iOS 12.1 available for download from today. Should fix “beautygate” bug, brings Group FaceTime and new emoji to iPhone and iPad

iOS 12.1 is available from Tuesday, October 30 for the iPhone (from iPhone 5S and later), the iPad (from iPad mini 2 and later) and even the 6^th generation iPod touch. The update brings with a list of enhancements including support for Group FaceTime and 70 new emoji for the iPhone and iPad.

For the newer iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, iOS 12.1 will enable Depth Control in camera preview and dual SIM support via eSIM.

Group FaceTime

With iOS 12.1 you can engage in FaceTime conversations with up to 32 people at once – should the need arise. There are also additional enhancements built into FaceTime with the new update like automatic detection of active speakers which, ringless notification and messages integration.

New Emoji

iOS 12.1 also brings more than 70 new emoji to the iPhone and iPad, including new characters with red hair, grey hair and curly hair, a new emoji for bald people, more emotive smiley faces and additional emoji representing animals, sports and food. There are also emoji for Asian culture including a new emoji for moon cake, angpow and the nazar amulet.

Depth of Field Control

For iPhone XS, XS Max and iPhone XR user, iOS 12.1 enables depth of field controls in Portrait mode which allows you to take portrait and adjust the level of bokeh after the image has been taken. You will also be able to adjust the depth of field in real-time preview before taking a shot in addition to post-capture.

The new update should also bring a fix to the “beautygate” issue on the iPhone XS and XR. “Beautygate” is a bug in Apple’s iOS camera software that over-corrects selfies to me face appear smoother, so much so that it looks unnatural and before iOS 12.1 there was no way to reduce or even disable the effect of the correction. Hopefully, with the new update, this is fixed.

Dual SIM support with eSIM

iOS 12.1 brings dual-SIM support to the iPhone XS, XS Max and iPhone XR. But this is not the dual SIM support that we’re used to here in Malaysia. Instead of actual dual physical SIMs, dual SIM support for the iPhone requires the use of a digital eSIM which is widely supported by US operators but not in Malaysia. Apple says, they are working with local telcos to bring eSIM support to Malaysia but there’s no timeline for that at the moment.