The Top New Features in Apple’s iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 Leave a comment
Apple executives all the time describe new {hardware} and software program because the “greatest” or “largest” ever, however the supply doesn’t often stay as much as the hype (see final 12 months’s iPads). Nevertheless, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 is perhaps deserving of some of these adjectives. The newest model of the working system has the standard diploma of year-over-year quality-of-life enhancements, however Apple Intelligence steals the limelight.
That is Apple’s implementation of synthetic intelligence-powered duties which have been sweeping via the tech business over the previous few years. Even Siri acquired an overdue improve—the largest because the voice assistant’s debut 13 years in the past. Listed here are all the brand new iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 options, how you can 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 Appropriate?
Excellent news! Each iPhone that was able to putting in iOS 17 can run iOS 18. Apple didn’t drop any iPhones from the listing of supported gadgets. If in case 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. For those who’re uncertain what mannequin iPhone you’ve got, head to the Settings app, faucet on Normal > About and take a look at the Mannequin Title. This doesn’t suggest each characteristic 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 under.)
It’s slightly extra difficult for iPads, because the naming scheme relies on the {hardware} era fairly than particular system names. Listed here are the generations that assist iPadOS 18 (in contrast to iPhones, some iPads are now not supported). You’ll be able to determine which mannequin you’ve got by following the instructions right here.
iPad: seventh gen and lateriPad Mini: fifth gen and lateriPad Air: third gen and later (together with M2 and M3)iPad Professional 11-inch: 1st gen and lateriPad Professional 12.9-inch: third gen and later (together with M4)
Take a look at our Finest iPhones and Finest iPads guides to study extra about present fashions.
Earlier than putting in the brand new working system, I extremely suggest you again up your gadgets. You are able to do this through iCloud—go to Settings, faucet in your title on the prime, 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 wish to embody within the backup. Do not have sufficient iCloud storage, or wish to use one other technique? Take a look at our The 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, it’s best to plug your gadgets 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 may 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 system restarts.
New iOS/iPadOS 18 Model Updates
All the highest options in iOS and iPadOS 18 are highlighted under, however Apple continues to launch extra updates all year long. These embody 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 contains Precedence Notifications inside Apple Intelligence, Visible Intelligence for the iPhone 15 Professional, a standalone Imaginative and prescient Professional app, new Emoji, Sketch mode in Picture Playground, recipes in Apple Information+, new group options within the Pictures app, preauthroized funds in Apple Pockets, lossless audio with AirPods Max, and entry to Apple Intelligence options within the Management Middle.
iOS/iPadOS 18.3: This replace contains improved notification summaries, upgrades to Visible Intelligence for iPhone 16 fashions, and a minor characteristic 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 Digicam Management. Additionally, Writing Instruments will get a carry from ChatGPT too, with the flexibility to compose messages. There is no 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 a part of the Waitlist to enroll. The ready listing took a couple of hours; Apple mentioned it was to make sure there’s enough server capability. Apple Intelligence launched with the next sensible options: Writing Instruments, Reminiscence Motion pictures and Clear Up in Apple Pictures, Precedence Messages in Mail, Sensible Reply in Messages, Summaries for Transcriptions and Name recordings in Notes, Notification Summaries, and the brand new Cut 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 may see the corporate throw round over the following few years, and it powers lots of the new AI options in its gadgets.
It is powered by Apple’s giant language fashions (partly educated via information 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. Though the gadgets Apple Intelligence runs on are able to the on-device processing wanted to finish AI duties, typically the duty is simply too massive and must be despatched off to the cloud. When a activity requires extra processing, it will be despatched to a safe information middle stacked with computer systems that additionally run Apple silicon. Whereas this technique of computing is often much less non-public, Apple claims that its Non-public Cloud Compute platform focuses on guaranteeing information privateness for every consumer. Solely information related to your question is distributed to those servers, and the information is simply used to your requests and by no means saved.
Apple Intelligence Appropriate Gadgets
Earlier than you get too excited, Apple Intelligence is just not obtainable for each system 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, Pictures, and Motion.
Apple Intelligence: Language
All through Apple’s {hardware} and software program, you may discover new writing instruments that draw on the facility of generative AI to help your writing. This contains Rewrite, which can assist change the tone of your textual content to sound extra pleasant or extra skilled (like in an electronic mail), and Proofread, which roughly does what the title suggests. You may also summarize chosen textual content with a faucet.
These text-based enhancements transcend writing. It additionally powers Precedence notifications, which seem on the prime of your notification listing and summarize it so that you get a extra digestible abstract at a look. You’ll be able to flip the characteristic on by going to Settings > Notifications> Prioritize Notifications. Equally, the Mail app presents Precedence messages, which suggests vital emails will float to the highest of your inbox. You may also get summaries of lengthy emails, and a Sensible Reply operate allows you to rapidly reply to emails (even solutions to a number of questions posed in an electronic mail), not in contrast to what’s obtainable in Gmail.
For now, nonetheless, Apple has paused notification summaries for information apps following a number of cases the place the characteristic didn’t summarize articles precisely. Notifications summarized by Apple Intelligence will now seem as italicized textual content.
Within the Notes, Voice Memos, and Cellphone app, you possibly can hit the file 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 Cut 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 come back via.
Apple Intelligence: Pictures
The Apple Intelligence picture options largely revolve round producing new pictures via 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 based mostly on an outline, prompt ideas, and even from individuals in your Pictures library. You have got management over the model, and it may be tweaked to match no matter’s occurring within the app you are utilizing it in. You may also select between totally different types, together with Illustration, Animation, and (most just lately) Sketch, which provides pictures a extra pure, hand-drawn look.
Genmoji simply is perhaps essentially the most anticipated characteristic out of every little thing Apple has introduced. It allows you to generate emojis immediately from the keyboard with textual content prompts. You may also pull an individual’s picture out of your Pictures library to make an emoji based mostly on their seems. You may have to supply an outline first, however then you possibly can alter the outline till it fits what you’re going for.
Picture Wand is one other picture era system that works particularly within the Notes app. Together with your finger or Apple Pencil, you possibly can circle a sketch to have Apple Intelligence create one thing that appears extra refined, however you may also circle an empty area, and it’ll generate a picture based mostly on the encircling textual content. It is a straightforward approach 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 best pictures and video, put them to a track, and craft a shareable film out of it. It’s going to even be simpler to seek for particular images—simply describe what you need and it will discover it, even moments in video clips (much like Google’s Ask Pictures characteristic). Lastly, you possibly can erase undesirable objects within the background of your images with the brand new Clear Up software 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 is perhaps used essentially the most usually, and it includes Siri. The assistant has a brand new look—when activated, the perimeters of the display screen will glow—and now you can sort 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
