You must be looking forward to iOS 18, right? Well, if you haven't heard about all the new features yet, then get ready for a ride through the hottest new features this fall!
Take your place in the front row! Here are the most interesting new features coming to iOS 18 and how they'll change your life for the better (or at least make your device a little more fun to use).
Control Center: Colorful mess or organized chaos?
When you pull the screen down from the corner, you will notice that the control center is now more colorful and divided into three pages. The first page is the one you will probably use the most. Here you can adjust the layout and size of the icons, add new controls, and play around with various settings such as the intensity and beam width of the lamp. Do we really need adjustable beam width? Probably not. Is it cool? Definitely. Everything is also a bit more colorful.
Lock screen: Finally some freedom
Finally, you can customize the controls on the lock screen. If you're tired of the default flashlight and camera icons, now you can replace them with something more useful. Maybe with a reminder app or a quick shortcut to your favorite app. Let's just hope third-party developers start adding their options soon.
Passwords App: Everything you need in one place
Apple has introduced a new password manager app called simply “Passwords”. Instead of digging through settings, you can now simply open this app and have all your passwords in one place. This also includes two-factor authentication and the ability to create shared passwords with trusted contacts. The only downside? The app isn't available for Android, which means you'll have to be loyal to the Apple ecosystem to take full advantage of it.
Home screen customizations: A bright future for icons
2024 brings innovations in home screen customization. You can now place icons anywhere you want, not just in a hard-drawn grid. You can move them to the right side or to the bottom of the screen where they are actually reachable. They also introduced different display modes such as dark and light mode, the ability to enlarge icons (without text), and color tinting of icons to match the background. It sounds great on paper, but in practice it looks like a rainbow mess. But hey, at least you have options!
Small but significant improvements
Sometimes it's the little things that make the biggest difference. iOS 18 brings improvements to the Photos app with smarter search, a game mode that prioritizes the CPU and reduces Bluetooth delays, and support for RCS that enables high-quality media transfers between iPhones and Androids. There are also more shortcuts for Shazam because Apple apparently bought Shazam (if you forgot that, you're not the only one).
Artificial Intelligence: Smarter than ever
Over the past few years, Apple has been paying more and more attention to artificial intelligence (AI), and iOS 18 is no exception. While I've left the AI features for a separate article, it's worth noting that Apple has included significant improvements to its intelligent assistant Siri and other AI functionality.
Siri is now more intuitive, understands more complex commands and integrates better with other apps. A new machine learning algorithm allows Siri to learn from your habits and adapt its responses based on context. So you can expect your device to be even more adapted to your needs.
Apple has also updated image recognition and voice commands, allowing for more accurate search and use of apps. For example, Siri can now identify specific objects in photos and help you find exactly what you're looking for.
No. 1: A calculator that is more than just a calculator
The most impressive new feature in iOS 18 is actually… the calculator. Yes, seriously. The new calculator app includes a scientific calculator and a “Math Notes” feature where you can manually write math notes that are automatically solved by the app. If you've ever dreamed of an app that would recognize your handwriting and calculate complex equations, your dream has come true. And it all syncs between your devices. Apple really seems to have thought of everything.
When we remember how simple the first iPhone was in 2007 compared to today's devices, we see how far we've come. From the first simple apps like a calculator to today, when that same app can function as a portable math lab, the journey is incredible. This is a clear indication of how technology is progressing and developing.
Conclusion: Is this enough to convince you?
iOS 18 brings some really interesting and useful innovations that will certainly make your iPhone easier and more versatile. While some features may still need some refinement, it's clear that Apple continues to bet on innovation and user experience. So, get ready to upgrade and get ready to explore all the new features!
