iOS 18 is officially out. We get a wave of new features, improvements, and a fresh take on how we as iPhone users interact with our devices. Check back for updates!
One of the biggest hopes for iOS is the new Apple Intelligence system, which promises to make us even smarter in anticipating our needs and enhancing user experience across the board.
So far, people seem especially hyped about the redesigned widgets and enhanced privacy features.
Also try: New Apple iOS 18.1 Features
Also try: New Apple iOS 18.2 Features
Personalized home screen
The new personalization options let you take control of your layout. You can resize icons, move them around, change colors, and even hide apps you don’t need to see.
Interactive widgets
Redesigned widgets now offer real-time interactivity right from the home screen.
Multi-device FaceTime
Start a FaceTime call on your iPhone and seamlessly transfer it to another Apple device.
Apple Intelligence
Smarter automation and improved Siri integration, designed to anticipate your needs based on context.
Improved Messages app
iMessage now supports bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough text, plus animations. RCS support is also added for better Android compatibility.
There’s Send Later for scheduling texts and full support for any emoji in Tapback reactions. Plus, you can send messages via satellite when you’re off the grid.
Live voicemail transcription
See live transcriptions of voicemail messages as they’re being left, so you can decide if it’s worth picking up.
Improved Safari profiles
Users can create different profiles for work, personal, and more, keeping browsing history and tabs separate. It also brings the info you care about most—like directions and business hours—to the forefront when you visit a site.
Revamped Health app
More personalized tracking, including mental health insights and a journaling feature.
Smarter notifications
Notifications are now more context-aware and easier to manage.
Passwords app
Securely store all your credentials, including passwords and security alerts, in a dedicated app. Moving this feature from Settings makes it easier to find and manage.
Organized Photos library
The redesigned Photos app lets you pin custom collections like “wedding photos” or “trip to Aruba,” replacing tabs with a cleaner grid layout. The carousel view shown at WWDC was dropped.
Control Center
Control Center just got a lot more useful. You can rearrange it so your go-to controls are front and center. There’s also multi-page support for better organization, and third-party developers can now create their own controls. You can even swap out the Flashlight and Camera icons on the Lock Screen for something else.
Phone
For the first time, you can record, transcribe, and summarize calls (with everyone’s consent). There are a few other handy updates to the Phone app, too.
Photos
Apple has revamped the Photos app with a unified design and a focus on Collections. There’s better search, new utility albums, and a cleaner overall look.
Notes
Notes got a few upgrades, including a new Math Notes feature for solving equations and summarizing audio recordings (with Apple Intelligence). There are also a bunch of other quality-of-life improvements worth checking out.
Calculator
The Calculator app now includes a Math Notes feature that works across the system. It’s perfect for solving equations and conversions in both the app and Notes.
Maps
iPhone Maps now includes detailed topographic maps and full U.S. national park coverage, along with support for custom routes.
Camera
While the Camera app didn’t get a complete overhaul, there’s a new option to keep your music playing while you record video—finally.
AirPods Pro
If you’re rocking AirPods Pro 2, you’ll love the new iOS 18 updates, including head gestures to control Siri.
Accessibility
As usual, iOS 18 brings new Accessibility features. There’s eye tracking for navigating your phone, a Motion Sickness reduction tool, and Vocal Shortcuts to customize how you activate Siri. Plus, you can set up custom phrases to control your iPhone.
Also try: New Apple iOS 18.2 Features For Release
If you have an iPhone X or newer, you’re good to go. However, older models (iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and earlier) are not supported.
For newer models, like iPhone 14 and 15, you’ll get the full suite of features, including enhanced Apple Intelligence and live voicemail. If you’re using an older supported model, some advanced features like interactive widgets might be limited.
For iPad users, iPadOS 18 is rolling out, but only for certain models. If you have an iPad Pro (2nd gen or later), iPad Air (3rd gen or later), or iPad mini (5th gen or later), you can upgrade.
Just like with iPhones, newer iPads will have full access to features like interactive widgets and enhanced multitasking, while older models may see some limitations in performance and functionality.
If you’re excited to jump in, updating to iOS 18 is simple. Head to Settings > General > Software Update and tap “Download and Install.” Make sure you’ve got a stable Wi-Fi connection and enough battery life before you start.
And let’s not forget the new Apple Intelligence feature—this is where Apple’s machine learning really steps up, helping you get things done faster and more intuitively. Expect smarter suggestions, faster shortcuts, and better context-aware assistance throughout the OS. |
