The Top New Features in Apple’s iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 Leave a comment
Apple executives at all times describe new {hardware} and software program because the “greatest” or “greatest” ever, however the supply doesn’t normally stay as much as the hype (see final 12 months’s iPads). Nonetheless, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 may be deserving of some of these adjectives. The newest model of the working system has the same old diploma of year-over-year quality-of-life enhancements, however Apple Intelligence steals the limelight.
That is Apple’s implementation of artificial-intelligence-powered duties which have been sweeping by the tech trade over the previous few years. Even Siri acquired an overdue improve—the largest for the reason that voice assistant’s debut 13 years in the past. Listed below are all the brand new iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 options, the best way to obtain the present model, and what precisely you’ll expertise with Apple Intelligence.
Up to date March 2025: We have added new particulars about iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4.
Desk of Contents
Is Your iPhone or iPad Suitable?
Excellent news! Each iPhone that was able to putting in iOS 17 can run iOS 18. Apple didn’t drop any iPhones from the record of supported units. When you have the iPhone XR and iPhone XS from 2018 or newer (together with the second- and third-gen iPhone SE), you possibly can obtain and run iOS 18. In the event you’re uncertain what mannequin iPhone you’ve gotten, head to the Settings app, faucet on Normal > About and have a look at the Mannequin Identify. This doesn’t suggest each function is out there, as some require extra fashionable processors. (Apple Intelligence, for instance, is unique to the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 16 fashions; extra on this beneath.)
It’s somewhat extra sophisticated for iPads, for the reason that naming scheme is determined by the {hardware} technology somewhat than particular gadget names. Listed below are the generations that assist iPadOS 18 (not like iPhones, some iPads are not supported). You’ll be able to work out which mannequin you’ve gotten by following the instructions right here.
- iPad: seventh gen and later
- iPad Mini: fifth gen and later
- iPad Air: third gen and later (together with M2 and M3)
- iPad Professional 11-inch: 1st gen and later
- iPad Professional 12.9-inch: third gen and later (together with M4)
Try our Greatest iPhones and Greatest iPads guides to be taught extra about present fashions.
Earlier than putting in the brand new working system, I extremely advocate you again up your units. You are able to do this by way of iCloud—go to Settings, faucet in your title on the high, and choose iCloud. Then, faucet on iCloud Backup, toggle it on, and faucet Again Up Now to start out a brand new backup. On the earlier iCloud web page, you even have the choice to toggle off sure apps that you do not need to embrace within the backup. Do not have sufficient iCloud storage, or need to use one other technique? Try our The right way to Again Up Your iPhone or iPad information for different choices.
As soon as you’ve got backed up, you are prepared to put in iOS 18. Since this can be a hefty replace, you must plug your units right into a charger and guarantee they’re linked to Wi-Fi earlier than the replace begins. Now go to Settings > Normal > Software program Replace. You will see the choice to obtain the replace. Faucet Obtain and Set up and, when the obtain is completed, faucet Set up Now to start out the replace. You’ll know the replace is full when your gadget restarts.
New iOS/iPadOS 18 Model Updates
All the highest options in iOS and iPadOS 18 are highlighted beneath, however Apple continues to launch extra updates all year long. These embrace new options unavailable at launch, bug fixes, and safety patches. To replace your iPhone, go to Settings > Normal > Software program Replace and observe the directions above.
iOS/iPadOS 18.4: This replace consists of Precedence Notifications inside Apple Intelligence, Visible Intelligence for the iPhone 15 Professional, a stand-alone Imaginative and prescient Professional app, new Emoji, Sketch mode in Picture Playground, recipes in Apple Information+, new group options within the Pictures app, preauthorized funds in Apple Pockets, lossless audio with AirPods Max, and entry to Apple Intelligence options within the Management Heart.
iOS/iPadOS 18.3: This replace consists of improved notification summaries, upgrades to Visible Intelligence for iPhone 16 fashions, and a minor function added to the Calculator app. Apple Intelligence is now enabled by default (although you possibly can flip it off).
iOS/iPadOS 18.2: This replace introduced Genmoji, Picture Playground, Picture Wand, ChatGPT in Siri, Visible Intelligence, AirTag shared location monitoring in Discover My, new Mail app options, and new settings for Digital camera Management. Additionally, Writing Instruments will get a elevate from ChatGPT too, with the power to compose messages. There is not any want to hitch a waitlist anymore to reap the benefits of Apple Intelligence.
iOS/iPadOS 18.1: Apple formally launched Apple Intelligence on this model. Initially, you needed to head to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Be part of the Waitlist to enroll. The ready record took a couple of hours; Apple mentioned it was to make sure there’s adequate server capability. Apple Intelligence launched with the next good options: Writing Instruments, Reminiscence Films and Clear Up in Apple Pictures, Precedence Messages in Mail, Good Reply in Messages, Summaries for Transcriptions and Name recordings in Notes, Notification Summaries, and the brand new Scale back Interruptions Focus.
What Is Apple Intelligence?
