Even if you’re not planning to buy one of the new iPhones, your existing iPhone (XR and later) can now get a bunch of new features following the release of iOS 18.
Among the new features in iOS 18 are a redesigned Photos app, new ways to customize your Home screen and wallpaper, new Messages reactions, privacy-related features and dozens of other smaller changes. There are also be some AI features, dubbed Apple Intelligence available on some iPhones (find out if they’ll be on your iPhone below).
This free software update brings interface tweaks, bug fixes, and new features. It is like getting a new iPhone without paying a penny. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about iOS 18, including which iPhones will be able to run iOS 18, the new features – and the new features still to come because they weren’t ready in time for the launch of iOS 18. We’ll also discuss any problems and fixes, what’s new in the latest update, and what’s coming in the next update to iOS 18.
We also have information about the beta program including the latest version of the public and developer betas.
Update December 16: Apple has released the first developer beta of iOS 18.3.
iOS 18: Latest version
- iOS 18.2: December 11, 2024
iOS 18 arrived on Monday, September 16. macOS Sequoia, watchOS and iPadOS 18 launched at the same time.
The latest version is iOS 18.2, which arrived on December 11. iOS 18.2 includes a number of Apple Intelligence features but that’s not all. Read about Why iOS 18.2 is a must-have update even if your phone doesn’t support Apple Intelligence.
Prior to iOS 18.2, iOS 18.1.1 included fixes for two security vulnerabilities that have actually been used in attacks on Intel-based Macs. In notes accompanying the update, Apple writes: “Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems.” The fixed issues include a flaw in JavaScriptCore framework and a flaw in WebKit.
iOS 18.1 arrived on October 28, and brings the first set of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 16 models and iPhone 15 Pro and Max. There will be more Apple Intelligence features released in iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.3. If you want to know more about the staggered release of Apple Intelligence features, read: Apple Intelligence is a gradual rollout—here’s what you’ll get, and when.
What’s new in iOS 18.2?
The main thrust of iOS 18.2 is new Apple Intelligence features, especially those centered around images. There are updates to Writing Tools, ChatGPT integration with Siri, Image Playground, Genmoji, and Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16 phones. You can expect the following:
- Writing Tools updates – more options.
- Genmoji – new emoji you can create. See: How to create your own custom emoji with Genmoji.
- Image Playground – ability to generate images based on text prompts.
- Image Wand – uses Apple’s image generation tools to create an image and add as context to a note.
- ChatGPT integration – use ChatGPT with Siri.
- Default Apps – new section in Settings.
- Visual Intelligence – get information using the Camera Control button.
- AE/AF Lock – new toggle to lock exposure and focus via the Camera Control button.
- Find My – share the location of something with a trusted person.
- Mail – New auto-categories (primary, transactions, updates and promotions) to help manage your Inbox.
- Volume limits – set volume limits for iPhone speaker.
- Camera Control – Improvements.
- News+ – Sudoku puzzles.
- AirTag – Item location sharing
For more information about the Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.2 read: How Apple Intelligence levels up with iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2.
What’s new in iOS 18.1?
iOS 18.1 brings a selection of Apple Intelligence features to iPhones that are compatible with Apple Intelligence (that’s the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Max, and the entire iPhone 16 range). New features include:
- Writing Tools – Rewrite, proofread, and summarize text.
- Siri – New look. Type to Siri so you don’t have to speak to your iPhone. Conversational context so Siri remembers what you had already asked and maintains the context.
- Photos – Improvements to search. Clean Up to remove things from photos. Memory movies.
- Notifications – Notification summaries. Reduce interruptions Focus.
- Mail – Smart reply. Priority messages.
- Phone – Record phone calls.
- Notes – Transcriptions of audio recordings or phone calls. Read: How to record and transcribe voice calls on your iPhone
- Camera – Camera Control button can be used to switch to TrueDepth camera. Spatial photo capture for 16 Pro and Max.
- AirPods – Hearing Test and Hearing Air features for AirPods Pro 2.
There were also bug fixes and security updates in iOS 18.1.
iOS 18.3: Release date and new features
- iOS 18.3 – expected late January/February
Apple has started to beta test iOS 18.3. The first developer beta of iOS 18.3 arrived on December 16. The public beta will follow.
