iOS 18: New features, Compatible Devices, and How to Install It

iOS 18 is just around the corner. Here are all the new features in this version of Apple’s mobile OS. This update focuses on the home screen and its customization, but it also has new features in other areas.

This list provides an overview of the most essential features. In addition, you’ll find the iPhone models that will be compatible with this new OS, as well as instructions on how to get the update.

Top New Features in iOS 18

Below is a list of the top new features in iOS 18, the latest version of iPhone's operating system. Each new feature has a description so you know what it is.

• Apple Intelligence: Apple integrates its AI into the OS to write and correct text, create images, and improve Siri. It will arrive in the U.S. next month, in other English-speaking regions in December 2024, and other countries and languages in 2025.
• Genmoji: When Apple Intelligence arrives, AI emoji creation is another feature.
• Freedom reaches the Home Screen: Now you can place icons and widgets anywhere on the Home Screen, just like on Android, without having to see them lined up at the top.
• Dark icons: Icons on the iOS 18 Home Screen now have a dark mode that retains their color but has a black background.
• Tinted icons: You can also tint the icons in a custom color with a black background to give your iPhone a different and distinctive look.
• Control Center: No longer confined to a single screen, the iOS Control Center has themed tabs to organize buttons and widgets, which can now be different sizes. This means more customization.
• Passwords app: The internal iOS password manager becomes independent in an app. Now, it’s easier to look up passwords by hand since you don’t have to search for the option in Settings.
• Redesigned Photos app: Apple has completely redesigned the Photos app, which now has only one screen. By default, you see the most recent photos. As you move up, you see the previous images. And as you go down, you see the different content sections. You can also customize it with sections and categories. When Apple Intelligence arrives, you’ll also be able to delete items from a photo.
• Lock any app with Face ID: When you display an app’s menu, you can activate Require Face ID. This means every time you try to open it, it will ask for your Face ID to use it.
• Turn apps into widgets: You can also convert an app’s icon into a widget and vice versa, speeding up your Home Screen editing process.
• Multilingual keyboard: Typing in two different languages is now possible. The spell checker will work with both simultaneously.
• RCS for Messages: The RCS protocol is available in the Messages app, allowing you to send messages to Android phones, for example. These messages won’t be SMS messages but will be very similar to WhatsApp messages. You can add emojis, multimedia content, and more. There’s no need to use third-party apps.
• Other improvements in Messages: The Messages app now allows you to respond with emojis in conversations with other iPhone users and animate individual words to make them stand out.
• View reminders in Calendar: You can now add the reminders you create in the Reminders app to the Calendar to see them in its app.

• Subtasks in Reminders Smart Lists: Your subtasks are now available in Today, Scheduled, and other Smart Lists for quick reference.
• Customizable monthly calendar view: Pinch the monthly view to customize it and get a quick at-a-glance view.
• What’s new in Apple Music: Apple has renamed the Explore section to include personalized recommendations for new releases, charts, and popular playlists. SharePlay will also enable more users to share control, so everyone can have a say in what’s playing.
• Improvements to the Notes app: Apple is adding the ability to perform mathematical calculations by typing operations into a note. Furthermore, you can now highlight text with colors. There are also collapsible sections. Lastly, you'll be able to record audio notes right in the app.
• New Game Mode: When you play a game on your iPhone, the system automatically optimizes itself to avoid overheating the processor. It also turns off background apps to use less power.
• New gestures for AirPods: You can make gestures with your head to answer calls.
• Read Mode in Safari: A fully customizable new feature that lets you change the background color and font size and listen to a voice reading the news.
• Categories in Mail: Better organize your inbox by grouping messages into thematic categories.
• Topographic maps and trails: The Apple Maps app adds these two new features: topographic maps to see the elevation of certain areas, and hiking trails for when you want to get out of the house.
• New in Wallet: It’s not available to everyone yet, but there will be features for adding tickets and viewing information about the venue without leaving Wallet.
• Journal: This app will let you record your mood each day. Automatically add the time you spent writing in Journal as mindful minutes in Health.

iOS 18 Compatible Devices

These are the iPhone models that will receive the iOS 18 update. If you own one of these devices, you can update to the new version the day Apple releases it. Of course, remember that Apple Intelligence will only reach the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in addition to the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

• iPhone XR
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd gen. 2020)
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (3rd gen. 2022)
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max

How to Upgrade Your iPhone to iOS 18

Updating the OS on your iPhone is extremely easy. iOS 18 will appear as a standard OS update. To check for your own, go to Settings and click on the General section. Once inside, tap the Software update option. Then, your iPhone will search for new updates.

You don’t have to worry too much because iOS checks for new versions daily, so Apple will notify you automatically when the update is available. Checking for updates is only for when you can’t wait and want to keep checking.

Image | Apple

Related | How to Safely Clean and Remove Dirt From Your iPhone Charging Port