iOS 18.2 in Messages: these are all the new features

The Messages app on our iPhone is one of the most used every day. With the arrival of iOS 18.2, Apple brings us a considerable list of improvements that expand its capabilities and make it an even more complete and versatile application. From the incorporation of Genmoji and new options to customize text to image tools, these new features reinforce the importance of Messages in our daily lives. Let’s take a detailed look at the functions that iOS 18.2 offers us in the Messages app.

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Genmoji: personalized emojis at the reach of a description

With the arrival of iOS 18.2, Apple brings us the Apple Intelligence image tools, and one of the most notable is the Genmoji. This allows us to create completely personalized emojis directly from our iPhone keyboard. Just open the Messages app, access the emoji keyboard, and tap the icon with a lit-up smiling face in the top right corner. From there, simply describe in a few words the emoji you want.

The magic of Apple Intelligence comes into play by generating four options based on our description. We can swipe between them or to the end to generate new versions. Once we select the one we like the most, the Genmoji is saved in our recent emoji library and syncs with our other devices. Of course, we can use these Genmoji as reactions in tapbacks.

What if we share a Genmoji with someone who hasn’t updated to iOS 18.2 yet? They will receive it as an image. A detail that ensures our creations will reach the recipient in all circumstances.

Image Playground: creating images from the Messages app

Another standout feature in Messages is the integration with the Image Playground app. This allows us to generate original images based on text, themes, or even existing photographs, all thanks to Apple Intelligence and without leaving the Messages app.

From the Messages app, by tapping the “+” button in the bottom left corner and selecting Image Playground, we can explore various options. The creation styles are divided into two categories: animation and illustration. For example, we can turn a photo of a friend into a superhero, or create a landscape based on a specific theme like “summer at the beach.” The ease of choosing costumes, accessories, or settings allows us complete customization.

Writing Tools: improving our messages

The latest major change in Messages with iOS 18.2 comes in the form of a text drafting tool. While in iOS 18.1 we could already correct messages or rewrite them in predefined styles, we now have the option to describe exactly the changes we want. This feature allows us to directly explain to Apple Intelligence what we want to change.

If we don’t even know where to start, the writing tool, which is supported by ChatGPT, can draft the message from scratch according to our initial instructions.

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With these updates, Messages in iOS 18.2 greatly expands its creativity and personalization capabilities. Genmoji and Image Playground offer us new ways to express ourselves visually, while Writing Tools help us communicate our ideas more comfortably. All of this while ensuring our privacy. Good news for the hundreds of messages we send every day.