Apple Previews iOS 18
Major Customization, Photos Redesign, and Satellite Messaging
Apple today previewed iOS 18, a major release that offers more customization options, the biggest redesign ever of the Photos app, new ways for users to manage their inbox in Mail, satellite messaging in Messages, and much more.
Home Screen Flexibility
Users will be able to arrange apps and widgets in any open space on the Home Screen, customize the buttons at the bottom of the Lock Screen, and quickly access more controls in Control Center.
Lock Screen Controls
For the first time, users can now switch the controls at the bottom of the Lock Screen, including choosing from options available in the controls gallery or removing them entirely. With the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, users can quickly invoke controls available in the gallery.
Control Center Redesign
Control Center has been redesigned to provide easier access to many of the things users do every day. It offers quick access to new groups of a user’s most-utilized controls, such as media playback, Home controls, and connectivity, with the ability to swipe between each.
Unified View and Collections
Photos receives its biggest-ever redesign to help users easily find and relive special moments. A simplified, single view displays a familiar grid, and new collections help users browse by themes without having to organize content into albums. Collections can be pinned to keep favorites easily accessible.
Carousel and Autoplaying Content
A new carousel view presents highlights that update each day and feature favorite people, pets, places, and more. Autoplaying content throughout the app brings libraries to life, allowing users to enjoy past moments while browsing.
New Text Effects
iMessage receives all-new text effects that bring conversations to life by amplifying any letter, word, phrase, or emoji with dynamic, animated appearances. Users can better express tone by adding formatting like bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough.
Messages via Satellite
iOS 18 introduces Messages via satellite for times when cellular and Wi-Fi connections aren’t available. Powered by the same technology as existing iPhone satellite capabilities, Messages via satellite automatically prompts users to connect to their nearest satellite to send and receive texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS.
On-Device Categorization
Later this year, Mail will introduce new ways for users to manage their inbox and stay up to date. On-device categorization organizes and sorts incoming email into Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions categories.
Digest View
Mail also features a new digest view that pulls together all relevant emails from a business, allowing users to quickly scan for important information.
Personal Intelligence System
iOS 18 also introduces Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver incredibly useful and relevant intelligence. Built with privacy from the ground up, Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia.
Writing Tools and Image Playground
With new systemwide Writing Tools, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write. Image Playground allows users to create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch styles.
Safari Enhancements
Safari now offers an easier way to discover information on the web with Highlights and a redesigned Reader experience. Highlights use machine learning to surface key information about a webpage, and Reader now includes a summary and table of contents for longer articles.
New Passwords App
The new Passwords app builds on the foundation of Keychain, making it easy for users to access their passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes. The app includes alerts for common weaknesses, such as easily guessed or reused passwords and those appearing in known data leaks.
Locked and Hidden Apps
iOS 18 gives users even more control with tools to manage who can see their apps, how contacts are shared, and how their iPhone connects to accessories. Users can lock and hide apps, ensuring private information remains unseen.
Private Cloud Compute
Private Cloud Compute flexes and scales computational capacity between on-device processing and larger, server-based models, ensuring privacy while delivering powerful AI capabilities. Independent experts can verify the privacy of this system.
Additional Features
Maps, Game Mode, and Apple Pay Enhancements
iOS 18 includes new features in Apple Maps, such as browsing hikes and creating custom walking routes. Game Mode enhances gaming performance, and new Apple Pay features include redeeming rewards and accessing installments from eligible cards.
Improved AirPods Experience
AirPods updates provide clearer call quality, improved latency for gaming, and Personalized Spatial Audio.
Notes, Journal, Calendar, and Health Updates
The Notes app introduces instant equation solving, Journal gets new insights and search features, Calendar shows events and tasks from Reminders, and the Health app redesigns Medical ID for easier access in emergencies.
Emergency SOS and Home App Features
Emergency SOS now supports live video sharing, and the Home app introduces guest access and hands-free unlock with home keys.
Accessibility Updates
New features include Eye Tracking for navigating iPhone with just eyes, Music Haptics for experiencing music through the Taptic Engine, and Vocal Shortcuts for performing tasks with custom sounds.
“We are thrilled to introduce iOS 18. It is a huge release with incredible features, including new levels of customization and capability, a redesigned Photos app, and powerful ways to stay connected with Messages. There are so many benefits for everyone,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “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.”
