The next iPadOS 16.6 beta release prediction: release candidate 2

iPadOS 16.6 developer beta 5 release date & iPadOS 16.6 public beta 5 release date info, plus likely features

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iPadOS 16.6 beta 5 has been released, and following that, the first iPadOS 16.6 release candidate, but will be see iPadOS 16.6 release candidate 2 before the final release?

The final version of iPadOS 16.6 is likely not far away, but if historical release patterns are a guide then we could see a second release candidate come out first, which feature-wise will be identical to the final version. Read below for more info, plus the features we’ve seen added in the iPadOS 16.6 beta series so far and the previous iPadOS 16.6 beta release dates.

iPadOS 16.6 beta release date history

All of the iPadOS beta release dates so far are listed below, plus our prediction for the next one.

iPadOS 16.6 beta 1 release date

As is usually always the case, the first iPadOS 16.6 beta came out version beta the day after the full release of the preceding version (iPadOS 16.5), on the 19th May, 2023.

iPadOS 16.6 beta 2 release date

The iPadOS 16.6 beta 2 release date landed on the 31st May, 2023, which is exactly the same date as iPadOS 15.6 beta 2 was released the year prior.

iPadOS 16.6 beta 3 release date

iPadOS 16.6 beta 3 released on the 15th June 2023, 1 day later than the iPadOS 15.6 beta 3 released the previous year.

iPadOS 16.6 beta 4 release date

iPadOS 16.6 beta 4 release dateiPadOS 16.6 beta 4 hit the web on the 27th June, 2023, a day earlier than our predicted date, based upon the iPadOS 15.6 beta 4 release date from the year before. You can read the iPadOS 16.6 beta 4 release notes from the Apple site.

iPadOS 16.6 beta 5 release date

Looking at the previous release dates listed here, we expected the iPadOS 16.6 beta 5 release date to land around the 5th July, 2023, as iPadOS 15.6 beta 5 came out on the same date one year before. However as it turned out in came out on the 10th July, 2023, meaning the release schedule is somewhat delayed relative to last year’s.

iPadOS 16.6 release candidate 1 release date

The iPadOS 16.6 release candidate 1 came out on July 18th, 2023 (six days later than the first iPadOS 15.6 release candidate landed the previous year). As a release candidate, it has all the features that will appear in the final version of iOS 16.6, the only differences being that it’s only available to those who have signed up to the beta, plus that it’s likely to have slightly more bugs and greater instability that need out be ironed out before the final, stable release.

iPadOS 16.6 release candidate 2 release date window prediction

Given that iPadOS 16.6 release candidate 1 came out six days later than iPadOS 15.6 release candidate 1 did the previous year, if we do see an iPadOS 16.6 release candidate 2 come out then it could be at least six days later than the 15th July date iPadOS 15.6 release candidate 2 came out on.

Ultaimtely we expect to see either the iPadOS 16.6 release candidate 2 release date and full iPadOS 16.6 release come out at some point between the 21st – 31st July, or just the latter.

iPadOS 16.6 beta features (known & predicted)

So far we’ve seen the following features with the iPadOS 16.6 Betas (besides the usual bug fixes): improved animation speed one the desktop/moving between applications etc., Chat GPT (for US users only), iMessage Contact Key Verification (although this has since been removed in beta 2, we expect it to return in a later beta).

iPadOS 16.6 beta & iPadOS 16.6 release candidate FAQs

What is the current version of iPadOS 16?

The current full version of iPadOS is 16.5.

The first five betas of iPadOS 16.6 have been released though, along with the first release candidate, and are available to download if you sign up to the Apple beta program.

Is the iPadOS 16.6 beta safe?

Betas are always inherently unstable and there is a risk of unrecoverable data loss on your device. You should always back up your data before trying an iPadOS beta (or any other for that matter), or better yet try it on a secondary backup device.

The next iPadOS 16.6 beta & release candidate: Final Word

We trust you are now fully up to speed on the latest iPadOS 16.6 beta & release candidate info. Do be sure to also have a looksie at our myriad other Apple and tablet pieces whilst you’re here for the latest news and info.