A new framework called “BatteryIntelligence” was discovered hidden in the 18.2 beta, suggesting it will be a feature in iOS 18.3. The feature will calculate the remaining charge time based on the amount of power the phone is receiving. See: Your iPhone may finally tell you how long it will take to charge.
Other new features in iOS 18.3 are likely to include:
- Siri on-device context awareness: The ability for Siri to give sensible answers based on data found in Messages, Mail, Contacts, and other on-device information.
- Siri on-screen awareness: Siri will be able to see what is on your screen when you ask it to perform a task and take that information into account.
- Siri application control: A big expansion of App Intents, which lets Siri perform actions in your apps. Currently limited to things like playing music or getting directions, there will be hundreds of actions Siri can take in apps. This will start with Apple’s own apps and expand to third-party apps over time.
iOS 18: Problems and bugs
- Messages bug: A Messages bug that could cause crashes and may even result in the loss of valuable data was reported. It seemed to be connected to an Apple Watch feature that lets users share their watch face over Messages (or Mail). Obviously, those are quite a niche set of circumstances and the best way to avoid it appears to be to not reply to watch faces in a thread. We have more information here: Link-sharing bug in iOS 18 Messages can cause iPhone crashes, data loss. Apple fixed this bug in iOS 18.0.1.
- Unresponsive touch screen: iPhone 16 Pro owners have complained of display ‘dead spots’, with taps and swipes are being ignored. It is thought that this is related to the Camera Control button. Apple addressed this bug in iOS 18.0.1.
- Camera freezes in macro mode: This was addressed in iOS 18.0.1.
- Photos redesign: Probably the most hated feature of iOS 18 is the redesigned Photos app. So we’ve written this: How to fix the Photos app and make it less annoying.
There are concerns that macOS Sequoia’s iPhone mirroring feature could expose personal data at work. Servco Security has highlighted the problem to Apple who claims to be working on a fix.
If you have any problems with iOS 18 you may be able to downgrade. Read: How to downgrade an iPhone from iOS 18 to iOS 17.
iOS 18: Should I install iOS 18 on my iPhone?
As long as your iPhone can run it, we recommend updating to iOS 18. The new features–all of which we discuss below–look enticing enough, and, so far, the only problem (see above) will not affect many people. We address how How iOS 17 and iOS 18 compare separately. Also take a look at: All the little details and hidden features in iOS 18 you won’t want to miss.
However, we do recommend you wait a week or more so that any issues with the early release can be addressed: despite the beta program, there are often issues once the software update gets installed on mass-market iPhones. It’s also wise not to be one of the first downloaders because the download will likely take a lot longer if you try soon after it becomes available.
iOS 18: How to install
Installing iOS 18 and any subsequent updates is a breeze. Just open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Software Update; iOS will check for any available updates and guide you through the process of installing them. You simply have to follow the instructions, which we explain in our iOS updating guide. And it’s easier still if you’ve turned on Automatic Updates, which you can do from the same screen.
A little work preparing your iPhone before installing the update can help avoid problems. We advise you follow these steps:
- Back up your iPhone: Back up before installing the new version and you will always be able to recover your iPhone with the older version of iOS running on it should things go wrong. Read: How to downgrade an iPhone.
- Make space on your iPhone: If your iPhone doesn’t have a lot of available space internally we recommend having a bit of a tidy-up so you can reclaim some iPhone storage. Simple ways to do this could include deleting apps you don’t use, deleting old Notes, Messages, and duplicated photos.
- Update your iPhone to the latest version: Don’t skip an update and go straight to iOS 18. If you haven’t installed iOS 17.6.1 yet do so now.
iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones get iOS 18?
The following iPhones get support for iOS 18, the same lineup of supported devices as iOS 17.
- iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd gen or later)
Read: iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones support iOS 18 and iOS compatibility checker
Some of the new features will not be supported on the older phones, because they lack the hardware necessary (a powerful enough Neural Engine or GPU to run AI stuff, or enough RAM). This is typical of new iOS releases. In 2022, for example, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X missed out on a bunch of cool stuff due to their older processor. It is no surprise, therefore, that the hardware requirements are steep for the AI-related features aka ‘Apple Intelligence’—iPhone 15 Pro or later.
