At the recent “It’s Glowtime” event on September 9, Apple introduced several new products, including the Apple Watch Series 10, new AirPods, and the iPhone 16 lineup. Along with the new iPhones, Apple also announced the release of its latest operating system, iOS 18.
iOS 18 was initially revealed during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, showcasing a range of new features aimed at enhancing user experience. Key highlights include new methods for organizing the Home Screen, a customizable Control Center, and the introduction of Apple Intelligence, which is a major highlight of the update.
Users in the beta testing program have had early access to many of these features, but the public release will allow everyone to experience them starting September 16, just days ahead of the iPhone 16’s launch on September 20. However, iOS 18 won’t include all the features showcased earlier this year; several smart home capabilities will be introduced later in iOS 18.1, which is not yet scheduled for release, and Apple Intelligence will follow its own timeline.
Among the new functionalities in iOS 18 is the ability to customize the Home Screen significantly, fulfilling a long-standing request from former Android users. The new version will allow users to position apps as they wish within a grid, rather than following a strict left-to-right, top-to-bottom arrangement. Additional options for Dark and Tinted Home Screens will also be available.
The Control Center will see improvements as well, with users now able to create and customize multiple pages, making it easier to organize and resize controls according to individual preferences. This means users can dedicate entire pages for smart home controls or have their favored settings easily accessible.
Several of Apple’s core applications are also receiving updates. iMessage will enable any emoji to be used as a Tapback reaction, and added text formatting options will be available, along with support for RCS to enhance cross-platform messaging. The Photos app is being redesigned into a single-page layout, and users will have the ability to lock apps behind Face ID for enhanced security. Additionally, the Passwords feature will transition to its own dedicated app, separating it from the Settings menu.
The concept of Apple Intelligence encompasses the new AI capabilities in iOS 18, though accessibility to these features will depend on subsequent updates. The first features of Apple Intelligence are expected to debut with iOS 18.1, anticipated for late October. Initial functionalities include new writing tools for text generation and summarization, suggested replies in Messages, call recording with transcripts, and notification summaries for Messages and Mail.
While some features remain untested outside of Apple, they are likely to be postponed for future iOS releases. Highlighted upcoming features include Image Playground, Genmoji for generated emojis, and enhanced Siri capabilities through ChatGPT integration, with some functionalities expected by the end of 2024.
iOS 18 will be compatible with all devices that supported iOS 17, which is promising news for users of older models. However, not all devices will benefit from Apple Intelligence; only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as all iPhone 16 models, will access the new AI features.
The following devices will support iOS 18:
– iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
– iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
– iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
– iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
– iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
– iPhone XS, XS Max
– iPhone XR
– iPhone SE (second-generation)
– iPhone SE (third-generation)