When will Apple release iOS 16.4? ready to wait

The first iOS 16.4 developer beta was released later than expected, pushing back the expected public release date of the upcoming software update.

It has been a few weeks since Apple released iOS 16.3, but users may still have to wait a while to receive the next iOS 16.4 update. The company first released iOS 16 in September 2022, followed by intermittent updates for several months that added features and provided bug fixes. iOS 16.3 will be available to eligible devices in late January 2023, with the follow-up iOS 16.3.1 update released in mid-February. While the iOS 16.4 update appears to be coming soon, there are a few reasons why that might not be the case this time around.

Before a software update is made available to iPhone users worldwide, it first goes through several rounds of beta testing. Developers will have access to updated beta versions first, and public testers will receive the update later. This process helps Apple improve features and fix any issues before the update debuts on millions of devices. The first developer beta of iOS 16.4 was released on February 16, and the first public beta on February 17. Based on the typical timeline for iOS releases, this suggests that iOS 16.4 will It will be released to the public sometime in March -- to coincide with a potential Apple spring event.

Will Apple Release iOS 16.4 At A Spring Event?

If iOS 16.4 is released in March 2023 as planned, that may coincide with Apple's spring event. The company doesn't always hold a spring event, but has held a special event on March 4 for the past five years, with the exception of 2020. Spring events often bring new colors for the iPad, Mac, or current iPhone lineup. A 15-inch M2 MacBook Air and Apple Silicon Mac Pro are rumored to be on the way, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Apple breaks mold with iOS 16.4 update. The company typically makes the first developer beta versions public the day after previous software releases. For example, when iOS 16.3 is made public, a developer beta of iOS 16.4 is expected to be released the next day. But that wasn’t the case, and the first developer beta of iOS 16.4 didn’t make its debut until a few weeks after iOS 16.3. These factors have contributed to the delay of iOS 16.4, bringing the expected release date closer to a potential spring event. When it does arrive, iOS 16.4 will bring new emoji, Apple's re-release The new HomeKit architecture and more.

More: How to Install iOS 16 Public Beta and Try New iPhone Features Now