Like iOS 17, iOS 18 does not support iPhone 8 or the iPhone X which came out in 2017, but since those phones are able to run iOS 16, they will continue to get support through security updates for at least another year. With the release of iOS 18 though, Apple will stop supporting iOS 15, which will mean that iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, and iPhone SE (1st generation) will no longer get support. Generally, Apple has provided software updates for the past two versions of iOS. See: How long does Apple support iPhones.
iOS 18: Latest beta
Apple is likely to commence testing of iOS 18.3 soon.
Apple’s beta testing program for developers and public testers has been running since June/July and continues beyond the launch of iOS 18 to the general public. There is also a separate iOS 18 Sequoia 15.2 beta that includes some as yet unavailable Apple Intelligence features.
If you want to run the developer beta, you need to be a registered Apple software developer, which has both free and paid ($99/£79) versions. We explain How to join Apple’s beta program separately. Developer betas can be risky though, so we recommend signing up for the Public Beta instead, which should be more stable. Beware though: whether a public beta or a developer beta, any beta software is not as stable as the final version and the iOS and your apps may not work properly. Read Should you install the iOS 18 beta? for advice.
Once registered, when you go to Settings > General > Software Update on your Mac, you’ll see a new tab for Beta Updates, which will list the version of the beta you’re running: choose either iOS 18 Developer Beta or iOS 18 Public Beta. If you need help installing the developer or public betas read our How to get the iOS beta article. If you then want to uninstall it, we have a guide for that: How to remove the iOS beta.
iOS 18 features still to launch
The following promised features aren’t yet in beta:
- ChatGPT integration
- Image Playground
- Genmoji
- Advanced Siri features like on-screen awareness, personal context, and actions within apps
- The image features were said to arrive at launch, but more recent reports say it will come later this year.
iOS 18 features: What’s new in iOS 18
There were many new features in iOS 17 including a new app called Journal, Live Voicemail, and a new way to use Stickers, among dozens of other smaller changes. Rumors suggested that iOS 18 would be “one of the biggest iOS updates — if not the biggest — in the company’s history.” As expected, in iOS 28 Apple will include some major new AI features, dubbed Apple Intelligence, although these features will only be available on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and newer iPhones.
Not all the new features were available at launch. The first Apple Intelligence AI features were introduced in iOS 18.1 and others are arriving with subsequent updates. Features, such as the new categories in Mail, will come “later this year”. Read: Features missing when iOS 18 launched.
Customization
There will be a more customizable Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center in iOS 18.
Several reports had claimed that Apple would allow greater personalization of the Home screen, including allowing users to place icons anywhere on the grid, allowing spaces between them. Prior to iOS 18 icons can be reordered or put into folders, but always fill the screen from left to right and top to bottom.
In iOS 18 users are able to arrange apps and widgets anywhere on the Home Screen, including right above the dock or framing a wallpaper. It will even be possible to change the lock screen icons or remove them.
In addition, App icons and widgets can have a dark or tinted effect to blend in. Read: iOS 18: How to change the color of the app icons on your home screen and How to put app icons, widgets, and folders anywhere you want as well as iOS 18: How to make your app icons large and label-free.
This “put icons wherever you want” feature is something we’ve wanted from Apple for many years, and has been a staple of many Android phones seemingly forever.
The Control Centre is getting a redesign to give easier access to a user’s most-utilized controls. Users will also be able to add controls from supported third-party apps into Control Center.
Is it enough? Read: Apple is finally letting you have it your way–kinda and You can finally customize your iPhone like Android–here’s everything you can do.
Apple
Photos
New features in Photos will help users find their photos and keep big libraries organized. It’s the biggest redesign of Photos ever and is intended to help users find photos fast. It will be simplified but still familiar, according to Apple and will include a new Unified View, new Collections, and customization features.
Users will be able to filter out clutter to narrow down to specific types of content. It will be possible to browse by topics, time, people, memories, trips, Recent Days and People and Pets.
