iOS 18 brings exciting new updates and features, along with innovative ways to customize your iPhone, making the iOS experience more personalized than ever. Moreover, privacy is a key focus of this release. Apple is dedicated to protecting user privacy through AI within Apple Intelligence. Read on to know more about the release date, features worth waiting for, and iPhones that will support iOS 18.
iOS 18 release date
Apple hasn’t said exactly when iPhone users can upgrade to iOS 18, but we can predict based on past releases. Looking at the last five major iOS updates, they all came out in September, usually on the second or third Monday of the month. So, considering this pattern, we can expect iOS 18 to drop around September 9, 16, or 23.
The iOS developer beta for iOS 18.1 arrives
Apple has just rolled out the first developer beta for iOS 18.1, and it’s a big deal because of Apple Intelligence. This new set of AI features that Apple showed off at WWDC is starting to come to iPhones. But for now, it’s only available on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
iOS 18 supported iPhones / compatible devices
Apple has revealed the lineup of iPhones that will be compatible with the upcoming iOS 18 update in a recently shared preview. Here’s the list of devices eligible for downloading and upgrading to iOS 18 upon its release:
Eligible iPhone devices
iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone 12, iPhone 11, iPhone X series, SE series
What it means for older iPhones
This suggests that older iPhone models eligible for iOS 18 might lean on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute more, providing a cloud computing option for devices unable to handle AI-assisted operations on their own.
New features in iOS 18
Apple just unveiled its highly anticipated iOS 18 update, packed with new and unique AI features. This fall’s major iPhone update is filled with features that Apple users have wanted for years. And they will tempt anyone to install the preview beta.
A fresh take on Messages
Messaging with Android users is just one of the new iOS 18 features that enhances the Messages app. Apple has improved the Tapback icons that your friends and family love to use in two ways. First, the default Tapbacks get a makeover with color and shadowing, and now you can use any emoji as a Tapback. You’ll also have new formatting options to make the text in your messages ripple, jitter, shake, and bloom, among other effects.
Schedule Messages with ‘send later’
Whether it’s too late at night or too important to forget, you can now schedule a message to be sent at a specified time.
Messaging via satellite
Apple is expanding the iPhone’s capabilities to include messaging via satellite, ensuring you stay connected even when you’re without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
RCS coming to iOS 18
Apple has confirmed that RCS (Rich Communication Services) is coming to Messages with iOS 18. This means higher-quality image and video sharing with Android devices. Along with support for features like delivery and read receipts, even for those who don’t use iMessage.
New iOS 18 features include big changes for the Photos App
Get ready for a major overhaul of the Photos app with iOS 18’s new feature. The familiar tab-based layout is being replaced with a single view.
Featured photos
Curious about where all those moments and highlights went? Simply swipe horizontally on the grid at the top to access your favorites and featured photos.
Filter screenshots quickly
Another welcome change in iOS 18 is the ability to filter out screenshots. With a quick tap of the “Hide screenshots” button, you can remove ticket stubs and recipes from view, allowing you to focus solely on your cherished memories.
Transcribe lectures and meetings
iOS 18 can transcribe your audio files easily. Just find the recording, tap the waveform button in the bottom-left, and then tap the speech bubble on the playback page. The transcriptions are fast, taking about a minute for an hour-long conversation, but the accuracy may vary, and it doesn’t distinguish between speakers as some Google and Samsung apps do.
If you prefer using the Notes app, you can record audio by tapping the paper clip icon. Then, ask iOS to transcribe it and copy the text directly into your notes or wherever you need it.
More control of iPhone’s App icons
You can now drag and drop your favorite apps around your home screen to your liking, and even leave blank spaces. This feature, long enjoyed by Android users, lets you place app icons at the bottom of the screen for easier access. It also allows you to keep your home screen clear of clutter, so the pets, people, and places you love aren’t overshadowed by apps like Mail, Spotify, and Safari.
App icons will get dimmer in dark mode
App icons and widgets are getting a sleeker appearance with a new Dark mode look. You can tint them with any color, or let iOS suggest a color that complements your wallpaper.
Control Center
The Control Center, accessible by swiping down from the top-right corner of your iPhone, offers quick access to essential settings like brightness, volume, and Airplane mode. It’s incredibly handy, especially when you’re about to start watching a movie. Now, in iOS 18, the Control Center won’t just be limited to Apple apps.
More privacy for your apps
Ever felt uneasy handing your phone to someone else just to show them something? Apple has addressed this concern by allowing you to lock specific apps behind Face ID.
Apple’s newest app stores your passwords
The iPhone, along with the iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro, is getting a new Apple-made Passwords app. While Apple has managed your passwords for some time, this new app offers a more polished solution.
New wallet app features in iOS 18
Instead of using a banking app, the Wallet app now supports Tap to Cash for sending small amounts of money between iPhones by bringing the tops of two iPhones together. The feature works a lot like the NameDrop tool Apple released in iOS 17 a year ago.
Apple Pay Benefits
Apple Pay now integrates with your loyalty programs, earning you points for your payments. Tickets stored in your wallet have a new look and link to helpful information for your events. For more details, see our iOS 18 Wallet guide.
Walking and hiking routes for Maps
For avid walkers, iOS 18 Maps now includes walking and hiking routes, covering many U.S. National Parks. You can save these routes for offline use and even create your own. Trail routes display the distance and elevation, helping you determine if the hike matches your skill level.
Easier to manage the Mail app
Emails on iPhone will now be categorized in Apple’s default email app, automatically sorting transactions, newsletters, and personal emails. You can manually override these categories if needed. For a quick overview of your email history with a specific contact, Mail introduces a new summary view.
This feature isn’t available in the iOS 18 public beta yet. Apple has stated that the Mail improvements will come later this year, possibly after the full iOS 18 release. However, there is an iOS 18 Mail preview available.
More features
How to use Apple Intelligence features
After you’ve downloaded the iOS 18.1 Developer Beta update, cleared the waitlist, and your phone has finished setting up the Apple Intelligence models, you’re all set. Just go to the Apple Intelligence & Siri page in the Settings app and turn on the Apple Intelligence toggle at the top. All the Apple Intelligence features listed below are now active and ready for you to use.
Advanced writing tools
In the Notes app, when you select text or double-tap to bring up the contextual menu, you’ll find options like Proofread, Rewrite, and adjust the style with tones such as Concise, Professional, or Friendly. What’s even better is the one-tap features like summarizing text, pulling out key points, turning content into a list, or formatting it as a table.
An intelligent focus mode
Apple has several focus mode presets, like gaming and work, and you can also create your own custom focus mode. With iOS 18.1, there’s a new preset called Reduce Interruptions. This mode uses on-device intelligence to sift through notifications. It looks at the content of each notification, and if something seems urgent, it will alert you. You can set it up right from the control center and customize it to your liking. For example, you can choose to allow notifications from only certain important people or apps.
Other new features
Mail is getting some great upgrades, with the Summarize feature being a standout. It’ll now summarize email contents with just one tap, similar to the Shortwave app. Another cool addition is AI-powered voice notes. It can now transcribe and summarize your voice recordings, and you can embed these voice clips directly in Notes. You’ll have the summary or transcription ready with just one tap.
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