Here's what we know so far about the next major update to Apple's iPhone software |
| Image Credit (MacRumors) |
- iOS 18 may be the most important update for iPhone in a long time. Actually, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that iOS 18 "will be one of the biggest iOS updates in the company's history - if not the biggest one."
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| Image Credit (MacRumors) |
Its reason is all related to AI, which promises to take center stage in some features planned for iOS 18. It includes a new assistant series. This puts Apple in a position to hope to respond to Google, which made AI-powered features central to the experience with its Pixel phones, and Samsung, which made the Galaxy AI tool central to its recent Galaxy S24 launch .Can Apple make its own unique identity with the features planned in iOS 18? Here's what we know about iOS 18 and its up-to-date features.
IOS 18 CHEAT SHEET: BIGGEST RUMORS
- Release date: Preview at WWDC 2024 on June 14, followed by a beta; a full version arrives in the fall
- Supported devices: All phones that can run iOS 17 should run iOS 18
- AI features: Revamped Sir, generative AI are the highlights, with AI features expected to run on the phone and not the cloud
- Interface redesign: Expect a more customizable home screen
- App improvements: Custom routes in Maps, Calendar/Reminders integration, recording capabilities for Notes app
- Other features: RCS messaging support, accessibility features
IOS 18: POTENTIAL RELEASE DATE
Although Apple doesn't release a schedule for its iOS updates, given the company's predictable track record of scheduling iPhone software updates, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the iOS 18 launch.
We're expecting Apple to showcase iOS 18 at WWDC 2024, as the annual developer conference usually offers previews of all the major software releases coming later in the year. We now have a date for that event – WWDC 2024 kicks off on June 10, with the big event kicking off with a keynote.
The developer beta for iOS 18 will likely be released during WWDC 2024; The public beta should arrive a few weeks after that. Previous iOS beta programs have been running throughout the summer with frequent updates for bug fixes and new features. This should all end just before the start of the fall when the full version of iOS 18 will be available to download as soon as the iPhone 16 models hit stores. Typically, this occurs around mid-September.
IOS 18: SUPPORTED DEVICES
There's no official word on which current iPhones will be able to run iOS 18 and which ones will see support end. For iOS 17, Apple discontinued support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 8 Plus – all devices that came out in late 2018. This is in line with Apple's habit of providing software and security support for its phones for five years or more.
Should Apple stick to that five-year period, that would put phones released in 2019 on the chopping block for iOS 18 support. This fall, the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max will reach the five-year mark, meaning they will most likely be cut off from future iOS updates.
However, a post on Similarly, a recent leak named the iPhone XS and iPhone XR as the oldest iOS 18-compatible models. If this is true, it would mean that the same phones that can run iOS 17 will be able to upgrade to iOS 18.
We won't really know which phones are supported for sure until Apple announces it. This usually happens during iOS previews during WWDC.
IOS 18: AI FEATURES
There's a common theme emerging in early reports about Apple's iOS 18 plans, and it all centers around artificial intelligence playing a central role in the update. That's why multiple Apple sources have told reporters that iOS 18 is one of the most important releases in Apple's history.
In the past year, we've seen a lot of tech companies introduce a lot of AI-powered products, from OpenAI's ChatGPT to Google's Gemini chatbot and its Tensor G3-powered Pixel 8 flagship. The latest company to make AI news is Samsung, which made AI features the centerpiece of this year's Galaxy S24 launch. Samsung's latest phones now support photo editing tools that use generative AI, and these include live translation during phone calls, auto-summary features for notes, and the ability to find things by circling an image on your phone screen. Features like.
For the most part, Apple has been on the sidelines, but that's clearly changing, especially when it comes to the software found on its phones. Specifically, Apple is said to be investing heavily in developing conversational AI, according to a report by The Information. The idea is that iPhone users will be able to automate multi-step tasks using simple voice commands. Think of it as a smart version of Siri, your phone's built-in digital assistant.
The iPhone 16, in particular, could benefit from Apple's AI efforts. Leaker Reveganus announced on the social network formerly known as Twitter that Apple is going to use Large Language Models (LLM) for its Siri improvements. For current iPhones, this means a lot of AI features can be cloud-based; However, the iPhone 16 must have the processing power to implement those AI features on the device itself. Subsequent reports have suggested that on-device AI is key to Apple's plans, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman now says that generative AI features in iOS 18 will run on the phone's neural engine, not the cloud. (The report says it's possible that some cloud services could play a role in more advanced features.)
For what it's worth, Apple is reportedly in talks with Google about bringing the search giant's Gemini AI model to the iPhone. Presumably, this will be done in conjunction with AI efforts related to iOS 18.
