iOS 18 is packed with tons of new features, and in this guide, we’ve listed what we believe are the most important ones that you should know about.
Note that many of these features are also available on iPad with iPadOS 18, and some are even available on Mac running macOS Sequoia.
Home Screen and other customizations
Place apps anywhere: You can place an app icon anywhere on the Home Screen.
Dark mode app icons: When you switch to Dark Mode, the app icons change color to a dark look. You can also set your iPhone to use dark icons even when Dark Mode is off.
App icon tinting: You can give a tint to your app icons. This is especially useful at night to lower the strain on your eyes.
Hide app labels: When you switch to the large app icons on the Home Screen, it automatically removes the names of the app and widgets, giving you a cleaner look.
Add widgets effortlessly: Touch and hold an app icon on the Home Screen, and if it supports widgets, you will see the option to add one of them. Select one, and the app icon will transform into a widget of the selected size.
Change widget size instantly: Touch and hold a widget on the Home Screen and choose another size. If you pick the left-most option, the widget transforms back into an app icon.
Drag to change the widget size: Touch and hold an empty spot on the Home Screen to enter jiggle mode. Now, use the size changer in the bottom right corner and drag it to make the widget smaller or bigger.
Change the Lock Screen buttons: You finally have the option to replace the flashlight and camera buttons on the Lock Screen with something else, such as Shazam, Translate, Calculator, Shortcuts, Cellular Data, Hotspot, Voice Memos, etc.
No Edit button in Today View: iOS 18 no longer shows an Edit button at the bottom of the Today View, which is accessed by swiping right on the first Home Screen page or Lock Screen. Instead, you’ve to touch and hold an empty spot to see the Edit button.
Multi-color clock on Lock Screen: The time indicator on the Lock Screen can now be rainbow-colored.
Dynamic iOS 18 wallpaper: Similar to Mac, iOS 18 has dynamic wallpapers that change their appearance as the day progresses.
Control Center: iOS 18 has completely redesigned Control Center by introducing round icons, multiple pages, additional controls, a power button, and more. Even third-party apps are now allowed to offer buttons for Control Center.
Privacy
Lock apps: iOS 18 offers an easy way to secure your apps behind Face ID, Touch ID, or the device passcode. However, you cannot use a custom password to lock these apps; you will have to use biometrics and the device’s lock screen passcode.
Hide apps: If you have sensitive apps, you can hide them from the Home Screen and nearly everywhere else.
Allow an app to access only selected contacts: Instead of allowing an app to read your entire address book or none of it, you now have the option to selectively pick which contacts you want it to have access to.
Better Privacy & Security info: When you go to iOS 18 Settings > Privacy & Security, you can see the exact number of apps that are accessing your location, calendars, contacts, files, photos, camera, microphone, Bluetooth, and such.
iPhone Mirroring
You can see and use your iPhone and also get your iOS app notifications on your Mac.
iPhone Remote Control
When screen sharing is active, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 allow you to draw, tap, and highlight on another person’s screen. In addition to this, you can remotely control an iPhone and open apps on it, change settings, and do a lot more — all from miles away! This is the perfect feature for troubleshooting a family member’s issues with their iOS device.
New controls for the Action Button
The Action Button on iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max can now be configured with Control Center actions.
Also see: 29 things to do with Action Button
Apple Intelligence
iOS 18 brings Apple Intelligence – its own version of AI – to the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and the entire iPhone 16 lineup. It lets you do things like:
- Rewrite your own text and emails.
- Proofread your writing, like Grammarly.
- Suggest smart replies in the Mail app.
- Summarize large chunks of text with key points.
- Photos app gets a clean-up tool to remove unwanted objects from your pictures.
- Photos have enhanced natural language search, so you can quickly find the right image using a complex search term like “Chris in red t-shirt and cargo pants.”
- Image Playground app and its in-app integration will allow you to generate images using AI based on your input.
- The Genmoji feature will let you create emojis based on your prompt or by using pictures of people in your Photos app.
- The Image Wand feature in the Notes app will convert your rough drawing into a related picture.
- Improved Siri with more intuitiveness and a better understanding of your voice command. Siri will understand and carry out more complex sets of tasks.
