The iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max are now on sale. CNN Business tested the phones in the real world to find out whether they're worth an upgrade. Find out the results in the video above.
But what if you have no plans to upgrade? If your phone is new enough, you might still be seeing some upgrades. Apple pushed out the iOS 13 software update on Thursday and there are a few hidden features to check out.
The latest version of Apple (AAPL)'s mobile operating system is available to anyone with an iPhone 6S model or later.
The splashiest change is the addition of dark mode, which gives users the option to have a dark background that is said to be easier on the eyes. There are a couple other highly-publicized ones like swiping to type and getting Siri to read your texts aloud if you have AirPods on.
Here are some interesting hidden features you may have missed.
Silence unknown callers
In iOS 13, you can automatically silence any calls from unknown numbers and send them straight to voicemail. In "Settings," scroll down to "Phone," and you'll have the option to toggle on a feature called "Silence Unknown Callers." This feature doesn't affect calls from your contacts or any numbers you've recently dialed.
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Searching through iMessages is faster
Are you looking for something you texted earlier in the week but now can't quite remember? iMessages in iOS 13 are faster to search through. When you open up iMessages, pull down on the page to get the search bar to appear, and links and photos you've sent and received will immediately appear.
Set reading goals in the Books app
In Apple's Books app, you can create reading goals for yourself. The default is five minutes of reading, but you're able to set custom goals as well, all the way up to 24 hours a day.
It's much easier to send emojis
There's now an emoji button on the keyboard, sandwiched between the button for numbers and the space bar. You can tap the button to bring up all your emoji options. Before this new update, you had to slowly cycle through your keyboard options, which was more tedious, especially if you have opted into multiple language keyboards besides English.
Pair your iPhone with a Playstation 4 or Xbox controller
Apple really wants you to game with the new iPhone and it's pushing its Arcade gaming subscription service hard. If touch controls aren't a gamer's cup of tea, they can pair a console controller using Bluetooth.
Just switch on your controller's Bluetooth (a small button or two that you hold onto), head to your iPhone settings and head into "Bluetooth." From there, your iPhone will do a search in the nearby area for devices it can pair with, and you can select your controller when it appears. Some games are compatible with controllers, and in some cases, it makes it easier to control your character as you move through levels.
APPLE SIGN-IN
In this Sept. 10, 2019, photo, Phil Schiller, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, talks about the new iPhone 11 Pro and Max, during an event to announce new products in Cupertino, Calif. Apple’s iOS 13 software update comes with plenty of privacy enhancements - though in some cases, you need to take the time to understand how they work. Among the changes: You’ll be able to sign in to third-party services with your Apple ID account rather than Facebook’s or Google’s. The free update is available for existing iPhones on Thursday, Sept. 19 and will ship with new models out Friday, Sept. 20. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Google and Facebook have long made it easy to sign into third-party services without having to create new accounts — and new passwords to remember. Trouble is, by leaning on those companies, you're also opening the door for them to collect more data about you. You may find that disheartening given numerous privacy lapses, especially involving Facebook.
Apple is offering an alternative. The company doesn't have the same need to collect data, as it doesn't count on profits from data-driven targeted ads the way Google and Facebook do. Apple promises it won't track you when you use "Sign in with Apple."
One attractive feature is the ability to mask your real email address. Apple can give you a new, unique email for every service you use, and will automatically forward messages to your own email account. You can reduce junk mail by disabling forwarding from specific companies, while still using that Apple email to sign in. Apple says it won't snoop on messages.
Apps that offer an outside sign-in system, such as Facebook's, must also include Apple's to be on iPhones. But Apple's system is limited to sharing your name and email address. If the app needs more information, you'll have to provide that on your own — or fall back on Facebook or Google anyway.
But don't stray from Apple's garden. You'll need to sign in through a web browser if you use the service on Android, Windows or other non-Apple devices. That eliminates much of the convenience.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Maps, ride-hailing and many other apps need your location data to work. But does your drug store or coffee shop really need to know where you are and where you've been?
Previously, Apple gave you just a few choices on the matter. You could share your location continuously with an app, provide it only when you were using the app, or deny the app access to any location information. (The last choice breaks many apps, and it can be a challenge to turn location back on if you change your mind.)
Now Apple will let you grant location permission temporarily. If you close the app or restart the phone, you'll have to grant permission again. You can keep doing that until you're more comfortable with the app and its use of location, at which time you can make permission permanent.
But permanent doesn't mean sharing while the app is in the background. After you've used an app for a while, the phone will prompt you with details on where and how many times it has tapped your location. Only then can you grant "always allow" access. You can also take it back if you've given it before. The idea is to arm you with more information before deciding.
Unfortunately, there's no "reject once" option to see how well an app works without location. Once you reject it, you'll have to go into settings to turn location back on.
FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2019, file photo a man leaves an Apple store in Beijing. Apple on Tuesday, Sept. 10, is expected to unveil three new iPhone models that are so similar to last year’s lineup, they may be upstaged by details about the company’s upcoming video service. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
LOCATION, THE SNEAKY WAY
Even if you've denied location access, apps might be able to infer it through Bluetooth connections. A retail store, for instance, might have Bluetooth beacon trackers to detect people who have its app installed. Now, apps must specially ask for that permission. (There are exceptions when a music app, for instance, wants to stream to headphones you've already paired with the phone.)
Apps that have been updated for iOS 13 must tell you specifically why they need Bluetooth. Citi's app, for instance, says it's to enable after-hours entry to ATM lobbies without pulling out your card. You're left guessing with older apps. If you're not sure, just say "no."
Apple is also clamping down on apps' ability to infer your location by identifying nearby Wi-Fi networks, which can be matched to location databases. Apps that want that information must already have location permission from you or meet Apple's criteria for needing that information. This won't affect your ability to use apps over Wi-Fi, as that's set up through your phone, not the app.
PHOTOS
When sharing photos through the Photos app, you can now remove embedded location information by tapping on the small "Options" link at the top of the screen. Location is shared by default, and you need to turn it off each time.
You can disable the camera's ability to embed location information to begin with. To do that, go to "Privacy" in the phone's settings, then "Location Services," "Camera" and finally the "Never" option. This feature exists in earlier versions of iOS as well.
Kaiann Drance, Senior Director, Product Marketing, for the iPhone talks during an event to announce new products Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
REDUCING ROBOCALLS
A new setting lets you silence unknown callers. You'll still hear from numbers you've recently called or ones stored in your contacts, as well as from numbers the digital assistant Siri finds in other apps, such as within your emails. But the iPhone will assume everything else is spam and send it straight to voicemail.
This option is off by default; you need to turn it on under "Phone" in the settings. Apple will also suggest the option when you look through your recent and missed calls.
Apple CEO Tim Cook talks about the latest iPhone during an event to announce new products Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)