Almost everyone who owns an Apple product will receive one or more of the following software updates from Apple today: OS X 10.11.4, iOS 16.1, tvOS 16.1, and watchOS 9.1

All of the new versions of iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and the HomePod software fix bugs found in the initial x.0 releases in September while also adding new features that will be immediately noticeable to users. To name a few, iOS 16.1 is the first version to support shared iCloud Photo Libraries, the updated Apple TV features a new Siri interface, the updated HomePod adds support for the Matter smart home standard, and the updated Apple Watch can significantly reduce the number of times your watch checks your heart rate and GPS, thereby extending the battery life of newer models.

Given that prior versions of iPadOS and macOS weren’t released alongside iOS 16 in September, the updates released today are the most significant. In addition to the new Stage Manager multitasking interface, both platforms also include a number of smaller improvements, which we discuss in detail in our macOS Ventura review.

Any iPad Pro, iPad mini, iPad Air, or iPad from the 5th generation or later, or an iPad with iOS 8.0 or later, is required to update to the latest version of iPadOS. Ventura is compatible with all Macs released in 2017 and later. Any Apple TV model that supports tvOS can install the tvOS update, while a Series 4 Apple Watch or later is needed to install the watchOS update. iPhone 8/Plus/X or later is needed for iOS 16.