Apple has finally released iOS 18 to the public on September 16 after months of betas. This update marks one of the biggest iOS updates in history, introducing a new era of Apple Intelligence, enhanced customization, RCS support, a new Photos app, and much more.
Having skipped the iOS 18 betas, I delved into the public release to explore all the new features, with the exception of Apple Intelligence, which is slated to arrive in iOS 18.1 next month.
Despite my excitement for the much-anticipated major iOS update, I must admit some of the features I have been eagerly awaiting turned out to be disappointing. Let me elaborate.
Messy home screen customization
One aspect I admire about Android software is its high level of customization, especially on the home screen. Users can freely position apps and widgets without any hassle.
After many years, Apple has finally introduced a similar level of customization to the iOS home screen with iOS 18. However, the execution seems flawed as the experience feels cumbersome and goes against the seamless nature typically associated with Apple products.
While iOS 14 allowed for changing app icons using Shortcuts without jailbreak, resulting in a consistent home screen layout for me, the process of revamping the entire home screen with iOS 18 and the new Dark theme for icons felt quite clunky.
It feels so very un-Apple-like in terms of how the whole experience has been the opposite of seamless.
Although apps and widgets can now be placed anywhere on the home screen grid with spaces in between, the implementation seems lacking. Apps tend to snap back to the top-left corner when placed in the middle of an empty page, limiting true freedom in customization. Additionally, the grid-based layout restricts the placement of apps or widgets in the precise locations users desire.
The new Control Center isn’t what I hoped for
Similarly, while the ability to customize the Control Center layout is appreciated, the execution falls short. Resizing or moving controls often results in unexpected shifts, making it a frustrating experience to set up the Control Center as desired.
Furthermore, a glitch was observed where having an app on the home screen for two Focus modes caused the app to disappear from one of the screens when the Focus was enabled. This issue was not present in iOS 17, indicating a regression in functionality with iOS 18.
So far, iOS 18 feels half-baked
The home screen and Control Center customization in iOS 18 have left me a little disappointed. Despite being in beta for several months, the final release feels somewhat unfinished compared to my expectations. It almost feels like a beta version that somehow made it to the public release.
Furthermore, the absence of Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18 adds to the feeling of incompleteness. With iOS 18.1 set to introduce these features, my iPhone 15 Pro running iOS 18 currently feels lacking.
Hopefully, iOS 18.1 in the next month will address these issues and deliver the promised Apple Intelligence. Otherwise, I might have to hold off on further customization changes to my home screen and Control Center to avoid frustration with my device.