Apple’s latest software update, iOS 18, has been released to iPhone users. Although AI technology is highlighted in the new update, Apple Intelligence features will not be included in this version. Apple stated that starting with iOS 18.1, Apple Intelligence features will be released first in the US and will gradually be rolled out to the global market.
Now You Can Personalize Your Phone!
With iOS 18, the focus has been on personalization, including custom icons, a revamped Control Center, and support for locked and hidden apps.
Users will be able to place icons anywhere in the grid or hide the text label by making them larger, giving them more control over the iOS Home screen. This move will appeal especially to Gen Z consumers who quickly adopted custom icons with the launch of iOS 14. Users can switch to dark mode or set their icons to any color they want, while third-party app developers can also release custom icons to take full advantage of this functionality.
While some developers may be ready on day one, others are still working on icon updates.
You can add pages and icons to the Control Center!
The Control Center, which can be easily accessed by swiping down from the iOS Home Screen, has also undergone a major change with this version.
By default, there are now four pages of controls focused on favorites, music controls, home, and connectivity. It includes controls for connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and personal hotspot. Everything in the new Control Center is customizable. You can add or remove pages or icons.
You Can Assign New App to Camera Button
Meanwhile, on the iPhone’s Lock Screen, users can replace the default camera button with a third-party camera app like Obscura or Halide.
On the subject of privacy, iOS 18 offers the option to lock apps with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. You can also hide these apps from the Home Screen. Then, they will only appear in the new hidden app folder in the App Library.
Most Users Didn’t Like the Change in the Photos App!
The Photos app has also been redesigned with iOS 18, but the changes made in beta versions of the software weren’t universally welcomed. The company has moved to a single-page design, removing the tabs at the bottom of the screen; the goal is to highlight different photos from your library.
In the Photos app, you’ll see albums, but also collection folders like Recents, People & Pets, Pinned Collections, Memories, Trips (a new feature), Tools, and Media type. You can customize the visibility and order of these items.
While the goal is to make the Photos app more than just a utility, the result has been criticized by some users as being difficult to navigate. The design has been improved since its initial release and may be updated once more if user response improves.
Sending Files to Those with Android Phones is Now Very Easy!
Another big change is Apple adding support for Rich Communication Services (RCS). This is an improved version of SMS that allows Android users to send and receive high-quality media with iPhone users. Both iPhone and Android users will get message typing indicators and read receipts between the two platforms. While messages from Android users will still appear as green bubbles, this feature could help bring parity between the two platforms.
Switching Between SIM Cards Is Now Possible!
The Apple Phone app has also been updated with iOS 18, making it easier to search call logs and find a contact using the number pad. While this may seem like a minor update, it can be useful for finding someone with a quick search whenever you’re calling them. iOS 18 also lets you switch SIM cards during a call. In addition, live voicemail transcription is now supported in a dozen more languages and regions.
If You Care About Your Passwords, Apple Has Innovated For You
A new Passwords app is also coming with the operating system. Previously, these sensitive credentials were stored in a submenu in the Settings app. Now they have their own app, which makes them more accessible to users, but also puts Apple in more direct competition with password app makers like 1Password, LastPass, and Dashlane. But unlike many third-party apps, it doesn’t store sensitive items other than passwords, such as credit cards, IDs, or secure notes. If you’re not using a password app anyway, a built-in option could be helpful for users who aren’t concerned about their password security.
Translation App Now Supports More Languages
A new update adds support for multilingual and multialphabetic keyboards. (Additionally, advanced language search has been added for select Indian languages.) The Translate app now supports Hindi. The Notes app lets you create collapsible sections and supports audio transcriptions. The Calculator app can solve advanced math equations.
Artificial Intelligence Support Will Be Available in English
Apple Intelligence was talked about at length at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June and at the iPhone 16 launch event earlier this month. Ironically, the iPhone 16, which Apple says was “re-engineered for Apple Intelligence,” came out without these features. (This explains why Apple developed the technology to update the iPhone’s operating system while it was still in the box at retail stores.)
The tech giant said the AI features will be available in October with support for US English. Later this year, localized English support will be added for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Next year, support for additional languages including Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish, and Indian English will follow.
In developer betas, Apple tested AI-powered writing tools; the ability to summarize notifications; email summaries; and a new focus mode called “Reduce Interruptions.” The company also tested the ability to clean up photos by removing unwanted people and objects.
It’s not clear when these features will be available to the public, but only customers with iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, iPhone 16 or 16 Plus, and iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max will be able to experience this AI technology. There may be some features that are exclusive to iPhone 16, such as visual search, which is enabled with the new Camera Control button.
As we noted in our iOS 18 public beta preview back in July, the first release of iOS 18 is only part of the story. The launch of Apple Intelligence feels like the finale. We can’t say right now if this second installment is compelling enough, as we can only judge Apple Intelligence from trailers and beta tests.
