D.

Maps is getting a huge update courtesy of iOS 15. How does an enhanced, 3D view of your favourite cities sound?

The world is soon to be opening back up again and we imagine you have more road trips planned than ever before.

Maps is set to help you get to where you need to be – only this time it looks much nicer. Houses, shops, schools, monuments and everything in between will be brought to life in 3D. Enjoy a more scenic route – you deserve it.

If you prefer to keep things greener and love to walk, there’s an update for you too. A new walking directions view will use augmented reality to generate an accurate position that lets you see the world around you more clearly.

5) A trip down memory lane.

The Photos app is getting a huge update to its Memories section, including a new design, a more interactive interface and full Apple Music integration.

You can flick through your holiday photos from last year and Memories will suggest songs based on your listening history.

This offers a more personalised experience that’ll have you feeling all kinds of nostalgia as you sieve through them.

If you’re familiar with memories, you’ll know that there are currently trends that show a holiday or Christmas, but the new update will bring new trends that make memories much more fun.

Enjoy child-focused memories, international holidays and improved pet memories – so you can distinguish between more than one dog!

6) Your Health counts.

Apple’s Health app is a great way of making sure you stay fit and healthy as well as safe. iOS 15 brings updates to the app that allow you to enjoy a more in-depth experience.

Share your health data with family members and carers with the new sharing tab. It’s important that those closest to you know what’s going on with your health so they can assist you should you ever need it.

One thing that’s certainly worth shouting about is the fact that the new updates bring the option to input your COVID-19 vaccinations and test results to the app. To do this, users will simply need to use a QR code from a healthcare provider.

7) Message mayhem.

Group chats are about to get a severe makeover, courtesy of iOS 15. If you're in one of those chats where everyone sends about 100 different pictures, you'll want to tune in now.

With iOS 15, group chats will now have a collage feature which displays multiple images at once, saving you the hassle of scrolling through them all.

iOS 15 will bring around a new friendship too. The Message app has teamed up with the News app and will show you any links or other bits and pieces that your friends have shared with you - just check out the Shared with You tab.

8) Let's get live.

Rumour has it that iOS 15 will bring about a feature called Live Text. This is pretty much what it says on the tin.

It'll allow you to take a photo of a piece of text, be that a menu, a sign or something in a different language. Then highlight it, copy it into a document or translate it.

Some of you may be getting Google Lens feels - and you'd be right. We'd go as far to say that this new iOS 15 feature will be Google Lens' biggest competitor.

We can’t wait

Congrats on being so patient guys, but the wait is finally over. You can order your iPhone 13 today with free next day delivery!

If you're happy with your current iPhone, you can download iOS 15 now.

1) Head to Settings.

2) Tap General.

3) Select Software Update.

Voila! iOS 15 should be ready and waiting for you.