- Siri can understand what’s on your phone screen and then take relevant actions based on that.
- The Siri interface also gets a new look with glowing light around the edge of your phone screen.
- Reduce Interruptions Focus understands the contents of your notifications and limits alerts that it deems unimportant.
- Your iPhone can even summarize long group texts and notifications so you can catch up with a conversation quickly.
Note that several of the above-mentioned AI features are expected to come later, while some will be available in 2025.
Also see: 17 iPhone features that use Machine Learning and AI
ChatGPT integration
As mentioned earlier, Siri is set to get smarter with iOS 18. However, if ‘smarter’ Siri cannot handle your request, it will give you the option to get the answer using ChatGPT. Of course, you’ll be asked if you want to use ChatGPT to process your request.
In addition to ChatGPT, Apple said it may integrate other AI services into Siri in the future.
New Passwords app
You no longer have to go to the Settings app to see your saved iCloud Keychain passwords and usernames. The new Apple Passwords app makes viewing all your saved credentials in one spot easier. The app also lets you create a QR code for Wi-Fi networks to let others join by scanning it.
Also see: How to import passwords from other apps into Apple Passwords
Safari
Visual changes: Safari has received minor visual design changes to its menus and options.
Summarize web articles: You will see a Summarize button when in Reader Mode to know the summary of an article.
Hide distracting items: You can get rid of annoying elements like ad pieces, menus, chat boxes, and more from a web page in a couple of taps for a distracting free web experience.
Highlight: Safari is also supposed to get a Highlight option that will show useful web page information like maps, directions, store hours, phone numbers, and more in an easy-to-consume form. The contents of Highlights will differ based on the web page.
Accessibility
New Background Sounds: You now have two new built-in background sounds: Night and Fire.
Eye Tracking: You can control and use your iPhone or iPad with just your eyes, making it a handy accessibility feature for people with physical disabilities.
Vocal Shortcuts: This feature allows you to link custom words and phrases to actions, letting you perform tasks by saying that word or phrase. It also allows you to call Siri by a custom name!
Music Haptics: It lets people who cannot hear experience songs by vibrating their phone with unique haptic taps and patterns.
Vehicle Motion Cues: After you turn it on, dots appear on your iPhone screen, shifting their position based on vehicle movement. This helps reduce motion sickness when you use your iPhone in a moving vehicle.
CarPlay: Voice Control, Color Filters, and Sound Recognition accessibility features are now available in your car.
Also see: 17 tips to use your iPhone with your car
Math Equations
Your iPhone can do calculations automatically in several apps like Notes, Messages, Mail, and more.
Photos
Redesign: The Photos app has been redesigned completely with a drastically new look and user interface. The app has no tabs, and everything is visible in one scrollable section. You will have to try it out to experience it fully.
New Utilities sections: You will see new sections in the Utilities section like Receipts, QR Codes, Handwriting, Illustrations, Recovered, Recently Saved, Recently Viewed, Recently Edited, Documents, Imports, and Maps. Note that some of these sections appear only if you have images in your library that fall into those specific categories.
Other additions to Photos:
- Clean Up tool to remove unwanted objects from your picture background.
- Use AI to create custom movie memories based on your pictures.
- If there are several group pictures, the People and Pets section now supports Groups that list pictures of two or more people together.
Settings
- The Settings app adds a description of the specific sub-section.
- Apps are no longer at the bottom of the Settings app. Instead, they all are tucked in a dedicated Apps section.
Voice Memos
The Voice Memos app can transcribe the recording in real-time or later after you finish recording. This will also transcribe your old voice clips.
Note that transcription is not available in all languages.
Messages
Schedule messages: You finally have the option to schedule messages to be sent at a later time and date.
Format text: You can make the text bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, and animate it in various styles.
React with any emoji: You’re no longer limited to just a few handy emojis to react to a text. You can select any emoji from the vast library to add it as a Tapback reaction.
Messages via Satellite: If you’re in a place without cellular signal, you can send and receive iMessages via satellite. This service is currently available only in the United States.
RCS support: The built-in iOS 18 Messages app supports RCS, making it easier to text and group text with people using Android phones.
