iOS 14.5 has rolled out to developers and beta testers, and new features are being discovered.

According to findings by 9to5Mac, iOS 14.5 includes an option to switch between regular and security updates separately. The implication here is that older iPhones may get updated security codes without having to install the more computationally expensive firmware as well.

iPhones tend to have a certain lifespan before Apple stops releasing updated software - the current iOS 14 can support phones as old as the 2015 iPhone 6s, for example. However, advances in computing power make it not always worthwhile for developers to try to make the latest version of iOS work on older phones. Not only does the functionality need to be scaled back significantly to run smoothly on legacy hardware, but the average iPhone owner upgrades to a new device every four years.

By decoupling security updates from the firmware, older models can continue to receive the latest protection without having to purchase a newer model. This concept is not entirely new to Apple. On laptops, older versions of macOS allow users to choose between more general updates and security software.

According to code found in iOS 14.5, users may need to remove previous security software updates before installing the new ones. If true, this would definitely be a hassle for owners of older iPhones. But still, it is better than no security update at all.

At this time, iOS 14.5 is still in public beta. This means that while the official release is imminent, there are still adjustments that need to be made by Apple's software engineers. If you have an extra iPhone, you can safely try out the new features by downloading the beta version of iOS 14.5.

New features include the ability to unlock with Face ID while wearing a mask or Apple Watch. The Find My app will also allow users to use Apple's upcoming AirTags. iOS 14.5 is not expected to be fully released until spring of this year.