Apple updates its key operating systems every year, and this year is no exception. For the iPhone, iOS 18 takes Apple’s amazing smartphone to the next level with new features, apps and capabilities.
1: What is iOS 18?
iOS is the iPhone’s operating system, that is, the software that underpins everything that runs on Apple’s smartphone. Launching apps, using widgets, getting notifications and features such as Spotlight and Focus Filters are all part of iOS. This operating system is updated every year, with minor updates taking place during the year. iOS 18 is the 18th release of iOS.
2: What’s new in iOS 18?
There’s plenty of new features to look forward to when you update your iPhone to iOS 18. If you own an iPhone 15 Pro or an iPhone 15 Pro Max, you can take advantage of Apple Intelligence. All iPhones that can run iOS 18 benefit from new ways to customise the Home and Lock screens, new features in Messages, a redesigned Photos app, a more configurable Control Centre and more.
3: What is Apple Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is a big thing in today’s computing scene, and Apple Intelligence is Apple’s take on the tech. It underpins a host of features on the iPhone (15 Pro series only), and both iPads and Macs that use Apple Silicon M-series chips. Apple Intelligence powers new ways of understanding language, which makes Siri far more natural and intuitive. The AI-powered Writing Tools feature does more than check your spelling. It can rewrite your words to make them more personal, more professional, more succinct and more.
The AI-powered Mail app automatically sorts your mail into categories, keeping business and marketing emails separate from your regular emails. Priority Messages identifies your most urgent and important emails and brings them to your attention. Apple Intelligence can even draw and redraw pictures for you, constructing an Animation, Illustration or Sketch based on criteria you ask it to use.
4: Is Apple Intelligence safe to use?
Yes. Great care has been taken to keep Apple Intelligence features private. Most computing is done on-device, and when contacting a server is essential, it uses Private Cloud Compute. This feature sets a new standard for privacy in AI. Compatible servers run on Apple Silicon processors, and their software is open for inspection by independent experts, who can confirm no data is being collected or misused.
5: What are Apple Intelligence system requirements?
Unfortunately, they’re pretty high. Only iPhones that use the A17 Pro processor or above can use Apple Intelligence, and to date, that’s the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Of course, Apple Intelligence will be compatible with iPhones released in the future. Macs and iPads must use an M-series Apple Silicon processor to use Apple Intelligence.
6: Are there any new apps?
There’s a couple. There’s a new passwords manager called simply ‘Passwords’, which replaces Keychain Access. It stores all your passwords and login information, lets you know when a password has been compromised and syncs with your iPhone, Mac, iPad and Vision Pro, to make all your password data available on all your devices.
Another new app lets you play with iOS 18’s Apple Intelligence-powered drawing tools. Image Playground is only available on iPhones that can run Apple Intelligence, but it’s great fun to use.
7: How much does iOS 18 cost?
Nothing. Not a single penny. Like all of Apple’s operating system updates, iOS 18 is free.
8: I hear Control Centre has been revamped?
You hear correctly. It’s now much more configurable. You can add many more controls into your Control Centre, and arrange them into pages to help you find what you’re looking for more easily. The Lock Screen controls – Camera and Torch by default – are now part of Control Centre too, and you can change them for any of its other controls.
Apple has made Control Centre integration available to third party developers, so we’ll soon be getting lots of controls for non-Apple apps.
9: What iPhones can run iOS 18?
The new operating system has the same system requirements as iOS 17, so if you’re running iOS 17, you can upgrade. In a nutshell, the iPhone XR, iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd Generation) and the iPhone 11 or later are supported. Go to https://apple.co/3AnDOuA if you’re not sure which iPhone you have.
Some Apple Intelligence-powered features of iOS 18 are only available on the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max or later.
Learn more about iOS 18 and iPhone by getting our downloadable guide today!
