Apple finally announced iOS 18. iOS 18 beta 1 is out to developers and will be out to public beta testers in July. It is usually released to the public around the next iPhone launch in mid-September. In this post, I’ll cover all the major changes. I won’t go into depth as I will in a future video covering every little change, but in this one, we’ll go over just the major changes.
iOS 18 update Supported Devices:
The overall update size was around 7 GB. On my iPhone 15 Pro Max, it was 7.11 GB. As far as supported devices, the good news is it supports everything iOS 17 did, from the iPhone XR to the iPhone XS, all the way up to the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, and of course, iPhone 16 in the future. Now, features may not be on all devices, but they will generally get all the major changes.
Apple also announced Apple Intelligence, which will be available to developers later this summer. It’s not available on any devices yet, but that update will only be on iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 models, and any device with an M1 or later processor, including iPad and Mac.
Home Screen Customization:
If we swipe home, nothing looks too different so far. However, Apple is now allowing us to rearrange the home screen to the way we like. For example, we can create a new home screen, press, and hold, and add new apps wherever we want.
We can place them wherever we like, resize widgets by grabbing the handle in the bottom right, and change the overall icon size. We have options for automatic, dark mode, light mode, and tinted icons. We can fully customize the home screen.
Control Center Redesign:
In addition, we have a new control center. Everything is rounded now, and we can edit or add controls easily. It’s a bit buggy as it is in early beta, but it’s generally functional. We can resize and rearrange controls to our preference.
Lock Apps with Face ID:
There’s also a new option to lock apps. By pressing and holding an app, we can require Face ID to open it or hide it in a hidden folder. This feature works with Touch ID as well.
Photos App Overhaul:
The Photos app gets a major update and a full redesign. We can search with more natural language and have more customization options. Apple’s AI, or Apple Intelligence, is integrated but not yet available.
The phone app gets an update with new suggestions and an option to record phone calls, although it’s not yet available.
New Passwords App:
There’s a new password app for easier password management, secure encryption, and seamless syncing across devices.
Safari Improvements:
Safari has new features like highlights and a new reader view. Messages now support RCS messaging, and we can schedule messages to send later. We also have new text effects and more tapback options with any emoji.
Messages Upgrades:
Additionally, there’s a new option to use messages via satellite for iMessage or RCS.
Game Mode:
Game mode is introduced, reducing background activity to maximize performance with less lag for AirPods and game controllers.
Journaling App:
Journaling gets updated with state-of-mind entries and new insights based on journaling habits.
Apple Intelligence:
The big change coming later is Apple Intelligence. Siri will look completely new and provide more context-based suggestions. Apple Intelligence will also integrate with ChatGPT-4, allowing for on-device processing and opt-in usage. But haven’t done much with Apple Maps
There are many more small changes throughout iOS 18. If you found anything else that stands out, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. I’ll try to link the all-new iOS 18 wallpapers in the description if you want to try them for yourself and you’re not trying the beta. If you’re wondering if you should install iOS 18 beta 1, I would hold off.
