iOS 18.5 Expected This Week With These New Features

[MacRumors]

Following more than a month of beta testing, Apple is expected to release iOS 18.5 to the general public this week. While the software update is relatively minor, it still includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones.

Below, we recap everything new in iOS 18.5.

Pride Wallpaper

Apple recently announced its 2025 Pride Collection, including a new Apple Watch band, watch face, and a matching wallpaper for the iPhone and iPad.

The new Pride Edition Sport Band has rainbow stripes that vary in shape and size.

The matching Pride Harmony wallpaper for the iPhone and iPad is available starting with iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5. Apple says the wallpaper features colorful stripes that change position as users move, lock, or unlock their devices.

Carrier Satellite Connectivity on iPhone 13

Starting with iOS 18.5, carrier-provided satellite connectivity services like T-Mobile Starlink are supported on all four iPhone 13 models.

These satellite services allow you to send and receive text messages when cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity is unavailable, in supported areas.

Apple's own satellite feature remains limited to iPhone 14 models and newer.

Screen Time Passcode Notifications

iOS 18.5 includes a useful change for the Screen Time parental feature.

Specifically, Apple says that parents will now receive a notification when their Screen Time passcode is successfully entered on their child's device.

This change will allow parents to be alerted immediately if their child has correctly guessed or figured out the Screen Time passcode, which can allow the child to turn off or adjust the restrictions that were set by their parents.

Screen Time launched in 2018 as part of iOS 12, providing parents with settings to remotely manage a child's device. For example, parents can restrict device usage to certain times, set time limits for apps, and block inappropriate content.

Mail and Settings Tweaks

In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner.

iOS 18.5 also makes the "All Mail" button slightly visible on the screen, for users who might not have realized that you can scroll over to it.

In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more prominent.

Release Notes

This update also includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

• A new Pride Harmony wallpaper
• Parents now receive a notification when the Screen Time passcode is used on a child's device
• Buy with iPhone is available when purchasing content within the Apple TV app on a 3rd party device
• Fixes an issue where the Apple Vision Pro app may display a black screen
• Support for carrier-provided satellite features is available on iPhone 13 (all models).

iOS 18.5 will be available in the Settings app under General → Software Update.

Article Link: iOS 18.5 Expected This Week With These New Features

 

[SalisburySam]

Oh be still my heart.

 

[minhrom]

so having new wallpaper is a "new feature" now?

 

[Imperial926]

The whole 'Pride' thing seems to me to be so outdated now. Can't we all just move on? Screensavers can just be screensavers for their artistic merit - at least that's how I choose them.

 

[clg82]

Finally THE pride wallpaper we've all been waiting for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Plutonius]

so having new wallpaper is a "new feature" now?

It's much cheaper to implement so call it a feature.

 

[stocklen]

Cant wait for this release been counting the sleeps for months.

All these new features... where to start?



.... but seriously is this the most feature-lacking .x release for iOS ever? Almost seems pointless.

 

[bigandtasty]

Just want the Pride wallpaper, could care less about the rest of the update. Hoping they release today!

 

[maxsquared]

Instead of listing new wallpaper as a new feature, why can't they say what they have fixed (if any) that would be more of a reason for an update.

 

[n-evo]

The whole 'Pride' thing seems to me to be so outdated now. Can't we all just move on?

Funny you should ask that 4 days after news broke transgender people are being banned from the US military. So apparently the answer to your question is “no”.

 

[delsoul]

My heart is absolutely racing over these new…features 🙄

 

[crisneat]

It’s odd to see a wallpaper categorized as an “enhancement” alongside actual functional updates like satellite support or Screen Time fixes. Wallpapers are visual assets, not system enhancements in any meaningful sense.

If Apple wants to include seasonal or cultural visuals, that’s fine but let’s not blur the line between UI personalization and core functionality.

 

[I7guy]

Looking forward to a new update.

 

[CyberGene]

Apple, please take your time and don’t rush it. The last thing we all want is a pride wallpaper that is not thoroughly tested.

 

[citysnaps]

Sounds good!

 

[Powerbooky]

Here's something Apple should improve in parental screen time control:

• Extensions for Safari should be nested in the Safari limits - every time I have to change times I have to adjust extensions too.
• The app grouping isn't great. I found a lot of kids games that are not categorised under games, but something else. Very annoying when kids download new stuff and you find out that the time limit is ignored.
• Multiple periods of screen time within a day, one just doesn't fit. Maybe even location (or focus mode) based?
• Several schedules, for holidays, schoolweek or other. Maybe let it follow the parents calendar.
  (same for the sleep schedules... one schedule just doesn't fit.)
• A remote switch that overrides all limits and basically turns off the iPad - kind of necessary to get a stubborn kid from his/her iPad/Mac.

And the wall paper thing... sjeeze... why waste OS storage space on these? Let the user create of download it manually themselves, like any other wallpaper.

 

[greenbreadmmm]

Apple, please take your time and don’t rush it. The last thing we all want is a pride wallpaper that is not thoroughly tested.

(internal testing) "The rainbow doesn't feel inclusive enough, increase width of all colors by 10%"

 

[IIGS User]

"Here is iOS 18.5. We fixed the bugs and everything works as it should".

They can't do that, so new wallpaper is now a "feature".

No it's not.

 

[It’s that kspresso]

The whole 'Pride' thing seems to me to be so outdated now. Can't we all just move on? Screensavers can just be screensavers for their artistic merit - at least that's how I choose them.

Or you can just not use them.

 

[doelcm82]

These comments all seem recycled from last year's .5 release and the year before.

Here's a prediction: The reactions to articles about iOS 19.5 (which will come out just before Pride month and include Pride wallpapers and not much else) will be similar. The Pride stuff is a given, and big new features will be announced less than a month later at WWDC for iOS 20, so it's not going to be any more surprising next year than it is this year.

 

[madrigal77]

They’re still doing the pride thing? A little dated, don’t you think? It’s 2025 not 2015.

 

[SvenLorenz1975]

It's more important in 2025 than it was in 2015.

 

[TroyBoy30]

it was never important.

 

[blackdogaudio]

iOS 18.5 was just now released. Downloading now on east coast of US.

 

[svish]

Very small changes only and was not expecting anything else. Will update my phone within a few days after the release of the software.