Most of these will likely be powered by the A18 family of chips slated for the 2024 iPhone lineup. All iPhone 16 models are expected to run on some sort of A18 system-on-chip, with the more powerful silicon fueling the iPhone 16 Pro models. Whatever the model, it should have enough processing power under the hood to handle any AI features developed by Apple, which not only helps with speed, but also helps with privacy, as any of your data or queries No need to leave your iPhone.
You'll notice a lack of specifics in the discussion about these AI-powered features coming to iOS 18. We expect more details to emerge between now and WWDC 2024.
IOS 18: APP IMPROVEMENTS
Apple has already confirmed a feature coming to iPhones this year, and most people think it will be part of iOS 18. Last November, Apple confirmed that RCS support was coming to the iPhone via a future software update in 2024. We expect Messages to come in iOS 18.
RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is a texting protocol used by Android messaging apps. Apple has made it clear that its own I Message platform isn't going anywhere — it's just the way iPhone users communicate with each other. What is changing is support for texting from your iPhone for Android users. While the green bubble/blue bubble divide that currently exists will remain, this should mean improved inter-platform communications. It is believed that features like typing indicator and read receipts will now be supported when texting with an Android device.
Apple's pledge to support RCS is a major accomplishment for the company, considering Apple previously told Android users to "buy an iPhone" who wanted a less inconvenient texting experience with iOS devices. Apple's change of heart may be motivated by the prospect of regulation in Europe, just as EU regulations prompted Apple to adopt USB-C connectivity for the iPhone 15.
The iPhone Notes app may be getting a significant upgrade. One source claims it will be able to create recordings that can be embedded in different notes (and shared between your devices via iCloud), and offer better support for mathematical notation.
A report claims that iOS 18 will have tighter integration between the Calendar and Reminders apps. Specifically, AppleInsider says you'll be able to create and organize reminders from within Calendar in the software update.
According to rumors, Safari is going to get a lot of improvements, most of which are new features powered by AI. An Intelligent Search feature will reportedly present a summary of web pages, while a Web Eraser can apparently remove certain parts of a web page, such as advertisements or images.
The iPhone has had a Calculator app since the beginning, but it's missing from the iPad. Reportedly, iPadOS 18 – a revised version of iOS 18 for Apple's tablets – will change this, adding a native Calculator app for the iPad.
Here's a look at some other rumored updates coming to built-in apps in iOS 18.
IOS 18: ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES
Separate reports point to Apple adding new accessibility features, as well as enhancing some existing features introduced in previous iOS versions.
The most comprehensive news on this topic comes from Mac Rumors, citing industry sources. The report claims that Apple is focusing on some accessibility improvements in the upcoming versions of both iOS and macOS. Typical features include:
- Adaptive Voice Shortcuts, where you can create a spoken phrase that ties into an accessibility setting, effectively controlling that setting with your voice.
- LiveSpeech improvements, which will take the feature introduced in iOS 17 and add the ability to create categories for better organization.
- An extension of the Adjustable Text feature that adds support for changing text sizes in Books, News, Tips, Weather and Stocks.
Separately, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that iOS 18 is adding a hearing aid mode to the AirPods Pro Gen 2 earbuds. This new feature will be based on the Live Listen capabilities introduced in iOS 12, which broadcasts audio captured by the iPhone's microphone to the earbuds.
IOS 18: REDESIGN
Another potential iOS 18 change has surfaced, and it stems from another Mark Gurman column from Bloomberg. An Apple watcher has claimed that a new design for Apple's iPhone software is in the works, although additional details haven't actually been provided. Gurman simply said that the new look of iOS 18 will not be based on Apple Vision Pro's VisionOS software for inspiration.
That said, an iOS 18 leak published on MacRumors reportedly shows a redesigned camera app for the upcoming software update. And it looks pretty similar to what you get with Apple's VisionOS.
What Gurman did tease is that Apple will improve home screen customization. We hope this means you'll be able to put apps wherever you want within the grid instead of trying to automatically align to the top and left, but it's not yet clear what exactly this purported optimization involves . We have some suggestions on potential iOS redesign changes as well as some thoughts on home-screen customization.
IOS 18 OUTLOOK
Even without too many fine details at this point, iOS 18 sounds like a very important update that will bring a lot of new capabilities to your iPhone – even the current model. We look forward to more details about the update and more to come over the next several months leading up to WWDC 2024 on June 10, especially as Apple intends to expand the AI-powered capabilities of its phones.
RCS for iPhone to Android conversations
