7 Noteworthy New Features and Changes in iOS 13.2 Beta 1

Apple officially seeded the first beta version of iOS 13.2 to registered developers on Wednesday, just a couple days after releasing iOS 13.1.2.

Unlike Monday’s release, iOS 13.2 seems like a much more significant software update. Instead of just implementing bug fixes and security patches, the first iOS 13.2 beta actually introduces some new features and changes. Continue reading to browse 7 new features in Apple's iOS 13.2 Developer Beta 1.

AirPlay and Handoff

Apple has renamed the Handoff section of its Settings app to AirPlay & Handoff, suggesting a stronger emphasis on the company’s AirPlay and AirPlay 2 systems. Users can now also disable automatically AirPlaying content to TVs.

The settings menu also has a new option to enable or disable Transfer to HomePod. That’s a new Handoff feature that will let users easily switch between playback on an iPhone to playback on a HomePod — just bring your iPhone close to your smart speaker.

Announce Messages with Siri

The first iOS 13.2 beta also reintroduces Announce Messages with Siri, which was pulled from the original iOS 13 release during the beta testing cycle. You can enable it in Settings > Siri > Search.

As far as what it does, it lets users have Siri read messages from an iPhone when H1-equipped wireless headphones are connected to it. It’s a hands-free system, which means you won’t have to unlock your iPhone first, either.

Deep Fusion

As we expected, iOS 13.2 introduces Apple’s new Deep Fusion feature to the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The only difference is that the beta came today, rather than yesterday as some outlets reported it.

We previously covered Deep Fusion in-depth. But if you need a refresher, it’s essentially a machine learning system that performs pixel-by-pixel optimization of images. It’ll enhance an image’s texture and detail, and reduce noise in substandard lighting.

New Privacy Setting

If you dig around the Privacy settings in iOS 13.2, you may notice a new option dubbed “RESEARCH.” Essentially, this appears to be a privacy toggle letting users control what data is shared with the proprietary Research app, which Apple announced at its September event.

The Research app itself, on the other hand, isn’t currently available in iOS 13.2 beta 1. Still, since the privacy setting shows up in the first build, it may be a safe bet that the Research app will be introduced in a later beta version.

HomeKit Accessory Grouping

Apple has also refined some of the organizational and grouping options for HomeKit accessories. You’ll find the new options in the Home app on your iOS device, as long as it’s running iOS 13.2.

Essentially, you can now group HomeKit devices with multiple functions as a single tile. You can also ungroup them to show their specific functions in individual tiles. It’s worth noting that, as of iOS 13, the single tile option is the default.

Control Center Tweak

There’s also a small tweak to the Volume bar in the iOS Control Center. Essentially, when you connect AirPods or various Beats headphones to your iPhone or iPad, the appropriate icon will show up on the volume indicator.

Previously, Apple did something similar to the actual volume HUD on the Home screen and within apps. When you paired a compatible device with your iPhone, an icon version of the device would show up on the indicator.

New AirPods Leak

Speaking of AirPods, iOS 13.2 beta 1 may have just leaked the existence of a new generation of AirPods. And they look like they sport an all-new design.

You can read more about the upcoming third-generation AirPods here. But the main addition appears to be new rubberized ear tips that will likely herald some kind of noise cancelation technology.