While there are a lot of great new, well-known features in iOS 16, there are also a handful (so far) of hidden features that make the platform even more powerful. The first of these is the currency conversion feature in Live Text. Live Text is not new, as it was a feature introduced in iOS 15. But the ability to convert currency in real-time is unique in iOS 16.
First, open up the Camera app and point it at a price tag or receipt where you have a monetary figure. You’ll need to make sure you have Live Text enabled (Settings>Camera>Show Detected Text) for the feature to work. Once you have the LIve Text engaged, you’ll see that there is now a small currency conversion icon next to the text you’ve selected.
Now tap that icon. When you do, you’ll get a conversion of the currency in the image in a small pop-up.
I’ve been testing the new feature, which seems to work converting from United States Dollars to other currencies and vice-versa. This clearly would be a handy feature when traveling abroad and needing to decipher prices for products or services quickly.