iOS 16: Will iPhone SE 3, iPhone 7 users get to see anything new this time?

iOS 16 launch is only a few days away and so far, the leaks are promising some great upgrades for iPhones. But what about the smaller 4.7-inch models? Take a look.

iPhone SE 3rd Gen and other 4.7-inch iPhone models-- will these get all the iOS 16 updates? (Amritanshu / HT Tech)

iOS 16 is around the corner and is expected to steal the show at the WWDC 22 event this Monday. Apple's annual OS update for some of its recent iPhone models is expected to bring around some big changes this time. And as usual, those who are eligible to get the update are concerned about the compatibility as well as the model specific features. Despite iOS reaching out very old iPhone models, Apple cuts out some of the demanding features for the old models in a bid to keep the performance fluid. And that makes us wonder — what happens to the old-school iPhone SE models, as well as the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8.

iOS 16 leaks are promising some big changes for the big-screen iPhones this time, including an Always-On Display feature that could hit the iPhone 14 Pro models, and possibly the iPhone 13 Pro duo. But this feature is dependent on variable refresh rate OLED displays, which some basic and older models lack. Hence, based on the leaked info we have, we decided to see what features could make it to the old and entry-level 4.7-inch iPhone models.

iOS 16: What will iPhone SE users see

Let us start with the basic features

Lockscreen widget wallpapers

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman wrote that iOS 16 could get new animated lockscreen wallpapers with widgets-like functionality.There's no idea now what these wallpapers will offer but it could be a useful addition for iPhone users. On phones like the iPhone 13 and iPhone XR, these wallpapers could make use of the entire screen estate. But on the iPhone SE models and the older iPhone 8 and iPhone 7, these features could be compromised. The cramped 4.7-inch display may not the best ay to enjoy these widgets. That said, the iPhone SE models have a chance of getting it owing to their newer processors.

Notifications management

Apple is expected to revamp its notifications handling system with iOS 16. We don't what is coming but it could certainly make it to the all the older iPhone models as well as the new iPhone SE models. The 4.7-inch iPhones may have smaller display but they can certainly make use of an efficient notifications managing system.

New Health tracking features

The new health tracking features could certainly make it these older and smaller iPhones, given that most of these are silky to work better with a companion device like the Apple Watch.

Always On Display

All of Apple's 4.7-inch iPhones feature IPS LCD displays, a panel that is unsuitable for the Always On display function. Hence, we doubt anything of that sort will make it to the iPhone SE 2020, iPhone SE 2022, iPhone 8 and Phone 7.