New iOS 18 Features for iPhone: What You Need to Know

The day we’ve all been waiting for is finally here, as Apple unveiled iOS 18 and more at WWDC today. The next software for iPhone gets new features including Apple Intelligence. It was a jam-packed keynote but here’s an overview of all the iOS 18 features shared by Apple.

“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, in a statement. “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.”

We can’t wait to get our hands on the Passwords app to see if it can replace 1Password. Getting more customization options for the lock screen and Home Screen icons is a nice addition, making the iPhone feel like Android somewhat. We finally get to customize the flashlight and camera shortcut icons on the Lock Screen!

Which features listed below in iOS 18 are you most looking forward to? Which ones are fluff and that you’ll likely never use?

New Levels of Customization and Capability:

• Users can arrange apps and widgets in any open space on the Home Screen, including above the dock.
• Customize buttons at the bottom of the Lock Screen or remove them entirely.
• Control Center redesigned for easier access, with new levels of customization and flexibility, including the ability to add controls from third-party apps.
• New controls gallery displays all available options, customizable in layout and size.

Photos Gets a Unified View, New Collections, and Customization:

• Biggest-ever redesign with a simplified, single view and new collections.
• Collections help users browse by themes without organizing content into albums.
• New carousel view presents daily highlights featuring favourite people, pets, and places.
• Autoplaying content throughout the app brings photo libraries to life.

Powerful Ways to Stay Connected in Messages:

• All-new text effects for iMessage, including dynamic, animated appearances and formatting like bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough.
• Expanded Tapbacks to include any emoji or sticker.
• Schedule messages to send later, with the ability to edit or cancel.
• Support for RCS in the Messages app for richer media and more reliable group messaging.
• Messages via satellite for sending and receiving texts, emoji, and Tapbacks when cellular or Wi-Fi connections aren’t available.

Enhancements to Mail:

• On-device categorization organizes and sorts emails into Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions.
• New digest view pulls together relevant emails from a business for quick access.

Big Updates to Safari:

• Highlights feature surfaces key information from webpages, such as summaries and important details.
• Redesigned Reader offers a distraction-free reading experience with summaries and tables of contents.

Introducing the Passwords App:

• New app for easy access to passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes.
• Includes alerts for common password weaknesses and known data leaks.

New Privacy Features Designed to Empower Users:

• Locked and hidden apps keep private information secure and out of view.
• Users can share specific contacts with apps and connect third-party accessories without exposing other devices on their network.

Apple Intelligence Transforms the iPhone Experience:

• New systemwide Writing Tools for rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text.
• Image Playground for creating fun images with Animation, Illustration, or Sketch styles.
• Memories in Photos create storylines from user descriptions, with a new Clean Up tool for removing distracting objects.
• Siri becomes more natural, contextually relevant, and personal, with the ability to type and switch between text and voice.

Additional Features in iOS 18:

• Apple Maps includes thousands of hikes across U.S. national parks and custom walking routes accessible offline.
• Game Mode enhances gaming with consistent frame rates and responsive wireless accessories.
• Apple Pay offers new ways to redeem rewards, access installments, and use Tap to Cash.
• SharePlay with Apple Music allows sharing control of music from various devices.
• AirPods updates bring Siri Interactions, Voice Isolation, and improved audio latency for gaming.
• Math Notes in the Notes app solve formulas and equations instantly.
• Journal app includes an insights view, search and sort entries, and the ability to log state of mind.
• Calendar shows both events and tasks from Reminders.
• Health app redesign for Medical ID and adjustments for pregnancy health data.
• Emergency SOS Live Video allows sharing context through live video during emergency calls.
• Home app introduces guest access, hands-free unlock with home keys, and convenient updates to the Energy category.
• Accessibility updates include Eye Tracking, Music Haptics, and Vocal Shortcuts.

Availability:

• iOS 18 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later.
• Apple Intelligence will be available in beta on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to U.S. English.