With iOS 18, users gain greater control over their Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center. Apps and widgets can be arranged in any open space on the Home Screen and users can customize buttons at the bottom of the Lock Screen. Users can also add controls from supported third-party apps. A simplified single view displays a familiar grid, and new collections help users browse by themes without organizing content into albums.
Collections can be pinned to keep favorites easily accessible. iMessage introduces new text effects and formatting options. The app now supports RCS for richer media and better group messaging when communicating with users not on Apple devices. Satellite messaging allows users to send and receive messages via satellite when no cellular or Wi-Fi connection is available, which could come in very handy indeed.
Mail now features on-device intelligence to sort emails into categories for a more organized inbox. Safari introduces Highlights and a revamped Reader experience for distraction-free reading. The new Passwords app consolidates access to passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi credentials, and verification codes. Users receive alerts about weak passwords and those exposed in data leaks, enhancing security.
Other new privacy features include allowing users to lock and hide apps to keep their information secure. Apps can be locked with Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode, ensuring private information remains unseen by others. Writing tools for proofreading, rewriting, and summarizing text are available within apps like Mail, Notes, and Pages. The Image Playground feature allows users to create animated, illustrated, or sketched images easily.
Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, expressed enthusiasm about the release: “We are thrilled to introduce iOS 18. There are so many benefits for everyone. This release also marks the beginning of a tremendously exciting new era of personal intelligence with Apple Intelligence delivering intuitive, powerful, and instantly useful experiences that will transform the iPhone experience, all with privacy at the core. We can’t wait for users to experience it.”
The developer beta of iOS 18 is available now, with a public beta launching soon, and a full release expected this fall for iPhone Xs and later.