Apple previews all the new features coming to iOS 15 on the iPhone

iOS 15 has officially arrived. Apple unveiled its latest operating system for iPhone at its online-only Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday.

Even though the final version of the iPhone's operating system doesn't come out until this fall, the company still revealed all the new features we can expect.

Here's are the major features coming to iOS 15 later this year:

New FaceTime capabilities

Now, you'll look a lot fancier on FaceTime. Credit: apple

Apple has added a tonof new features for FaceTime that help to enhance both video and audio quality.

Starting with new visual features, you'll be able to use Portrait mode during FaceTime. This means the background will be blurred to allow for the subject to appear in focus (and look a lot sharper) during video calls. And during group FaceTime calls, iOS 15 will offer a new grid video view — that way, you'll be able to see more people on the call at once.

FaceTime will also now include spatial audio, meaning voices will sound as if they're coming from wherever the person is located on the screen. And with voice isolation, the iPhone's microphones will be able to separate your voice from background noise for clearer audio.

There's also a new SharePlay feature that allows you to screen share with people on FaceTime (using your iPhone, iPad, or Mac). You can use it to listen to songs on Apple Music together, watch a TV show or movie, or look at an app simultaneously. While using SharePlay, anyone on the video call can access playback controls and also cast it to their Apple TV.

Additional iMessage features

With Summary, your notifications are stacked based on your user behavior. Credit: apple With Focus, you might be less tempted to pick your phone up every five seconds. Credit: apple

Apple has introduced a new summary feature for notifications. This feature delivers notifications based on user behavior. So urgent messages will be delivered to you right away while the non-important ones will be collected into a summary. Based on how you interact with specific apps, the ones that are most relevant to you will be placed up top while the less relevant ones will be listed towards the bottom.

There's also a new "Focus" feature that's designed to help limit your distractions. Similar to "Do Not Disturb," you can set your device to a specific status using a suggested Focus (such as Personal, Work, and Sleep) or by creating a custom one. From there, your iPhone (and any other Apple device) will automatically keep certain notifications and alerts from coming in. Those who send you a message will also receive an automatic reply that displays your current status.

Smarter Spotlight Search

Finally, Spotlight is capable of a lot more things. Credit: apple

With iOS 15, Spotlight is a lot smarter than it used to be. You'll be able to use it to search photos based on people, scenes, objects, and location. Apple has also improved the ability to search for contacts, shared photos, locations (through the Find My app), and recent conversations. You can also use it search web images — complete with enhanced visual results for musicians, TV shows, movies, and actors.

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Live Text

With Live Text, you won't have to manually type out recipes or notes. Credit: apple

With Live Text, you can take a photo of text to then markup on your iPhone. You can also copy and paste it into an email or message, rather than having to manually type it. You'll also be able to then search for it using Spotlight.

Add music to your Memories

Spice up those photos with background music you ACTUALLY listen to. Credit: apple

A new feature in the Memories tab allows you to create videos with photos in your gallery using Apple Music. You can also search for a specific song from the streaming service or choose one based on your listening history.

New and improved Safari tabs

With iOS 15, the new tab bar will appear at the bottom of the screen, allowing users to cycle through tabs by swiping across the bottom of the display.

And for those of you who always have specific tabs open at once, Apple has also introduced a Tab Groups feature. You'll be able to save your tabs and sync them across all of your Apple devices.

A richer Maps experience

At this point, any update to Maps is a welcome update Credit: apple

Apple has enhanced Maps to include even more details like elevation, neighborhoods, commercial districts, buildings, landmarks, a new night-time mode, and more. If you're using Maps on an iPhone or via CarPlay, it'll also include a 3D visual experience that allows you to easily see turn lanes, bike lanes, crosswalks, and medians.

In Transit mode on Maps, the app will now notify you when it's time to disembark the train or subway — all based on your transit route. And you'll also be able to pin favorite your subway lines and use it to find stations near you.

If you're ever lost, you can also scan the buildings around you using the Maps app and it will guide you to your destination using augmented reality markers.

Add even more to your Wallet

A must for people who always forget their house keys at home Credit: Apple Wallet-free, what a concept Credit: apple

Apple had previously added the ability to use digital car keys (for compatible cars) in iOS 14, allowing users the ability to unlock their car with the iPhone. Now with iOS 15, users can unlock andstart their car without ever having to take their iPhone out of pocket. Additionally, users will also be able to unlock their home, office, or even hotel room using keys that have been added to Apple Wallet.

You'll also be able to scan your driver's license (in participating U.S. states) or state I.D. and upload it to Wallet, so you can dispense with the real-world wallet.

Even more privacy features

This makes it a lot easier to see which apps access what. Credit: apple

Apple emphasized privacy a lot in iOS 14, and it's continuing to do the same for iOS 15 with a new App Privacy Report, among a few other features announced as part of its new iCloud+ subscription service.

With the App Privacy Report, you'll be able to see how an app uses location, microphone, camera, and contacts access, as well as which other domains it's contacted within the last seven days. Keep in mind: This report is only based on the apps you've given permission to access those specific features.

A revamped Weather app

Apple has given the Weather app a bit of a facelift. iOS 15 brings updated graphics with animated backgrounds and notifications that tell you when rain and/or snow is expected to start and stop.

A couple of new features in the Notes app

Must-have features if you share notes a lot. Credit: apple

For the Notes app, Apple added new collaboration features. With iOS 15, you'll be able create and add your own tags and, for shared notes, you can also mention someone so they receive an alert on their device. There's also a new Activity view, which shows you recent user history of a shared note, letting you see what's been added or changed throughout.

We still have to wait a few more months before Apple releases the official version of iOS 15. But those of you who can't wait that long can go ahead and download the developer beta now.