A new carousel view will present highlights that update each day – featuring favorite people, pets, and places.
Not everyone likes these changes. If you don’t look at: How to fix the Photos app and make it less annoying.
Apple
Messages
Messages will gain new ways to express yourself. Expect improvements to text formatting and fun new text effects. Tapbacks are getting redesigned and will let you tap back with any emoji or sticker. You’ll also be able to amplify and animate letters, word, phrases, and emoji, and add formatting like bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough.
You will also be able to schedule a message to send later.
Messages will also support RCS for more reliable group messaging with those who do not have an Apple device. Read about how your conversations with Android users will look in iOS 18 and RCS on iPhone with iOS 18: Every question answered.
Apple is also making it possible to send Messages via Satellite so you can text when off the grid from Messages app. iMessages sent over satellite are encrypted.
Apple
Mail will help you manage incoming email better with new on-device categorization. As email arrives it will be sorted into Primary (personal and time-sensitive), Transactions (confirmations and receipts), Updates (news and social notifications), and Promotions (marketing and coupons).
A new Digest will pull together all relevant emails from a business, so for example, it could bring all flight information together.
The Mail Categorization features will be available later this year.
Safari
A new Highlights feature is designed to make it easier to discover information on the web.
A redesigned Reader experience will use machine learning to surface key information on a webpage so that users can review a summary to get the gist of an article. A table of contents will be included for longer articles
Apple says users will also be able to quickly see the location of a restaurant, hotel, or landmark; or listen to an artist’s track right from an article about the song or album.
You will also be able to snap away annoying ads.
Apple
Wallet and Apple Pay
There will be new ways to pay with Apple Pay. Users can send and receive Apple Cash by holding two iPhones together: Tap to Cash will let you share cash without exchanging email or number.
Tickets in Apple Wallet including key event information like an event guide with info about the venue, and recommended Apple Music playlists
Apple
iPhone mirroring on the Mac
iPhone Mirroring will grant users access to their iPhone via their Mac. It will be possible to see notifications from the iPhone on the Mac, and drag and drop files between the devices.
Read: How iPhone Mirroring lets you access your iPhone on your Mac in macOS Sequoia.
Other app updates:
- Journal – New features to help you keep track of goals, Insights view, calendar, writing streak, and actually search
- Maps – New topographic maps with trails (US national parks only)
- Game Mode – Will minimize background activity for the best frame rates
- Notes app – formulas and equations entered while typing will be solved
- Calendar – incorporates tasks from Reminders and a new monthly view
- Health app – Medical ID redesigned
- Emergency SOS Live Video
- Home app – guest access
- Accessibility – Eye Tracking
- iCloud – Apple is adding a “Keep Downloaded” option that prevents the file from being moved to iCloud and keeps the file on the device. Read about the new Keep Downloaded option.
Apple didn’t discuss everything at WWDC. There were a number of features that didn’t make the WWDC keynote.
Also see: Unannounced iOS 18 tweak lets you see the time even when your iPhone is dead.
Privacy features
iOS 18 will improve privacy. You will be able to control who can see your apps, which contacts you share with that app, and which accessories apps can connect to.
You can also control whether others can view your apps on your iPhone by locking an app so it won’t open without Face ID or a passcode. A new locked hidden apps folder is also coming with iOS 18.
Developers will have a way to seamlessly connect third-party accessories with iPhones without letting an app see all the other devices on a user’s network.
Apple
Apple Intelligence
Apple’s new artificial intelligence system is coming in a series of updates to iPhone, Mac, and iPad with iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and iPadOS 18. Apple Intelligence will only be supported by iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max though. (Here’s why you’ll need to upgrade your iPhone to get Apple Intelligence, also read: Here’s why newer iPhones and Vision Pro can’t run Apple Intelligence).
The hardware requirements are steep—iPhone 15 Pro or later. iPads will need at least an M1 chip or later as will Macs. Apple Intelligence features will mostly be processed on the device, which is different from other platforms where AI processing is done in the cloud. But Apple Intelligence will be able to determine if cloud processing is needed and will use it when appropriate.
