Following Apple’s confirmation the week previously that the latest iOS update was imminent, the iOS 16.5 release date landed on Thursday 18th May, 2023 (a couple of days later than the Tuesday we originally expected).

Have a read below for further details, info, and rumors.

READ NOW: iOS 17 release date & iOS version history

iOS 16 release date history (full versions & betas)

iOS 16 was first announced on 6th June 2022, with the first public beta version released on 11th July 2022. The first full-fledged public version was released on 12th September 2022. iOS 16 is the sixteenth and the current operating system of Apple.

The iOS 16 beta release history is as follows: We will look at the versions from oldest to new.

iOS 16.0 developer beta 1 release date (20A5283p): 6th June, 2022
iOS 16.0 developer beta 2 release date (20A5303i): 22nd June, 2022
iOS 16.0 developer beta 3 release date (20A5312g): 6th July, 2022
iOS 16.0 public beta 1 release date (20A5312j): 11th July, 2022
iOS 16.0 developer beta 4 release date (20A5328h): 27th July, 2022
iOS 16.0 public beta 2 release date (20A5328h): 28th July, 2022
iOS 16.0 developer beta 5 release date (20A5339d): 8th August, 2022
iOS 16.0 public beta 3 release date (20A5339d): 9th August, 2022
iOS 16.0 developer beta 6 release date (20A5349b): 15th August, 2022
iOS 16.0 public beta 4 release date (20A5349b): 15th August, 2022
iOS 16.0 developer beta 7 release date (20A5356a):23rd August, 2022
iOS 16.0 public beta 5 release date (20A5356a): 24th August, 2022
iOS 16.0 developer beta 8 release date (20A5358a): 29th August, 2022
iOS 16.0 developer release candidate release date (20A362): 7th September, 2022
iOS 16.0 public release candidate release date (20A362): 7th September, 2022
iOS 16.0 full release (official) release date (20A362): 12th September, 2022
iOS 16.1 developer beta 1 release date (20B5045d): 14th September, 2022
iOS 16.1 public beta 1 release date (20B5045d): 15th September, 2022
iOS 16.1 developer beta 2 release date (20B5050f): 20th September, 2022
iOS 16.1 public beta 2 release date (20B5050f): 21st September, 2022
iOS 16.1 developer beta 3 release date (20B5056e): 27th September, 2022
iOS 16.1 public beta 3 release date (20B5056e): 28th September, 2022
iOS developer beta 4 release date (20B5064c): 4th October, 2022
iOS 16.1 public beta 4 release date (20B5064c): 5th October, 2022
iOS 16.1 developer beta 5 release date (20B5072b):11th October, 2022
iOS 16.1 public beta 5 release date (20B5072b): 11th October, 2022
iOS 16.1 developer release candidate release date (20B79): 18th October, 2022
iOS 16.1 public release candidate release date (20B79): 18th October, 2022
iOS 16.1 full release (official) release date (20B82) : 24th October, 2022
iOS 16.2 developer beta 1 release date (20C5032e): 25th October, 2022
iOS 16.2 public beta 1 release date (20C5032e): 27th October, 2022
iOS 16.2 developer beta 2 release date (20C5043e): 8th November, 2022
iOS 16.2 public beta 2 release date (20C5043e): 9th November, 2022
iOS 16.2 developer beta 3 release date (20C5049e): 15th November, 2022
iOS 16.2 public beta 3 release date (20C5049e): 16th November, 2022
iOS 16.2 developer beta 4 release date (20C5058d): 1st December, 2022
iOS 16.2 public beta 4 release date (20C5058d): 2nd December 2022
iOS 16.2 developer release candidate release date (20C65): 7th December, 2022
iOS 16.2 public release candidate release date (20C65): 7th December, 2022
iOS 16.2 full release (official) release date (20C65) : 13th December, 2022
iOS 16.3 developer beta 1 release date (20D5024e): 14th December, 2022
iOS 16.3 public beta 1 release date (20D5024e): 15th December, 2022
iOS 16.3 developer beta 2 release date (20D5035i): 10th January, 2023
iOS 16.3 public beta 2 release date (20D5035i): 11th January, 2023
iOS 16.3 developer release candidate release date (20D47): 18th January, 2023
iOS 16.3 public release candidate release date (20D47): 18th January, 2023
iOS 16.3 full release (official) release date (20D47): 23rd January, 2023
iOS 16.4 developer beta 1 release date (20E5212f): 16th February, 2023
iOS 16.4 developer beta 2 release date (20E5223e): 28th February, 2023
iOS 16.4 developer beta 3 release date: 8th March, 2023
iOS 16.4 developer beta 4 release date: 16th March, 2023
iOS 16.4 full release (official) release date: 27th March, 2023
iOS 16.5 developer beta 1 release date: 28th March, 2023
iOS 16.5 developer beta 2 release date: 11th April, 2023
iOS 16.5 developer beta 3 release date: 25th April, 2023
iOS 16.5 developer beta 4 release date: 2nd May, 2023
iOS 16.5 release candidate 1 (20F65): 9th May, 2023
iOS 16.5 release candidate 2: 15th May, 2023
iOS 16.5 full release (official) release date: 18th May, 2023

iOS 16.5 Beta release date

We saw four proper iOS 16.5 betas released, plus two release candidates.

