Apple unveiled the next-generation iOS 18 at WWDC 2024. As anticipated, iOS 18 turned out to be the iPhone’s biggest software update in history. The latest iOS 18 arrives with a boatload of impressive features like customizable home and lock screens, a revamped Control Center, a redesigned Photos app, a new Passwords app, and much more. If you’re also curious to know what’s new in iOS 18, when it will come out, and which devices will support it, we’ve got you covered. We’ve mentioned everything you need to know about Apple’s latest iPhone operating system. Let’s get started right away!
iOS 18 Features
Personalised iOS 18 Home Screen
After 17 years, Apple finally offers a redesigned and more customizable home screen experience with iOS 18. This long-awaited feature gives iPhone users greater control over the app icon arrangement on their Home Screen. While app icons remain locked to an invisible grid system for uniformity, users can create blank spaces, columns, and rows between icons to reveal more of their wallpaper.
Another exciting addition to the iOS 18 Home Screen is the ability to customize the appearance of app icons. Users can set app icons to appear in dark or light mode, or they can automatically switch based on the Dark Mode setting enabled on their iPhone.
Customizable Lock Screen Controls
One of the standout features of iOS 18 is the ability to change the lock screen controls on your iPhone. Users can swap out the default controls for options like Shortcuts, QR code scanner, Calculator app, or Dark Mode. This flexibility allows users to tailor their lock screen for easier access to their most-used features.
Finally, I can remove the Flashlight icon from the Lock Screen to prevent accidental activation!
Lock & Hide Apps
The latest iOS 18 introduces a long-requested feature—the ability to lock individual apps on an iPhone. Users can now secure sensitive apps with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. When an app is locked, its information will not appear in other places across the system, including Search, Siri, and Notifications, ensuring that sensitive data remains private.
Additionally, if users want to hide an app, they can easily move it into a hidden apps folder that can also be locked, adding an extra layer of security.
Redesigned Control Center with a New Controls Gallery
The next-gen iOS 18 brings a massive update to the Control Center, featuring new groups of controls. Users can swipe down on the Home Screen to access different Control Center screens, and a new Controls Gallery displays all options in one place. This allows users to rearrange, resize controls, or create their own group controls for quick access to their favorite features.
Check out our in-depth guide on how to customize the Control Center in iOS 18 for a personalized experience!
New Passwords App
As expected, Apple has transformed its password keychain feature into a full-fledged Passwords app. With this dedicated app in iOS 18, storing all your account passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and other credentials in one place has never been easier. The app offers secure end-to-end encryption, and passwords are synced across all Apple devices.
This means if you change your Netflix password on your iPhone, it will automatically update on your iPad and Mac too!
Redesigned Photos App
Navigating a loaded photo library can be challenging, but the redesigned Photos app in iOS 18 makes it a breeze to find specific photos. The app now features Collections, which automatically organizes your entire photo library by helpful themes like Recent Days, Trips, and People & Pets. This makes searching for photos much quicker and more intuitive.
RCS, Tapbacks, Text Effects, & More in Messages
The Messages app received a significant upgrade with iOS 18. Users can now schedule messages to send later, react to messages with more Tapbacks, and apply animated effects to individual words, phrases, or emojis. Additionally, text can be bolded, underlined, italicized, or struck through for emphasis.
Moreover, iOS 18 introduces RCS (Rich Communication Services) to iPhones, enabling seamless communication between iPhone and Android users. If you own an iPhone 14 or later, you can even send and receive messages using satellite connectivity, keeping you connected even without cellular or Wi-Fi service.
Tap to Cash
The iOS 18 update introduces a new payment method called Tap to Cash. This feature allows users to pay by simply tapping two iPhones together, eliminating the need to exchange phone numbers or email addresses. This is similar to the iOS 17 NameDrop feature, which helps users exchange contacts seamlessly.
Additionally, Apple Wallet has received upgrades, including support for displaying rewards or points balances in Apple Pay and redesigned event tickets that show helpful venue information.
Record and Transcribe Phone Calls
With iOS 18, users can officially record calls directly from the Phone app. After making or answering a call, users can enable call recording. All participants will be notified when a call is being recorded for ethical reasons. Not only that, but iPhones will also provide a transcript of the call, and with Apple Intelligence, users can receive a summary of key points discussed.
Safari Gets Highlights & Redesigned Reader
Safari has been enhanced with a variety of new features in iOS 18. The new Highlights feature detects and emphasizes helpful information on a webpage, such as summaries and quick links to learn more about topics like people, movies, and music.
Additionally, the redesigned Reader mode removes distractions, providing a better reading experience and a table of contents for longer articles. This makes navigating lengthy content much easier!
Game Mode
For the first time, iOS 18 introduces Game Mode to iPhones. This feature minimizes background activity to ensure consistent frame rates for a smoother gaming experience. It also reduces audio latency and improves responsiveness with game controllers and AirPods, making it a crucial highlight for gamers.
AirPods and Hands-free Siri Interactions
Thanks to iOS 18, interacting with Siri on AirPods Pro 2 is now simpler and more engaging. Users can respond to Siri by simply nodding their heads or shaking their heads, making it easier to use in situations where hands-free interaction is essential.
Native App Updates
The Calculator app has received a notable update, introducing a new Math Notes calculator, unit conversion features, and a portrait orientation for the scientific calculator. This makes performing calculations more accessible than ever!
The Notes app has also been greatly improved, allowing users to record voice memos directly within their notes and perform complex mathematical equations effortlessly. Just enter an expression, and it will be solved as you type!
iOS 18 Accessibility Features
Apple has announced new accessibility features that will be included in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and visionOS 2. One remarkable feature is Eye Tracking, which allows users to navigate their devices using just their eyes, especially beneficial for those with physical disabilities.
Alongside Eye Tracking, the new Music Haptics feature enables the Taptic Engine to provide taps, vibrations, and textures synced with music, allowing users with hearing impairments to enjoy music like everyone else. Moreover, the Vocal Shortcuts feature allows users to create custom commands for Siri, enhancing user experience.
CarPlay Upgrades
CarPlay has also received accessibility enhancements in iOS 18. Users can now navigate and control apps using Voice Control, while the Sound Recognition feature alerts drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing about important sounds, such as car horns.
Additionally, Color Filters have been introduced to assist colorblind users in navigating the CarPlay interface with more ease. These upgrades reflect Apple's commitment to inclusivity and user-friendly design.
iOS 18 Release Date
Apple officially announced iOS 18 on June 10, along with iPadOS 18, macOS 15 Sequoia, and other software updates