Each main tech firm has been integrating synthetic intelligence into its {hardware} and software program, from Google to Samsung to Microsoft, and now it is Apple’s flip. Apple Intelligence is the time period you will see the corporate throw round over the subsequent few years, and it powers most of the new AI options in its units.
It is powered by Apple’s massive language fashions (partly skilled by knowledge from the general public internet, in line with Axios’ Ina Fried). It requires Apple silicon, the corporate’s bespoke chips which have a hybrid structure designed to run AI duties. Although the units Apple Intelligence runs on are able to the on-device processing wanted to finish AI duties, generally the duty is simply too large and must be despatched off to the cloud. When a job requires extra processing, it will be despatched to a safe knowledge middle stacked with computer systems that additionally run Apple silicon. Whereas this technique of computing is often much less personal, Apple claims that its Non-public Cloud Compute platform focuses on making certain knowledge privateness for every person. Solely knowledge related to your question is shipped to those servers, and the information is simply used in your requests and by no means saved.
Apple Intelligence Suitable Gadgets
Earlier than you get too excited, Apple Intelligence is just not out there for each gadget that helps iOS 18. It is solely supported on choose processors (and languages).
What precisely is Apple Intelligence? Apple breaks down its key capabilities into three buckets: Language, Photographs, and Motion.
Apple Intelligence: Language
All through Apple’s {hardware} and software program, you will discover new writing instruments that draw on the facility of generative AI to help your writing. This consists of Rewrite, which may also help change the tone of your textual content to sound extra pleasant or extra skilled (like in an e mail), and Proofread, which roughly does what the title suggests. You too can summarize chosen textual content with a faucet.
These text-based enhancements transcend writing. It additionally powers Precedence notifications, which seem on the high of your notification record and summarize it so that you get a extra digestible abstract at a look. You’ll be able to flip the function on by going to Settings > Notifications> Prioritize Notifications. Equally, the Mail app provides Precedence messages, which implies necessary emails will float to the highest of your inbox. You too can get summaries of lengthy emails, and a Good Reply operate enables you to rapidly reply to emails (even solutions to a number of questions posed in an e mail), not not like what’s out there in Gmail.
For now, nonetheless, Apple has paused notification summaries for information apps following a number of situations the place the function did not summarize articles precisely. Notifications summarized by Apple Intelligence will now seem as italicized textual content.
Within the Notes, Voice Memos, and Telephone app, you possibly can hit the report button (sure, even on a name) to get an audio recording with a transcript, and Apple Intelligence can create a abstract of that transcript. Apple says that in states that require two-party consent for recordings, the individual on the opposite finish of the road can be made conscious that the decision is being recorded.
Lastly, there is a new Focus mode known as Scale back Interruptions that may perceive your private context, so whereas it hides incoming stuff that would distract you, it is aware of sufficient about what you’ve got acquired happening to permit a textual content out of your babysitter to return by.
Apple Intelligence: Photographs
The Apple Intelligence picture options largely revolve round producing new pictures by synthetic intelligence. A lot of this occurs in Picture Playground, an expertise baked into different apps (although it additionally exists as a stand-alone app). You’ll be able to generate pictures primarily based on an outline, steered ideas, and even from individuals in your Pictures library. You could have management over the type, and it may be tweaked to match no matter’s taking place within the app you are utilizing it in. You too can select between completely different types, together with Illustration, Animation, and (most lately) Sketch, which provides pictures a extra pure, hand-drawn look.
Genmoji simply may be essentially the most anticipated function out of all the things Apple has introduced. It enables you to generate emojis instantly from the keyboard with textual content prompts. You too can pull an individual’s picture out of your Pictures library to make an emoji primarily based on their seems. You will have to offer an outline first, however then you possibly can regulate the outline till it fits what you’re going for.
Picture Wand is one other picture technology system that works particularly within the Notes app. Along with your finger or Apple Pencil, you possibly can circle a sketch to have Apple Intelligence create one thing that appears extra refined, however it’s also possible to circle an empty house, and it’ll generate a picture primarily based on the encompassing textual content. It is a straightforward method so as to add extra visible selection to your notes.
The Pictures app is getting a couple of AI options. You can also make a Reminiscence Film by getting into an outline like “All of the desserts I ate throughout the summer time final 12 months, set to a pop track,” and Apple’s AI will discover the correct pictures and video, put them to a track, and craft a shareable film out of it. It will even be simpler to seek for particular photographs—simply describe what you need and it will discover it, even moments in video clips (much like Google’s Ask Pictures function). Lastly, you possibly can erase undesirable objects within the background of your photographs with the brand new Clear Up device within the picture editor, precisely like Magic Eraser on Pixel telephones and Samsung’s Object Eraser.
Apple Intelligence: Motion
The ultimate a part of Apple Intelligence is arguably one which may be used essentially the most usually, and it entails Siri. The assistant has a brand new look—when activated, the sides of the display will glow—and now you can kind your requests to Siri as an alternative of utilizing your voice (one thing you’ve got been capable of do with Google Assistant for a number of years).
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
