Apple introduced iOS 18 at WWDC 2024. It is the latest version of Apple’s smartphone operating system. The new OS update brings a lot of enhancements and features improving the overall user experience. Let’s check out the main highlights of iOS 18 below.
1. Home Screen Improvements
iOS 18 enhances the home screen by allowing users to move their apps wherever they want. For example, users can now move all the apps to the corner allowing the wallpaper to be visible. Additionally, new app icons for dark mode offer an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Also, users can customize the color of app icons as they want. They can choose the color to match their wallpaper, giving users more opportunities for personal customization.
2. Redesigned Control Panel
Control Panel has also received attention from Apple, now allowing one to swipe between multiple pages of controls. This allows better control of media and smart home controls. Users can customize the toggle layout according to their preferences. They can even remove toggles that may not be important to them.
3. Lock App and Hide App
Apple has finally introduced the Lock App on iOS 18, allowing users to lock their apps for more security. Locked apps can be unlocked using FaceID. Moreover, the sensitive data within the locked apps will stay hidden across the system. Users can also now use the Hide App feature to not show apps on the home screen.
4. Messages
There are multiple improvements with Messages apps on iOS 18. For example, users can now use any emoji with Tapback. Moreover, users can now add text effects for better expression. One more important feature is that now you can schedule messages with the Send Later feature. Scheduling a message to wish a birthday to a friend is now possible. Finally, there is also now support for Messages via satellite.
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5. Mail
The Mail app has also received some attention. Now the emails are categorized into different categories. Like primary, transactions, promotions, etc. It allows a cleaner experience and helps users figure out important emails.
6. Redesigned Photos App
The Photos app has been redesigned for iOS 18. It will now better optimize the libraries, with face sorting with a new carousel view. Moreover, users can also pin the collections on top so they can be accessed quickly.
7. Game Mode
Game Mode was first introduced for macOS, and now it has arrived for iOS 18. It is a mode specifically designed for gamers to enhance their gaming experience. It works by minimizing the background activity so the system gives full priority to games. Meanwhile, it also improves Bluetooth connectivity by providing the lowest latency with game controllers and AirPods.
8. Improved Siri
Thanks to the introduction of Apple Intelligence, Siri has gotten much smarter. It has not just got a new logo, but also a new animation. The new Siri can assist with a lot more tasks efficiently. For example, it can now understand you even if you stumble. Siri can locate emails, texts, or shared notes for you. Siri will also be able to find your photos, for example, a photo of you and your friends in some location. Moreover, it can also edit the image to make it look better. Siri also integrates ChatGPT giving it the power GPT-4o, making it much more smarter for various queries. This is a major highlight of iOS 18, as Siri was ignored by Apple for a long time. But it seems like it is comeback for the Apple’s smart assistant with iOS 18.
That said, iOS 18 seems to give more focus on customization but also improves overall user experience with Apple Intelligence. The iOS 18 can be tested from today in Developer Preview, while it will be available in a stable version this fall.
