Ever tried unlocking your iPhone while wearing a mask? Frustrating, right? Well, Apple‘s latest iOS 14.5 Release Candidate might just be the solution you‘ve been waiting for.
After months of beta testing, Apple has finally dropped the iOS 14.5 RC and iPadOS 14.5 RC builds to developers and beta program participants. This milestone signals we‘re just days away from the public release that millions of iPhone and iPad users worldwide have been anticipating.
Let‘s dive into what makes this update so significant and why you might want to mark your calendar for the imminent public launch.
What Exactly is a "Release Candidate"?
Before we jump into the features, let‘s clarify what "RC" means. A Release Candidate (formerly known as GM or Golden Master) represents the final testing phase before public release. It‘s typically identical to what general users will receive unless critical bugs are discovered at the last minute.
Think of it as Apple saying, "We believe this version is ready for everyone, but let‘s give our testers one final look."
The RC build carries the version number 18E199 and signals that after eight beta iterations, iOS 14.5 is nearly ready for prime time.
Apple‘s Software Release Cycle Explained
Apple follows a predictable pattern with its software releases:
- Developer Beta – Initial release to registered developers
- Public Beta – Wider release to enrolled public testers
- Multiple Beta Iterations – Numbered updates that fix bugs
- Release Candidate – Final test version before public release
- Public Release – General availability to all users
- Point Updates – Bug fixes (e.g., 14.5.1)
iOS 14.5 has been in development longer than usual, with eight beta versions spanning nearly three months. This extended cycle suggests significant under-the-hood changes requiring thorough testing.
Major Features in iOS 14.5 RC and iPadOS 14.5 RC
Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch
The star feature of this update addresses one of the biggest pandemic-era annoyances: Face ID not working with masks. With iOS 14.5, if you‘re wearing a mask and have an unlocked Apple Watch on your wrist, your iPhone will unlock automatically.
Here‘s how it works:
- Your Apple Watch sends a secure proximity signal to your iPhone
- When the iPhone detects a face mask, it checks for your paired Watch
- If the Watch is nearby, unlocked, and on your wrist, your iPhone unlocks
- You‘ll receive a haptic notification on your Watch confirming the unlock
- A "Lock iPhone" button appears on the Watch if this happens unintentionally
This feature requires:
- iPhone X or newer running iOS 14.5
- Apple Watch Series 3 or newer running watchOS 7.4
- Both Face ID and wrist detection enabled
Technical Implementation Deep Dive
The feature uses a combination of technologies:
- Bluetooth Low Energy for proximity detection
- Local authentication tokens rather than full biometric data
- Secure Enclave processing to ensure security
- Proprietary pairing verification similar to AirPods authentication
Security researchers note this creates a slight reduction in theoretical security compared to full Face ID, but the practical tradeoff for convenience during mask-wearing is significant. Apple has implemented safeguards including immediate notification and remote locking capability.
App Tracking Transparency
Perhaps the most industry-disrupting feature, App Tracking Transparency (ATT) fundamentally changes how apps can track your activities across other apps and websites.
Starting with iOS 14.5:
- Apps must explicitly ask for permission before tracking your data
- You‘ll see a popup: "Allow [App] to track your activity across other companies‘ apps and websites?"
- Choose between "Ask App Not to Track" or "Allow"
- Control tracking permissions in Settings → Privacy → Tracking
Industry Impact Analysis
This change has sparked controversy, particularly from companies like Facebook whose business models rely heavily on cross-app tracking for targeted advertising.
| Company | Estimated Revenue Impact | Public Response |
|---|---|---|
| 7-10% ad revenue reduction | Strongly negative, ran newspaper ads against the change | |
| 3-5% ad revenue impact | Moderate adaptation, changing tracking methods | |
| Snapchat | 5-8% potential reduction | Working on alternative measurement tools |
| 2-4% potential impact | Publicly supportive of privacy changes | |
| Small developers | Varied (10-40% for some) | Mixed responses; concern from free app developers |
A February 2021 survey indicated that only 38.5% of users plan to opt into tracking when prompted, with another 47.8% planning to deny all tracking requests. The remaining 13.7% said their decision would depend on the specific app.
AirTag Support
Coinciding with Apple‘s launch of AirTag item trackers, iOS 14.5 includes full support for these new accessories in the Find My app. The update enables:
- Setting up new AirTags
- Locating items via the Find My network
- Precision Finding with U1-equipped devices (iPhone 11 and 12 series)
- Lost mode and notifications
- Safety features to prevent unwanted tracking
Technical Specifications of AirTag Integration
The Find My network leverages Apple‘s estimated base of nearly 1 billion devices worldwide. Key technical aspects include:
- End-to-end encryption for location data
- Rotating identifiers to prevent tracking
- Bluetooth LE for basic proximity
- Ultra-wideband (UWB) for directional finding
- NFC capability for lost mode information
- Integration with Apple‘s ARKit for visual guidance
This represents Apple‘s full entry into the item tracking market, competing directly with established players like Tile, which has already filed antitrust complaints about Apple‘s advantage in controlling both hardware and software platforms.
