After months of beta testing, iOS 13 is ready to go.
Apple today launched the iOS 13 update to the public. It’s available for the iPhone SE as well as the iPhone 6s and later. If you’ve got a compatible device, you can download the update by going into Settings > General > Software Update.
As for what’s included, Apple has added a system-wide Dark Mode to iOS 13 so that you can use your phone at night without being blinded by a bright white interface. Dark Mode can be toggled in Control Center or set to activate automatically at night.
The update also brings swiping support to Apple’s keyboard, more Memoji customization options like hairstyles and makeup, and an improved reminders app. The upgraded CarPlay Dashboard will give you a simplified view, which should make it easier to use while you’re driving, and the updated Apple Maps will be more detailed and will include Look Around, a feature that’ll let you travel down streets and pan around 360 degrees.
The updated Photos app will give you a curated view of your best moments from a certain day, month, or year, and redesigned photo editing tools as well as video editing are included, too. Sign In with Apple will help you sign into apps and services more securely, and Siri is getting a new voice using advanced neural text-to-speech technology.
And then there’s watchOS 6. This update is now rolling out to the Apple Watch Series 3 and 4 models, and Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 owners can expect to get it later this fall. The update to watchOS 6 can be downloaded by launching the Watch app on your iPhone and selecting General > Software Update.
The update brings with it an independent App Store, meaning you can download apps directly on your watch rather than installing them using your phone. There are some new watch faces in there, too, as well as new apps like Calculator and Voice Memos. Apple is also adding Activity Trends to give you a better idea of your fitness over a period of time, and menstrual cycle tracking is being added with the update as well.
Once you’ve updated your iPhone or Apple Watch, be sure to share your first impressions with us!
UPDATE: Apple also revealed today that it’s moving up its releases of iOS 13.1 and iPadOS. The updates were previously scheduled to launch on September 30, but Apple has told Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman that they’ll now be released on September 24.