iOS 10 release date, news and features

Apple's iOS 10 for iPhone and iPad is out in beta today

Update: iOS 10 was announced during WWDC keynote this week. Here are the new features coming to your iPhone and iPad, and information on the staggered iOS 10 release date.

Apple's iOS 10 update for iPhone and iPad lives up to its milestone software version number, with the first official details announced at WWDC 2016 in San Francisco.
It's filled with major changes for your daily phone and tablet routine, but don't worry, all of the new iOS 10 features are for the best - and absolutely free to download.

The Cupertino company laid out all of its mobile operating system specs in an all-too-appropriate ten segments. We break it down even further. Here's what we learned this week.

iOS 10 release date

Apple is once again planning a staggered iOS 10 release date among app developers, public beta testers and then everyone else who wants to wait for the final version.

Technically, iOS 10 is out right now, launching the same day as WWDC in beta form to developers. It's not ready for average iPhone and iPad users who aren't making apps just yet.

Don't worry, you won't have to wait too long to test out iOS 10 on your own. Apple is planning an iOS 10 public beta in July, and it'll help squash bugs two months before the official release date.
That's good news. Last year's public beta was a success for Apple judging from the smoother sailing of iOS 9, and it continued that streak with new iOS 9.3 features that also went through a three-month beta.
If you decide to wait for the final version of iOS 10, it'll take a while longer due to additional bug testing. A stable version of iOS 10 should launch alongside the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in September.

iOS 10 compatibility

iOS 10 is coming to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, unless of course you have an age-old phone or tablet that still uses the 30-pin dock connector.

That's where Apple draws the new line in the sand for 2016. Its forthcoming mobile operating system update won't support for iPhone 4S and iPad 2.
It's not a big surprise. In addition to their non-lightning connections, these devices include 512MB of RAM and stuck around for iOS 9 when we thought they'd be axed from that update last year.