iOS 18 Highlights: A Comprehensive Guide
As the annual WWDC event by Apple comes to an end, the latest features of iOS 18 have been unveiled. Apple has promised that this major release will bring more customization options, including the most extensive revamp of the “Photos” app to date, a new way to manage the “Mail” inbox, and the ability to send messages via satellite.
Additionally, users will now have the freedom to arrange apps and widgets anywhere on the home screen, customize the bottom buttons on the lock screen, and access more control options in the “Control Center.”
With the breakthrough technology used in the iPhone’s existing satellite capabilities, iMessage now allows users to stay in contact with others through the “Messages” app even without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection.
iOS 18 will be officially released in the fall and will be available as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later models. As for the Apple Intelligence beta version, it will be launched in the fall alongside iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It will be compatible with iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad, and Mac (M1 and later models) with Siri and device language set to English (United States).
Here are the 8 major highlights of iOS 18:
Highlight 1: Major Updates to “Photos”
The viewing interface remains familiar with its grid layout, but the new “Featured Albums” feature allows users to browse photos based on themes without the need to organize them into separate albums. Additionally, users can pin their favorite albums for quick access. The new “Carousel View” displays featured content such as favorite people, pets, and places, with daily updates. The autoplay feature throughout the app brings the photo library to life.
Highlight 2: Satellite Messaging
iOS 18 introduces the “Messages” app with satellite messaging capabilities, allowing users to stay connected even without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. Using the same breakthrough technology as the iPhone’s satellite capabilities, the app automatically prompts users to connect to the nearest satellite in order to send and receive texts, emojis, and tapbacks via iMessage and SMS. The “Coverage Indicator” lets users know if they are connected to a satellite. As iMessage is designed with user privacy in mind, iMessages sent via satellite are end-to-end encrypted.
Highlight 3: Smarter Email Categorization
The “Mail” app introduces a new way for users to organize their inbox and stay updated. The on-device categorization feature organizes received emails and separates personal content, time-sensitive emails, transaction-related emails, updates from news and social networks, and marketing emails and promotions. The app also offers a new “Summary View” that consolidates all emails related to a particular company, allowing users to quickly access important information.
Highlight 4: Customizable Interface
iPhone users can now customize their home screen, lock screen, and control center in a whole new way. Users can arrange apps and widgets anywhere on the home screen, including placing them directly above the dock for easy access or creating a frame effect around them using a background image. By choosing a dark or color effect, app icons and widgets can have a fresh look, and users can resize these elements to create their ideal experience.
Highlight 5: Safari Highlights
The new “Highlights” feature in Safari makes it easier for users to explore web content and enhances the reading experience with a redesigned reader mode. Safari utilizes machine learning (ML) technology to present the key information of web pages. For example, users can view article summaries to understand the main points, quickly check the location of a restaurant, hotel, or landmark, or listen to songs from an article about a specific artist. The reader mode now offers more ways to focus on reading, including article summaries and table of contents for long-form articles.
Highlight 6: “Passwords” App
Built on Apple’s “Keychain” functionality, the new “Passwords” app allows users to easily access passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and two-factor authentication codes. This app also alerts users to common password weaknesses, such as easily guessable or frequently used passwords, and passwords used in known data breaches, providing added security.
Highlight 7: Hidden App Folders
iOS 18 provides tools to manage who can see your apps, how contact information is shared, and how the iPhone connects to accessories. The locking and hiding app feature ensures that content users want to keep private, such as app notifications and contents, won’t be accidentally seen by others. Users can now lock specific apps and, for additional privacy, move apps to a hidden app folder to hide them. When an app is locked or hidden, its content within messaging or email apps will be hidden from searches, notifications, and other system-wide functions.
Highlight 8: “Writing Tools”
With the new built-in system-wide “Writing Tools” in iOS 18, users can now rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in “Mail,” “Notes,” Pages, and third-party apps—virtually anywhere they write. These tools make it easier for users to create summaries and highlights, and consolidate various types of text messages.
For more information, check out our related articles on Apple’s integration of ChatGPT and the power of Apple Intelligence.