iOS 18 superguide: iOS 18 features, latest update, and what’s new in iOS 18.2
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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 11: Apple has released iOS 18.2.
iOS 18: Latest version
- iOS 18.2: December 11, 2024
iOS 18 arrived on Monday, September 16. macOS Sequoia, watchOS and iPadOS 18 were also 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
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.
- Notes – Transcritipns of audio recordings or phone calls.
- Phone – Record phone calls.
- 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 will start to beta test iOS 18.3 soon.
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</
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