As iOS 18 hits your iPhone today—here are some key features you’ll get
Unfortunately, Apple Intelligence will not be part of the initial iOS 18 rollout.
Just a week after the Apple Event where it unveiled new hardware products including the iPhone 16 series, the tech giant is finally releasing iOS 18 which offers several updates that could improve customization, privacy, and performance.
Available today for iPhone XS and newer models, iOS 18 may help users personalize their experience further. The update should be available starting at 10 a.m. Pacific Time (6 p.m. GMT+1), and users may access it through Settings → General → Software Update.
Louis Eriakha
Ahead of today's update, Apple released a list of over 250 updates that are expected with the iOS 18. But these are some of the major ones you don't want to miss.
- One of the key changes might be the revamped Home Screen, where users are now able to rearrange and recolour app icons, with options like "Dark" and "Tinted" themes. Additionally, the Control Center has been updated, allowing users to resize and reorganize controls to better fit their needs.
- In terms of privacy, iOS 18 introduces App Lock, allowing users to secure specific apps with Face ID or Touch ID. There's also a new Passwords app, which helps centralize password management. It could offer iPhone users a more streamlined way to store sensitive information.
- Safari’s new Distraction Control feature may help users declutter their browsing experience by hiding certain website elements, like newsletter sign-up forms. Though Apple says it's not an ad blocker, it seems to focus on improving readability.
- The Photos app has also seen what Apple calls "it's biggest redesign ever," with tabs being removed in favor of a more unified layout, which may make it easier for users to browse and organize their photo collections.
- iMessage has received some improvements, including scheduled messages and dynamic text effects. The new RCS support also aims to improve messaging with Android users, offering smoother cross-platform communication.
- For those who enjoy mobile gaming, the new Game Mode feature aims to optimize performance by minimizing background activity and dramatically reduces audio latency with AirPods, making wireless game controllers more responsive.
With the gaming industry expected to surpass $300 billion by 2026, this update suggests Apple is paying attention to the increasing role mobile gaming plays in the iPhone ecosystem.
It’s important to note that Apple Intelligence, the AI-powered features announced at the Apple Event, such as text summarization and photo clean-up, will not be part of the initial iOS 18 rollout. These features are expected to arrive with iOS 18.1, which is scheduled for release in October.
Kelechi Edeh
Overall, iOS 18 appears to offer a range of improvements that may give users more control over their devices while improving privacy and performance. However, users can expect more with the iOS 18.1 beta release schedule for an October release, with all its AI promises.
Bust as the iOS 18 rolls out today, user feedback will determine if these features really offer all Apple claims they will.
David Adubiina
