Apple has released iOS 16.1 beta 3 and iPadOS 16.1 beta 4 to users enrolled in the beta testing programs for iPhone and iPad system software.
Notably, iPadOS 16.1 beta 4 brings the Stage Manager multitasking system to additional iPad Pro models that have A12X or A12Z CPU’s. Previously, Stage Manager was only available on M1 equipped iPad models.
iOS 16.1 beta for iPhone brings a few small new features to the iPhone as well, including adding the battery percentage indicator on more iPhone models, and support for the Live Activities feature which allows for seeing real time data on the iPhone lock screen to things like sports scores. Presumably the beta also includes various bug fixes to address some of the problems with iOS 16 experienced by some users as well.
If you’re enrolled in the beta programs, you can find iOS 16.1 beta 3 and iPadOS 16.1 beta 4 available to download now via Settings app > General > Software Update.
Apple usually goes through several beta versions before issuing a final version to the general public, so it’s reasonable to expect the final versions of iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1 will be released sometime in October. Apple has previously said that iPadOS 16 for iPad will be available for iPads in October, whereas iOS 16 for iPhone has already been released.
The most recent stable build of iOS is currently iOS 16.0.2, and for iPadOS remains iPadOS 15.7.