Apple iOS 10 review: More functional, and more of everything

READ: Apple iOS 10 beta live blog: Navigating Mail is now much easier

Watch our video on Apple iOS 10 Public beta features

Better notifications: The notifications are now better, from a design as well as practicality angle. They look better and you can act better on it thanks to the integration of 3D touch features.

Too many notifications: If you don’t really customise your notifications they you could be overwhelmed by how much you get. Since the cards are now better, you might end up being irritated while watching a video or reading a long article.

If you don’t really customise your notifications they you could be overwhelmed by how much you get.

Return to messaging: Most of us smartphone users have moved on to third party messaging platforms like Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger, but with this latest upgrade to the iMessage app, Apple seems to be taking the fight to the competition. There are some features that they don’t have and maybe won’t have, like the dedicated app store. This has the potential to be a winner.

WATCH VIDEO: Apple iOS 10 Public Beta Second Build Is Now Out For Download

The new iMessage app is pure shock and awe given that the old app was basic.

Better lock screens: With iOS 10 Apple seems to have taken a lesson from Android and added more value the other lock screen. In fact the right swipe on lock screen gives you a screen that is as good as the OS itself and keeps you abreast of everything you need to know from news to notifications. And, yes, it is secure.

Apple iOS 10: Notifications can be a bit annoying, but contacts look much better now.

More functional design: For me iOS 10 seemed like one of the more visual designs Apple has pushed. More visual means you work faster as there is not much to read. But Apple has retained some of the old text and not gone completely playbook style. For me the new design was most visible with Contacts and Mail.

Being beta, there are some bugs with the iOS 10 I used these past few days. But the overall experience is much better and certainly functional.