New Siri Voice Options and No Default Voice
In a move toward greater inclusivity, Siri no longer defaults to a female voice. Instead, during setup, users choose from multiple voice options. The update adds two new American English voices and improves the existing ones using Neural Text to Speech technology for more natural sound.
Additionally, Siri can now:
- Call emergency contacts
- Start group FaceTime calls
- Announce incoming calls through AirPods and compatible Beats headphones
Neural TTS Technology Explained
Apple‘s Neural Text to Speech (Neural TTS) technology represents a significant advancement over traditional concatenative speech synthesis:
| Speech Technology | Method | Sound Quality | Processing Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional TTS | Joins pre-recorded speech fragments | Robotic, unnatural transitions | Low |
| Statistical Parametric | Mathematical models of speech | Smooth but artificial | Medium |
| Neural TTS | Deep learning models analyze speech patterns | Natural intonation and rhythm | High |
The new Siri voices required recording over 20 hours of speech per voice actor, which was then analyzed by machine learning algorithms to create responsive, natural-sounding synthesized speech that can generate any text dynamically.
Emoji Updates
The emoji keyboard gets refreshed with:
- 217 new emoji variations
- Couples with mixed skin tones
- New faces, hearts, and headphones emoji
- Updated syringe emoji (removing blood) making it more versatile for vaccine discussions
The emoji updates follow the Unicode Consortium‘s Emoji 13.1 recommendations. Most notable is the ability to select different skin tones for each person in couple emojis, offering 200+ new combinations to better represent diverse relationships.
Apple Music Updates
For music lovers, iOS 14.5 brings several enhancements:
- Share lyrics from Apple Music via Messages, Facebook, and Instagram Stories
- City charts showing popular songs in 100+ cities worldwide
- Swipe gestures in the Music app for adding songs to queues
- Updated Music widgets
Streaming Market Position Data
These updates come as Apple continues to compete in the streaming music market:
| Service | Global Market Share | Subscribers (millions) | Primary Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify | 32% | 155 | Algorithmic discovery |
| Apple Music | 16% | 72 | Human curation, ecosystem integration |
| Amazon Music | 13% | 55 | Smart speaker integration |
| YouTube Music | 8% | 30 | Video content |
| Tencent Music | 13% | 60 | Asian market dominance |
The city charts feature specifically targets Spotify‘s popular localized playlists, attempting to create stronger geographic community engagement around Apple Music.
Controller Support
Gaming on iPhone and iPad gets better with:
- PlayStation 5 DualSense controller support
- Xbox Series X/S controller support
- Button remapping for better control customization
This update solidifies Apple‘s growing position in the gaming market. With iOS and iPadOS devices now supporting the latest controllers from both major console platforms, the iPad especially becomes a more viable gaming device.
Mobile Gaming Market Context
The mobile gaming market continues to grow rapidly:
| Year | Global Mobile Gaming Revenue (billions) | iOS Share | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $68.5 | 42% | 10.2% |
| 2020 | $77.2 | 43% | 12.7% |
| 2021 (projected) | $90.7 | 43% | 17.5% |
While Android has more users globally, iOS generates comparable revenue due to higher average spending per user. Controller support strengthens Apple‘s position in the premium mobile gaming segment.
Additional Key Features
Podcast App Redesign
The Podcasts app receives its biggest overhaul in years:
- New show page designs with improved episode information
- Smart Play button that starts episodic shows from the beginning
- Season organization for easier navigation
- Better search functionality
- Download controls and settings
- Follow vs. Subscribe terminology change (preparing for paid subscriptions)
Podcast Industry Growth Data
| Year | US Podcast Listeners (millions) | Growth Rate | Advertising Revenue (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 101 | 23% | $708 |
| 2020 | 116 | 15% | $842 |
| 2021 (est.) | 132 | 14% | $1,130 |
This redesign positions Apple to better compete with Spotify, which has invested over $800 million in podcast acquisitions and exclusive content deals over the past two years.
Maps Hazard Reporting
Taking a page from Waze, Apple Maps now allows users to report:
- Accidents
- Speed traps
- Hazards
- Road closures
These reports appear for other Maps users, creating a crowdsourced information layer. The feature supports both touch controls and Siri voice commands for hands-free reporting while driving.
