After an awkward iOS 13 and 13.1 release schedule, punctuated by two rapid-fire bugfix releases (iOS 13.1.1 and 13.1.2), Apple is ready to move on to iOS 13.2.
The big new feature in 13.2 is the Deep Fusion computational photography upgrade for the camera in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. During its big September event to debut the phones, Apple promised this update is coming “this fall” and showed off its prowess in mid-to-low light with what can only be described as a “hipster in a Cosby sweater.”
But this version of iOS has new features for everyone, including new emojis, Siri privacy controls, HomeKit Secure Video, and more.
Updated 10/28/19: Apple has released iOS 13.2.
How to get iOS 13.2
Open the Settings app and tap on General. Then tap Software Update.
If you don’t want to force the install manually, you’ll likely be prompted to install the update over the next week or so.
What’s new in iOS 13.2
Deep Fusion: The marquee feature of iOS 13.2 is said to be the new Deep Fusion computational photography upgrade for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. According to The Verge, there are basically three modes of operation for iPhone 11 cameras following the Deep Fusion upgrade, which will simply be automatically selected and applied based on the situation:
The standard wide angle lens will use Smart HDR for bright to medium-light scenes, Deep Fusion for medium to low light, and Night mode for dark scenes.
The telephoto lens will usually use Deep Fusion, using Smart HDR only on very bright scenes, and Night mode for very dark scenes.
The ultrawide lens will always use Smart HDR; it supports neither Deep Fusion nor Night mode.
AppleA new photo from Apple showing Deep Fusion in action.
Siri privacy controls: After a small controversy this summer over contractors hearing unintended recordings when grading Siri requests for accuracy, Apple promised to suspend the Siri grading program until it could give users better control over what is stored and shared.
When iOS 13.2 is installed, a new splash screen gives users the ability to opt out of sharing audio from that iPhone or any connected Apple Watch or HomePod. There’s also a toggle for “Improve Siri & Dictation” in the Privacy section of the Settings app. In the Siri & Search section of the Settings app, you have the option to delete your Siri and dictation history.
New emojis: There are a host of new emojis as part of the Unicode 12 standard, which Apple previewed this summer. They finally come to your iPhone in iOS 13.2; they first appear in beta 2.
Apple iOS 13.2 beta 2 introduced all the new emojis that Apple previewed this summer.
Delete apps from the home screen: When you long-press on an app icon, there will new be an option to “Delete app.” The “Rearrange apps” option has been renamed to “Edit Home Screen.”
IDGDeleting apps from the Home screen is simpler and more obvious in iOS 13.2
Set video resolution and frame rate in Camera app: If you have an iPhone 11 or iPhone 11 Pro, you can change the video recording resolution and frame rate right in the Camera app. Just tap on the resolution and frame rate display.
We’ve been asking for this ability for years. It’s great that it’s here, but it’s a shame that it’s limited to the new Camera interface for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, rather than all modern iPhones.
IDGJust tap the video frame rate or resolution in the Camera app.
Announce Messages with Siri: Originally announced as part of iOS 13, the ability to hear incoming messages and reply to them without even saying “Hey, Siri” is finally a part of iOS 13.2. It requires AirPods to work. Go to Settings > Siri & Search to find the Announce Messages menu. You can optionally enable the ability to reply without Siri reading the message back to you.
IDGAirPlay & Handoff: In Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff, you have have the Transfer to HomePod option as well as the ability to disable automatic AirPlay to TVs.
Home grouping: In the Home app there is now an option to show accessories with multiple functions as a single tile, or as multiple tiles for each individual function. Prior to iOS 13, everything was ungrouped. In iOS 13, everything is grouped. The iOS 13.2 update gives you control over showing it the way you like it.
Release Notes
The full official release notes from Apple are as follows:
iOS 13.2 introduces Deep Fusion, an advanced image processing system that uses the A13 Bionic Neural Engine to capture images with dramatically better texture, detail, and reduced noise in lower light, on iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Additional features include updated and additional emoji, Announce Messages for AirPods, support for AirPods Pro, HomeKit Secure Video, HomeKit enabled routers, and new Siri privacy settings. This update also contains bug fixes and improvements.Camera
- Deep Fusion for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max uses the A13 Bionic Neural Engine to capture multiple images at various exposures, run a pixel-by-pixel analysis, and fuse the highest quality parts of the images together resulting in photos with dramatically better texture, details, and reduced noise, especially for mid to low light scenes.
- Ability to change the video resolution directly from the Camera app for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Emoji
- Over 70 new or updated emoji, including animals, food, activities, new accessibility emoji, gender neutral emoji, and skin tones selection for couple emoji.
AirPods support
- Announce Messages with Siri to read your incoming messages aloud to your AirPods.
- AirPods Pro support.
Home App
- HomeKit Secure Video enables you to privately capture, store, and view encrypted video from your security cameras and features people, animal, and vehicle detection.
- HomeKit enabled routers put you in control of what your HomeKit accessories communicate with over the internet or in your home.
Siri
- Privacy settings to control whether or not to help improve Siri and Dictation by allowing Apple to store audio of your Siri and Dictation interactions.
- Option to delete your Siri and Dictation history from Siri Settings.
This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements. This update:
- Fixes an issue that may prevent passwords from autofilling in 3rd party apps.
- Resolves an issue that may prevent the keyboard from appearing when using Search.
- Addresses an issue where swipe to go home might not work on iPhone X and later.
- Fixes an issue where Messages would only send a single notification when the option to repeat alerts was enabled.
- Addresses an issue where Messages may display a phone number instead of a contact name.
- Resolves an issue that caused Contacts to launch to the previously opened contact instead of the contact list.
- Fixes an issue that may prevent Markup annotations from being saved.
- Resolves an issue where saved notes could temporarily disappear.
- Fixes an issue where iCloud Backup might not successfully complete after tapping Backup Now in Settings.
- Improves performance when using AssistiveTouch to activate App Switcher.
Author: Jason Cross, Senior Editor
I have written about technology for my entire professional life - over 25 years. I enjoy learning about how complicated technology works and explaining it in a way anyone can understand.