After seeding more than half a dozen betas, Apple finally started rolling out iOS 14.5 for iPhone (iPadOS 14.5 for iPad) on Monday night. iOS 14.5 is an extension to iOS 14, released last year, bringing a slew of new features including the ability to quickly unlock an iPhone with Face ID while wearing a face mask, a couple of new Siri enhancements, and last but not the least, new privacy controls that Facebook isn’t particularly fond of.
Eligible devices
iOS 14.5 is available for iPhone 6s and above. You can also get it on a seventh-gen iPod Touch.
This means a total of twenty iOS devices are eligible for the new update.
The List is
iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR
iPhone X
iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus
iPhone SE (1st generation)
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPod touch (7th generation)
How to update your eligible iOS device to iOS 14.5?
If you have an eligible iOS device and have automatic updates turned on, it will download and install iOS 14.5 automatically overnight (provided it is plugged in).
Alternatively, you can also do this manually by going into the settings app > general > software update and following the onscreen instructions to download and install iOS 14.5.
Top features in iOS 14.5
Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch
Ability to unlock your iPhone X and later with Apple Watch Series 3 and later when you attempt to use Face ID while wearing a face mask. With Apple Watch on the wrist, unlocked, and in close proximity to iPhone, users can simply glance at their iPhone and they will receive haptic feedback from Apple Watch, indicating their iPhone has been unlocked.
Siri
Siri now includes more diverse voice options
Incoming calls can be announced with Siri, including who is calling, when you’re wearing your AirPods or compatible Beats headphones, and you can answer hands-free
Group FaceTime calls are supported by asking Siri to FaceTime a list of contacts or a group name from Messages
Emergency contacts can be called by asking Siri
Emojis
Support for separate skin tones for each individual in all variations of the couple kissing emoji and couple with heart emoji
Additional emoji include characters for face exhaling, face with spiral eyes, face in clouds, hearts on fire, mending heart, and woman with a beard, among others.
Report an Incident in Apple Maps
Maps users in the US and China can now safely and easily report an accident, hazard, or speed check along their route by telling Siri on iPhone or CarPlay. During navigation, users can let Siri know “There’s a crash up ahead” or “There’s something on the road,” or even report that incidents displayed on the map have been cleared. This feature is designed to keep drivers hands-free and focused on the road. Incidents can also be reported or cleared by passengers using “Report an Issue” in Maps. In addition, Maps users can now share their ETA when walking or cycling to let friends and family know what time they might arrive. CarPlay users can initiate the Share ETA feature using new Siri or keyboard controls.
Privacy
App Tracking Transparency lets you control which apps are allowed to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites for ads or sharing with data brokers.
Apps can prompt users for permission, and in Settings, users will be able to see which apps have requested permission to track so they can make changes to their choice at any time.
AirTag and Find My Phone
Support for AirTag to keep track of and find your important items like your keys, wallet, backpack, and more, privately and securely in the Find My app
Precision Finding uses visual, audible, and haptic feedback to guide you directly to your nearby AirTag using Ultra-Wideband provided by the U1 chip on iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models
AirTag can be located by playing a sound via the built-in speaker
The Find My network with hundreds of millions of devices can help you find your AirTag, even when it isn’t nearby
Lost Mode notifies you when your AirTag is found and you can enter a phone number where you can be contacted
Apple Music
Share your favorite lyrics using Messages, Facebook and Instagram Stories, and subscribers can play the snippet in Messages without leaving the conversation
City charts showcase what’s popular in over 100 cities from all over the world
Podcasts
Podcasts Show Pages are redesigned to make it easier to start listening
Option to save and download episodes, automatically adding them to your Library for quick access
Download behavior and notification settings can be customized on a show-by-show basis
Top Charts and popular categories in Search help you discover new shows
5G improvements
Dual-SIM support enables 5G connectivity on the line that’s using mobile data on iPhone 12 models
Smart Data Mode improvements further optimize your experience on 5G networks for better battery life and data usage on iPhone 12 models
5G international roaming enabled on supported network providers on iPhone 12 models
News
Redesigned News+ tab enables Apple News+ subscribers to quickly find, download, and manage magazine and newspaper issues
All-new search experience that helps you find relevant topics, channels, and stories
Maps
Estimated time of arrival (ETA) can be shared when cycling or walking, in addition to driving, by asking Siri or tapping on the route card at the bottom of the screen, then tapping Share ETA
Reminders
Ability to sort reminders by Title, Priority, Deadline, or Creation date
Option to print your reminder lists
Translate
Translation playback speed can be adjusted by long-pressing the play button
Gaming
Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller or Sony PS5 DualSense™️ Wireless Controller support
Fitness+
Ability to stream audio and video content from Apple Fitness+ workouts to AirPlay 2–enabled
TVs and devices
CarPlay
ETA in Apple Maps can be easily shared while driving with new Siri or keyboard controls in CarPlay
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