Apple releases iOS 18: here are 18 new features that we want to try as soon as possible

It’s here. iOS 18, along with iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and watchOS 11, have officially arrived. Now we can update all our devices to receive the long list of new features that these new operating systems bring. From increased home screen customization to privacy and performance improvements, iOS 18 brings us, among many others, these 18 novelties.

iOS 18 Download

1. Customizable home screen: iOS 18 allows us to organize app icons and widgets anywhere on the screen, giving us more freedom to customize the layout to our liking. We can even group icons at the bottom for easier access or place them in a way that highlights our favorite wallpapers.
2. Dark or custom-colored icons: Another novelty is the ability to darken icons and widgets to automatically adapt to Dark Mode, which adds a much more elegant aesthetic touch to the home screen. We can also tint app icons with the color of our choice, with automatic suggestions based on our wallpaper. Finally, we can make app icons and widgets larger, even removing the names below them, for a more minimalist and clean look.
3. Redesigned Control Center: The new Control Center is completely customizable, allowing us to rearrange and resize controls, add new ones from the control gallery, and even group them on different pages for faster and more efficient access.
4. Messages with several improvements: Messages also received a good update. Now, we can use any emoji as a Tapback reaction, add text effects like “Slam” or “Loud,” and schedule messages to send later. We can also enjoy RCS support for better communication with Android devices.
5. Satellite messaging: iOS 18 will introduce the ability to send messages via satellite when there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage, a particularly useful feature in certain areas.
6. Renewed Photos app: The Photos app has been completely redesigned, removing tabs to offer an all-in-one view. It also introduces new ways to organize and view our photo collections, including the option to hide screenshots.
7. Locking or hiding apps with Face ID: Now, we can lock any app with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, ensuring our privacy. We can also hide apps by moving them to a hidden and locked folder.
8. New Passwords app: The new Passwords app makes it easier to manage passwords, two-factor authentication codes, and login credentials in one place.
9. Distracted browsing control: Safari now includes a distracted browsing control that allows us to hide elements such as subscription forms or cookie banners on any website. Although it won’t work as an ad blocker, it will allow for a much cleaner browsing experience.
10. Game Mode: Game Mode arrives on the iPhone automatically whenever we open a game. It minimizes background activity and improves audio latency and wireless controller response.
11. Improvements in AirPods: Interactions with Siri through AirPods have been improved. We can now respond to Siri notifications with a simple affirmative or negative head movement, and the new voice isolation mode will enhance the quality of calls in noisy environments.
12. Phone call recording: It is now possible to record and transcribe our phone calls in real-time, making it easier to capture important conversations.
13. Smarter Notes: The Notes app allows us to record audio notes and offers automatic transcriptions of all recordings.
14. Home device control: We can add Matter-compatible smart home devices without needing an additional hub, greatly simplifying the management of these gadgets from the Home app.
15. Improvements in the Maps app: Maps now includes hiking routes and topographic maps, making it a more complete tool for outdoor enthusiasts.
16. Search and statistics in the Diary app: The Diary app now offers a search function for entries as well as statistics about our entries. This is a way to review content and create the habit of writing.
17. Improved subtitles and more content in the TV app: In the TV app, we can now see which characters are on screen at any given moment and what song is playing. If we rewind, the system intelligently manages subtitles so that we can understand the missed phrase.
18. Privacy improvements: We can now choose which contacts we share with an app. The Settings app provides much more information about our privacy settings.

iOS 18 Download

These 18 updates are just a small sample of what iOS 18 has in store. These and all the other updates await us in Settings > General > Software Update. Have you updated yet?