Keeping to the usual trend, Apple released iOS 16.5 beta 1 the day after the full release of iOS 16.4. iOS 16.5 beta 2 came out on April 11th, iOS 16.5 beta 3 on the 25th April, and iOS 16.5 beta 4 on the 2nd May. The first iOS 16.5 release candidate came out a week after beta 4, and the next one six days later on Monday 15th ahead of the full release.

Read our iOS 16.5 beta release date & features page for more info.

What is the iOS 16.5 release candidate?

A release candidate is essentially the same as the final version of the full release, except with more bugs. It’s sort of a beta, but compared to ‘proper’ betas is functionally the same as the full release and tends to have fewer bugs and issues.

Both iOS 16.5 release candidates are therefore basically the same as the full iOS 16.5 version, but a bit buggier.

iOS 16.5 release date

*LATEST* As per Apple’s announcement last week, the iOS 16.5 release date landed on Tuesday 16th May, 2023.

*OLD* Based on the iOS 15 release date schedule (see below), we expect to see it at some point in May, 2023, most likely in the middle of the month, with our money on Monday 15th – Tuesday 16th May.

This is particularly the case as we know that Apple are working on iOS 16.6, which we expect to see come out during the WDC event in early June, which doesn’t leave much time for the full iOS 16.5 release beforehand.

How many iOS 16 updates will there be?

When trying to determine the number of iOS 16 updates, looking at the previous iteration is our best bet. iOS 15 is actually still receiving new updates, to support those devices that aren’t compatible with iOS 16 (i.e. the iPhone 7 and earlier).

iOS is currently on version iOS 15.7.3, and the last version to release before iOS 16 came out was iOS 15.7. We expect iOS 16 to have a similar level of updates in the future, if not more.

iOS 15 Version History

iOS 15 was officially released on 12th September 2022: the last iOS version to support the iPod Touch and iPhone 7.

Updated features included new look notifications, cross-app drag functionality to Facetime, Maps, and Photos. Almost every major app got a significant update or upgrade.

Focus: was a new feature added in the iOS 15 update where the user was allowed to change their ‘state’ to work, do not disturb, and sleep, which would affect the alert/call settings etc. of your phone. You could also come up with a custom state. iOS 15 was superseded by iOS 16 on 12th September 2022.

iOS 15.0 release date (19A341): September 24, 2021
iOS 15.0 release date (19A346): September 20, 2021
iOS 15.0.1 release date (19A348): October 1, 2021
iOS 15.0.2 release date (19A404): October 11, 2021
iOS 15.1 release date (19B74): October 25, 2021
iOS 15.1.1 release date (19B81): November 17, 2021
iOS 15.2 release date (19C56): December 13, 2021
iOS 15.2.1 release date (19C63): January 12, 2022
iOS 15.3 release date (19D50): January 26, 2022
iOS 15.3.1 release date (19D52): February 10, 2022
iOS 15.4 release date (19E241): March 14, 2022
iOS 15.4.1 release date (19E258): March 31, 2022
iOS 15.5 release date (19F77): May 16, 2022
iOS 15.6 release date (19G71): July 20, 2022
iOS 15.6.1 release date (19G82): August 17, 2022
iOS 15.7 release date (19H12): September 12, 2022
iOS 15.7.1 release date (19H117): October 27, 2022
iOS 15.7.2 release date (19H218): December 13, 2022
iOS 15.7.3 release date (19H307): January 23, 2023

iOS 16.5 features

The following four features came with iOS 16.5, along with a raft of security updates and bug fixes: screen recording via the Siri app, a new sports tab for the Apple News app, smoke alarm detection alerts from HomePods to your phone via the Office app, an Apple Card savings account accessible via the Wallet app.

We don’t know what new updates will be coming with any further iOS 16.5 beta updates, or if there will even be any more. Leaks/rumors suggested that a new Apple Music Classical app and a iMessage Contact Key Verification security option are potential features that could be added, but it now seems likely that these will be coming with iOS 16.6 release.

On the whole it doesn’t look like iOS 16.5 will be awash with new features, and perhaps neither iOS 16.6. Bigger updates will come with the iOS 17 release date.

When is the next iOS update 2023? iOS 16.5 release date : Final Word

If there’s any justice in the world, then you’ll now have a better idea of the iOS 16.5 release date. We’ll be updating this page with all the latest info as it comes out, so keep checking back. We’d suggest you also check out our myriad other Apple, phone, and Android pages to make sure you’re fully informed.

iOS 16.5 release date FAQs

Is iOS 16.4 already available?

Yes. iOS 16.4 was released in its full version to the public on the 27th March.

The next iOS 16 version we are waiting for is iOS 16.5, though several betas have already been released for it.

Has iOS 16.5 been released yet?

The iOS 16.5 release has now come to pass! Read within for additional details on the iOS 16.5 features and its beta release history up until now.

The iOS 16.5 release date has come! Apple iOS 16.5 update

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