Apple showcased the upcoming major update to iOS, iOS 18, at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June. This latest update is packed with impressive features that are set to make a big impact on iPhone users.
iOS 18 is considered one of the most significant updates to the iPhone, introducing Apple Intelligence – Apple’s suite of AI tools. Along with new customization options, a redesigned Photos app, and more, there is plenty to explore in this update. Here’s a comprehensive overview of what to expect from iOS 18:
iOS 18 Release Date
Following the WWDC keynote in June, Apple rolled out the first developer beta for iOS 18, with the public beta following in July. As we near September, we are in the final stages of both developer and public betas.
Based on past launches, Apple typically releases the final version of iOS to the public about a week after unveiling the new iPhones. With the iPhone 16 event scheduled for September 9, we can anticipate the official release of iOS 18 during the week of September 16.
iPhones Compatible with iOS 18
Apple has made iOS 18 compatibility a bit complex. While devices as old as the iPhone XR can run iOS 18, you’ll need at least an iPhone featuring the A17 Pro chip to access the new Apple Intelligence features. This means that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will provide the complete iOS 18 experience.
The rationale behind this lies in the processing power of the A17 Pro chip, particularly its 8GB of RAM. As AI tools typically demand significant power to function efficiently, this compatibility requirement makes sense. Unfortunately, this means that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus may already seem outdated as they do not meet the minimum criteria for Apple Intelligence.
It is highly likely that the entire iPhone 16 series will be fully compatible with Apple Intelligence, as these devices are expected to ship with iOS 18 pre-installed, with Apple Intelligence being a key selling point for the new lineup.
Other iPhone models that do not support Apple Intelligence will still benefit from various other iOS 18 features. If you need to verify if your iPhone is compatible with iOS 18, we have a complete list of compatible iPhones. For iPads, an M1 chip or higher is required to enjoy iPadOS 18.
Introduction to Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence is a significant component of iOS 18. Although many iPhones will support iOS 18, only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will receive the Apple Intelligence features until the iPhone 16 lineup is released.
Apple describes Apple Intelligence AI as a collection of advanced large language and diffusion models tailored for daily tasks. It leverages personal context to provide assistance by understanding and generating language and images, facilitating simplified actions across various daily-use apps.
Apple Intelligence prioritizes notifications, ensuring that only essential notifications appear at the top of the stack. The new Reduce Interruptions Focus feature streamlines notifications to display only those requiring immediate attention.
Integrated writing tools within Apple Intelligence, such as rewriting, proofreading, and text summarization, aim to enhance writing capabilities across first- and third-party apps. These tools enable rewriting content with a different tone, proofreading for grammatical errors, and summarizing information for better comprehension.
Apple Intelligence also introduces Image Playground for creating original images within different apps, including Messages and Notes. Additionally, users can generate custom emojis through Genmoji by simply providing a descriptor for the desired emoji.
Siri will undergo significant improvements with Apple Intelligence, enabling better natural language understanding, conversational interactions, product knowledge, and on-screen contextual actions. ChatGPT integration allows Siri to seamlessly provide answers within the writing tools.
Apple Intelligence facilitates the Clean Up tool in Photos, which eliminates unwanted elements from images. Users can search photos and videos using natural language and create memory videos with specific phrases.
Enhanced Customization Options
iOS 18 introduces new customization options, allowing users to personalize their home screens similar to Android devices for the first time. Users can now place apps and widgets anywhere on the home screen grid, eliminating the need for workarounds to create spaces between icons. Dark mode themes for app icons, app icon tinting customization, and adjustable icon/widget sizes offer enhanced customization capabilities.
Redesigned Control Center
iOS 18 revamps the Control Center, offering a wider range of controls that users can personalize and rearrange according to preference. Multiple pages and groups of controls, along with the ability for developers to create custom controls, enhance the Control Center experience. Users can also swap out lock screen controls with third-party options and access the new controls via the Action button.
Apple Photos Enhancements
Apple has revamped the Photos app in iOS 18, providing a unified view that simplifies navigation. Filter and sorting options enhance the search function, with Collections grouping photos based on various parameters. The integration of Apple Intelligence in the Photos app enables features like the Clean Up tool for editing photos, improved search capabilities, and Memory Maker for creating custom Memory Movies.
Messages App Improvements
The Messages app in iOS 18 receives significant upgrades, including support for RCS messaging to enhance communication between iPhone and Android users. Additional features include rich text formatting, new animation styles, satellite messaging, emoji reactions, scheduled messages, Image Playground integration, and personalized Genmoji creation.
Password Manager Application
iOS 18 introduces the Passwords app, offering a streamlined interface for managing saved logins and passwords previously stored in Keychain. Users can view, edit, sort, and add new entries to the Passwords app, synced via iCloud Keychain across multiple devices.
Other Updates and Features
Aside from the major updates mentioned, iOS 18 includes several smaller changes worth noting. The Mail app features a new Primary category in the inbox, grouping emails from the same sender. Safari introduces Highlights and redesigned Reader view. Maps allows for downloading topographical maps and custom routes. Gamers can benefit from Game Mode for optimized performance. Apple Wallet gains Tap to Cash and support for reward programs. HomeKit features enhancements for Home app users.
