iPhone users can look forward to enhanced customization options with the upcoming iOS 18 update, set for release on September 16. This update will allow users to personalize their lock and home screens and offer a variety of new features for Apple devices.
Ronak Shah, Apple’s director of Internet technologies and product marketing, emphasized the importance of messaging in daily communication, stating, “Messages is central to how we communicate with the most important people in our lives. So in iOS 18, we’re giving you all new ways to express yourself and stay connected.”
iPhone users can download the iOS 18 update starting at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET on Monday, September 16. The update will be available for free to users with iPhone Xs and later models.
Among the new features in iOS 18 are:
– The ability to place app icons and widgets anywhere on the home screen grid.
– An updated dark mode that now changes app icons.
– The option to modify the tint color of the home screen.
Users can also look forward to enhanced messaging capabilities such as scheduling iMessages and using new text effects to amplify their messages visually. Additionally, the emoji tapback feature enables more expressive responses to text messages.
A new feature, Rich Communication Services (RCS), will facilitate smoother messaging between iPhone and Android users. More updates are expected when Apple Intelligence is introduced with the iOS 18.1 rollout next month.
Apple has indicated that while iOS 18 will be released soon, the Apple Intelligence features will not be included in this initial update. Users will experience these advancements when iOS 18.1 is made available. Emarketer analyst Gadjo Sevilla noted that Apple plans to emphasize safe AI use cases within its ecosystem, focusing on a cohesive integration of its hardware, software, and platform.