Apple Intelligence features include the following:
Writing – Apple Intelligence will help users enhance their writing and communications. Writing Tools are built in systemwide that will offer to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in writing focused apps such as Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.
Images – New image capabilities will also come to M-series Macs. In Image Playground users will be able to create images in three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch.
Photos – A new Memories in Photos feature will create a video from photos and videos based on a description provided by the user. Apple Intelligence will pick out the photos and videos, develop a storyline based on the photos, and arrange them into a movie. In addition, a new Clean Up tool will identify and remove unwanted objects from the background of a photo.
Read: Apple Intelligence FAQ: What it is, what it does, and when you’ll get it and Apple Intelligence is a gradual rollout—here’s what you’ll get, and when.
Siri
Siri is also getting some AI updates and ChatGPT is to be integrated into Siri. Because some queries will be handled off-device Apple is introducing Private Cloud Compute so that when data is sent to server-based models for processing it is not stored or made accessible to Apple.
One of the simplest changes to Siri is that it will be easier to type to Siri rather than having to speak to the on-device assistant. Apple may have finally twigged that people don’t always want to talk to their phones.
The new Siri is said to be more “conversational” and natural, with features that “help users in their day-to-day lives.”
A new smart responses framework will help Siri take into account your own personal details in its replies: like people, companies, calendar events, locations, dates, and more.
Later this year, Siri is said to get cross-device media control. So you can talk to Siri on one of your devices to control media playback on another.
In an update scheduled for early 2025, Siri is said to gain the ability to control nearly any app, with hundreds of possible commands. This feature will start off with single commands for Apple’s own apps and grow to include third-party apps and commands with multiple steps. In addition, Siri will be able to react to and take actions based on what is on your screen. This is said to go into beta for developers in January, with a rollout to users in iOS 18.4 in the spring.
New accessibility features
Apple is planning several new accessibility features for iOS 18, including Adaptive Voice Shortcuts, which will let users turn on or off specific accessibility features using a custom phrase, and Live Speech, which lets users type what they want to say and have it read out loud on phone calls or video meetings, will get the ability to add saved phrases to categories.
Features coming after the iOS 18 release
Some iOS 18 features won’t be a part of the initial release. Rather, they will be released later in 2024 or in 2025 as part of an iOS 18 point release (iOS 18.2 or iOS 18.4, for example).
Here are some of the more significant features we expect to come later in an iOS 18 update:
Mail app features – Auto-categorizing of mail, mail digests, and summaries in your inbox are all features expected later in 2024.
Home support for robot vacuums – The Home app won’t be able to start or stop your Roomba until later in 2024.
Drag and Drop between iPhone and Mac – You’ll be able to see and control your iPhone on your Mac when iOS 18 and macOS 15 are released, but drag-and-drop support between your Mac and iPhone will come in an update.
ChatGPT integration – The ability to call upon ChatGPT when using Apple’s AI tools will likely come later in 2024.
Advanced Siri features – Siri features like its ability to see and react to what is on your display, semantic indexing (where Siri knows and uses information from across Messages, Mail, Contacts, and more), and advanced control over apps is all coming in 2025.
Vehicle Motion Cues in iOS 18 will help reduce motion sickness.
Third-party NFC transactions – Apple will allow third-party NFC transactions beginning with iOS 18.1–by request.
In addition, all of the Apple Intelligence features will initially support only American English, and may be limited to only some regions. Additional languages and regions are likely to be available through 2025 and beyond.
Next version of iOS
We know that the next version of iOS after Apple finishes development of iOS 18 will be iOS 19. But what next in terms of software? Expect even more Apple Intelligence features to come in the late 2025 update to iOS and expect that iOS, iPadOS and macOS will be closer than ever.
Over the past several years, the release of the new version of iOS has been fairly consistent, usually falling on the Monday following Apple’s iPhone launch event:
- iOS 18: Monday, September 16, 2024
- iOS 17: Monday, September 18, 2023
- iOS 16: Monday, September 12, 2022
- iOS 15: Monday, September 20, 2021
- iOS 14: Wednesday, September 16, 2020
- iOS 13: Thursday, September 19, 2019
- iOS 12: Monday, September 17, 2018