5G Improvements
iOS 14.5 brings Dual-SIM 5G support globally, allowing both phone numbers on compatible iPhone 12 models to use 5G simultaneously. Previous versions limited 5G to the primary line only.
Additionally, Smart Data Mode receives optimization to better balance between 5G speed and battery life based on real-world usage patterns.
5G Rollout Status
| Region | 5G Coverage (population) | Average 5G Speed | iPhone 12 Model Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 75% | 65 Mbps | 63% of new iPhones |
| Europe | 60% | 110 Mbps | 57% of new iPhones |
| China | 90% | 300 Mbps | 47% of new iPhones |
| Japan | 80% | 210 Mbps | 52% of new iPhones |
The Dual-SIM 5G support is particularly important in Asian markets where Dual-SIM usage is very common.
Battery Health Recalibration
iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max models receive a new battery health reporting system that will recalibrate maximum capacity and peak performance capability over time.
This addresses inaccurate battery health reporting that affected some users, where the system would report lower capacity than actual or unexpected battery drain. The recalibration occurs over multiple charge cycles after updating.
Privacy and Security Enhancements
Beyond App Tracking Transparency, iOS 14.5 includes several other privacy improvements:
- Safe browsing data now routes through Apple servers to hide IP address from Google
- App privacy labels must be maintained with app updates
- Additional permission dialogs for local network access
- Limited Photos library access improvements
- Background app location access notifications
- New privacy information screens during setup
Industry Privacy Comparison
| Platform | Cross-App Tracking | Default Privacy Settings | Data Collection Transparency | Ad ID Controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iOS 14.5 | Opt-in required | Restrictive | High (Privacy Labels) | User deletion/reset |
| Android 11 | Opt-out available | Moderate | Medium (Play Store permissions) | Limited controls |
| Windows 10 | Largely unrestricted | Permissive | Low (buried in settings) | Limited controls |
| macOS | Similar to iOS | Moderate | Medium (similar to iOS) | Limited controls |
Security researchers generally praise Apple‘s approach while noting it creates challenges for legitimate advertising measurement.
Full iOS 14.5 RC Changelog
The official release notes for iOS 14.5 RC detail numerous changes across the system:
Face ID and Apple Watch
- Option to unlock iPhone with Apple Watch while wearing a face mask
- Apple Watch must be nearby, unlocked, wrist detection enabled
AirTag and Find My
- Support for AirTag to keep track of items in Find My app
- Precision Finding using U1 chip on iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models
- Connected AirTag plays sounds when separated from owner
- Privacy alerts if unknown AirTag is moving with you
Siri
- Two new voice options for American English
- No default voice selection during setup
- Group FaceTime calls support
- Emergency contact calling by request
- App preference learning for music services
Privacy
- App Tracking Transparency requiring explicit permission
- Controls for which apps can track activity across other companies‘ apps and websites
Apple Music
- Share lyrics via Messages, Facebook and Instagram Stories
- City charts for 100+ cities worldwide
- Play and pause buttons redesigned
- Library sorting and filtering options
- Mini-player redesign
Podcasts
- Redesigned show pages
- Smart Play button
- Top Charts and popular categories in search
News
- Redesigned News+ tab
- Search improvements
- Microsoft Edge support for Apple News+ web links
Maps
- Report accidents, hazards, and speed checks along your route
- Share ETA when walking or cycling
- Show arrival time in CarPlay
Reminders
- Sort by title, priority, due date, or creation date
- Manual sorting for smart lists
- Print reminder lists
Translate
- Face to Face mode in landscape orientation
- Translation playback speed control
Gaming
- PS5 DualSense wireless controller support
- Xbox Series X|S controller support
5G
- Dual SIM line 5G support
Battery Health
- Recalibration for iPhone 11 models
- Fixes inaccurate battery health reporting
Other improvements
- Emoji search and keyboard access
- Support for separate skin tones in couple emojis
- Voice Control for accessibility to help with orientation
- CarPlay ETA sharing
- New sorting options in Reminders
- Optimized iPhone 12 battery life with Bluetooth connections
Performance Analysis and Benchmarks
CPU Performance
Testing with iOS 14.5 RC shows modest improvements in certain CPU-intensive tasks compared to iOS 14.4.2:
| Device | iOS 14.4.2 Geekbench Single | iOS 14.5 RC Geekbench Single | Change | iOS 14.4.2 Geekbench Multi | iOS 14.5 RC Geekbench Multi | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 12 Pro | 1603 | 1612 | +0.6% | 4147 | 4237 | +2.2% |
| iPhone 11 | 1327 | 1331 | +0.3% | 3289 | 3324 | +1.1% |
| iPhone SE (2020) | 1312 | 1318 | +0.5% | 2630 |
