After an announcement at WWDC, we know a lot more about iOS 18. Here you can find out exactly what to expect and which iPhones will receive the update.
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC for short, brings new information about the new operating system iOS 18. The new keyword is: Apple Intelligence. We’ll show you what will probably change.
When is iOS 18 coming?
A public beta version of iOS 18 has been available since July. The full version is expected in September, with the new iPhone 16 models. The Californian company emphasizes in this statement that not all features will be available in every country.
Which devices are supported?
With the announcement at WWDC, it is also clear which devices will receive the iOS 18 update. As previously suspected, the new version will be rolled out on iPhone Xs or newer. A beta of Apple Intelligence will initially only be available on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. This makes it unclear exactly how many devices will benefit from all the new features. A complete list of the affected devices can be found below.
- iPhone 15-Serie
- iPhone 14-Serie
- iPhone SE 3. Generation
- iPhone 13-Serie
- iPhone 12-Serie
- iPhone SE 2. Generation
- iPhone 11-Serie
- iPhone XR (2018)
- iPhone XS und XS Max (2018)
New features
As mentioned at the beginning, the heart of the update is the artificial intelligence Apple Intelligence. It helps you with your work. With the help of simple commands, it should be possible to create and change images. There are also commands that you can use to automate, proofread and summarize texts. Apple emphasizes the focus on user security.
Apple Intelligence
Apple was originally planning to introduce Apple Intelligence with iOS 18. The Californian company’s AI service is the heart of this year’s launch and is also interwoven with many new features. Unfortunately, the release of Apple Intelligence will be delayed, so it will probably only be delivered with an update in October – in the USA, mind you.
There is bitter news for Europe: Apple Intelligence will not be released in this country this year. The reason for this is legal difficulties with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). It is therefore unclear to what extent the following features will be available or work in Europe until Apple releases its AI services for this market – if this happens at all.
Redesign of the Photos app
The new photo app is designed to bring memories to the forefront even more. You can use the search function to easily search for topics without having to scroll through everything. You can pin your favorite albums as you wish so that you can access the most beautiful moments directly.
A developer beta also featured a carousel view for your photos and photo albums. However, following negative feedback, Apple removed this. The size of the tiles that display your photos is also said to have been reduced – so you can see more photos at once and save time scrolling.
Big Siri update
Apple Intelligence is also giving Siri a comprehensive update. It will no longer be limited to the few commands that work reliably. In the future, it will be possible to have entire interactions with Siri – whether in text or voice form. Access to ChatGPT will also be integrated here.
Siri also gets a new look: With iOS 18, all edges of the iPhone light up when interacting with the voice assistant.
iOS 18 makes it possible to record phone calls
A new button in the phone display allows you to record your phone calls. The other participants are informed by an audio signal when a recording is started. The recordings are automatically saved in the Notes app, where they can be played back, transcribed and summarized.
Individual adjustments possible in the home screen
The rumors about a fully customizable home screen have come true. The normal grid structure is history and applications can be placed anywhere. You can also color the icons individually or adapt them to your background image. The size of the widgets and applications is also up to you.
The control panel is also being fundamentally revised. It will be clearer overall and can be customized to suit your own taste. Supported apps can also be stored there. You can now also decide which functions are most important to you in the lower part of the lock screen.
Improvements in iMessages
The introduction of the RCS standard has been officially confirmed by Apple. The abbreviation RCS stands for Rich Communication Services. This is a communication channel between smartphones as a replacement for SMS and MMS. Similar to messenger apps, high-resolution images, larger files, voice messages or read receipts are supported. If you do not have a mobile connection, the messages are sent encrypted via satellite.
With the new update, you can animate texts and add common text effects. Individual emojis make the exchange of information even more personal. You can also compose messages in advance and have them sent at a specific time. Intelligent replies for iMessages were also discovered in a developer beta – with the support of Apple Intelligence, of course.
Safari-Update
Safari also benefits from the new possibilities of Apple Intelligence. In the future, it will be possible to request summaries of any page. By creating a table of contents, you can find the most important information directly. If a song is mentioned, you can play it directly.
You should also be able to hide annoying elements on websites such as pop-up windows, cookie banners or advertisements. The feature is called “Distraction Control”, as Cult of Mac reported. However, it is not an ad blocker, as the feature does not block content automatically. You have to manually specify which elements you want to hide so that they are no longer displayed to you.
Passwords app and hidden content
You may already be familiar with password apps from your browser, but now you can find them easily with your own application. Known data leaks or easily guessed passwords will be reported to you immediately here.
You also have the option to hide certain apps on your screen from other users. You can also make settings regarding the sharing of contacts or which devices connect to the iPhone.
Improving maps
The maps app is preferred by many instead of Google Maps and is now expected to come with upgrades.
Sea MacRumours It should be possible to determine certain places to pass on the way to the destination. The feature will initially be rolled out in the USA. It will then be available in other regions of the world later. There will also be hiking routes in the USA that can also be used offline. This introduction has already been confirmed by Apple.
The introduction of sideloading
Starting with iOS 18, apps can also be downloaded via third-party stores via sideloading. This means that you would no longer be limited to the in-house Apple Store. This change is actually mandatory according to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) of 2022, but Apple recently fought against the EU decision.
The expansion of accessibility features
Apple wants to improve accessibility with the new technical possibilities. For example, voice shortcuts are being introduced. You can then assign a specific spoken sentence to an instruction. Live Speech is also to be used. The respective Apple device will then automatically read out your written text. There will also be individual adjustments to the font size and eye tracking.
New background noises
With iOS 18, Apple is giving you two new background noises. The six familiar soundscapes, such as “Rain,” “Ocean,” or “Bright Noise,” will soon be joined by the scenes “Night” and “Fire.” Background noises can help you relax in stressful situations and increase your productivity while working.
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