Phone
Record calls: The Phone app supports recording a call after informing both parties. Your iPhone can also transcribe the recording.
T9 dialing: The Phone app now supports T9 dialing, allowing you to type a contact’s name using the number pad in the Keypad section.
Notes
Add audio: You can record audio in a note and add it. The app can also transcribe the audio and insert the transcription into the body of the note.
Solve math: The app can solve math equations automatically, just like other apps, such as Messages.
Color text: While the Notes app on Mac lets you change the text color, the app on iOS just allows you to change the text color by adding one of the five highlights. Remember that colored notes from Mac will appear with colored text even on iPhone and iPad.
Home
The app has received these handy additions:
- You can now pick a preferred Home hub if you have multiple Apple TVs and HomePods.
- You can give guests temporary access to your smart locks, door openers, and alarm system. You can also create a regular access routine for people like your house help.
- Door locks with Ultra Wideband support can be opened automatically hands-free with your iPhone or Apple Watch as you walk near it.
Wallet
The Tap to Cash feature allows you to hold your iPhone near another one to send or receive money without having to share your details, such as phone number and email address.
You can see rewards or points for your debit and credit cards and use them when making purchases using Apple Pay.
Maps
Like the Apple Watch, the Maps app on iPhone now supports topographic maps with trail networks and hikes for all 63 national parks in the United States. Additionally, you can create your own hikes and walking routes.
TV
InSight: The InSight feature gives you more information about the actors and music in the movie or TV show you’re currently watching. You can see this when using your iPhone as a remote for your Apple TV. Additionally, InSight is also available in the TV app on iPhone and iPad.
Enhance dialogue: If you have trouble understanding the dialogue, the TV app’s Enhance Dialogue feature uses machine learning and computational audio to make the actor’s voice clearer.
Calculator
The Calculator app can now do several unit conversions, and the Maths Notes feature allows you to solve math problems. The iPad finally gets a built-in Calculator app, and you can work with smart graphs and complex equations here.
Calendar and Reminders
Both apps can now talk to one another, and your reminders show up in the Calendar app. You can mark reminders as completed and add new ones straight from the Calendar app.
Files app
Keep downloaded: If you’re tired of downloaded iCloud Drive files being removed automatically to make space, you now have a new “Keep Downloaded” option that instructs the app not to remove the offline copy of a file or folder.
Format drives: Like your Mac, the Files app on iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 lets you format external drives you’ve connected to your iPhone or iPad.
Game Mode
Game Mode has existed on Mac since macOS Sonoma, and now it has made its way to iPhone.
Game Mode minimizes background activity, ensuring the game can get more processing power, thus offering higher frame rates when gaming for extended periods.
If you use AirPods or game controllers, Game Mode will reduce the latency for more responsive gameplay. App developers can also add Personalized Spatial Audio to enhance the game audio.
Also see: 165+ iPhone games with controller support
New features for AirPods Pro
Head gestures: With iOS 18 and a new AirPods software update, you will be able to use head gestures to control your AirPods without touching it or speaking. You can just nod your head up and down to answer an incoming call or shake it to decline the call.
Customize Adaptive Noise Control: You now have the option to customize the Adaptive Noise Control option on AirPods Pro 2nd generation.
Simple pairing for third-party accessories: iOS 18 will allow third-party accessory makers to connect their devices to iPhones, like AirPods, without needing to go to the iPhone’s Bluetooth settings.
Other new features
- There is a new way to change the flashlight brightness on iPhones with Dynamic Island.
- Third-party apps can make use of an API that lets them record spatial videos with 3D depth. You can watch these videos on your Apple Vision Pro.
- If you use a slow charger, a “Slow Charging” label appears in the Battery section of the Settings app.
- When you press the physical side or volume buttons on your iPhone with an OLED screen, there is an animation next to the button that gives visual confirmation by pushing the (virtual) black bezel inside.
- You can now type in two languages using the same keyboard without switching. Simply go to Keyboard Settings and add a new language. You will be offered an option to pair and use the new keyboard language with your existing keyboard.
- You can add the Journal app widget over the clock on the Lock Screen to quickly start a new entry. This is in addition to the regular Lock Screen widgets that sit under the clock.
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