After months of waiting, iOS 18 is now available to all usersThe new version of the iPhone operating system is available on a wide range of compatible iPhones, starting with the iPhone XR, and brings a number of new features, including new customization options, additional privacy features, and a redesign of some areas of the system, such as Control Center or the Photos app.
These months iOS 18 It was available in various beta versions. for the public and for developers, in which the company is refining some features that will be available starting today. The rest, however, will arrive later. In fact, all the features related to Apple Intelligence, such as the new Siri or the ability to remove unwanted elements from an image, can only be used later, when Apple officially releases iOS 18.1.
Either way, we repeat, iOS 18 comes with several new features that users will be able to use starting today. We tell you the nine most important ones and how you can update your iPhone to the new version right now.
Customizing icons
One of the most exciting new features of iOS 18 is the ability to customize icons on the home screen. Now they can be placed anywhere on the grid, meaning they don’t have to be in order. You can also resize them, apply a dark tone to them, or even change their color.
New control center
Another new feature of iOS 18 is new control center, This completely changes its design: rounded icons and the ability to change the size of any element. You can even create several pages with specific controls: for example, one exclusively for music, another for home, etc.
New Passwords app
iOS 18 wants you to forget about password managers thanks to a new app that lets you store and easily access any type of credentials. In essence, the app somewhat replaces the iCloud Keychain, which was available in the system settings. In addition to passwords, the new app also allows you to store and manage access keys or two-factor authentication codes.
The Photos app has undergone a redesign
Apple has completely revamped its Photos app. Now, everything is collected on one page; no tabs. The new app also offers search improvements with recommendations. Yes, this was one of the most controversial new features of iOS 18, given that the app was an absolute disaster, increasing the difficulty of finding albums or images. Apple, in fact, slightly changed its design throughout the beta versions of the version.
iOS 18 Gets a New Calculator
The iOS 18 Calculator app has also been redesigned. It now has a dedicated button to delete a number, and an option has been added to let you Use the scientific calculator in an upright position.
You can now block and hide apps.
In iOS 18, Apple now allows lock apps with face id. This feature can be configured using the privacy settings in the system settings. In addition, the new version also offers the option hide apps in a specific folder. They will only be displayed when the user authenticates via Face ID.
New iMessage Features
For those who use iMessage, Apple has included several new features. Among them is the ability to schedule messages to send later. In addition, new emoji reactions, new text effects, and the ability to highlight, strikethrough, or underline text have been added. Of course, another new feature is RCS support, which provides better integration of instant messaging (SMS) across iOS and Android.
The New Safari That Comes with iOS 18
Siri also gets a little better in iOS 18 thanks to a feature called “Distraction Control.” This, in particular, allows you to hide any element that appears on a web page to make it as user-friendly as possible. Apple, however, states that this is not an ad-blocking feature, and that while they disappear when the user activates the feature on them, they will appear again when the page is refreshed.
New Game Mode in iOS 18
iOS 18 also includes a Game Mode that is enabled by default and allows you to “minimize background activity.” so that the frame rate can reach its maximum” This also helps reduce audio latency when the user is using their AirPods.
How to Install iOS 18 on Your iPhone
iOS 18 is available on a total of 24 compatible iPhones: you can see the full list here. However, there are a few tips to consider before installing the new version.
- Backup to iCloud. This way, you will prevent the loss of your data in case of failure during the installation of iOS 18.
- Have enough space to install the update. The new version requires more than 5 GB of internal memory.
- It has enough battery. You should have at least 50% battery charge, although it’s best to keep your iPhone connected to power throughout the entire download and installation.
To install iOS 18, simply go to your iPhone settings, tap ‘General’ and then in the section “System Update”. Finally, wait for the update to appear and click the button that appears on the screen. The download may take a few minutes, depending on server availability.
Source: Hiper Textual
I’m Ben Stock, a highly experienced and passionate journalist with a career in the news industry spanning more than 10 years. I specialize in writing content for websites, including researching and interviewing sources to produce engaging articles. My current role is as an author at Gadget Onus, where I mainly cover the mobile section.
