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iOS 18 is just around the corner, with Apple set to unveil the software update during its WWDC keynote next month. Below, we recap new features and changes rumored for iOS 18, which is projected to be the
"biggest" update in the iPhone's history.
iOS 18 is rumored to include new AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more customizable Home Screen and
other user interface design changes, new features in apps like Apple Maps and Calculator, additional accessibility features, and much more.
WWDC 2024 will begin with Apple's keynote
on June 10 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, and the iOS 18 beta should be made available to members of the Apple Developer Program immediately following the presentation. A public beta is typically released in July, and the update should be widely released to all users in September.
For additional information, read our
iOS 18 roundup.
Smarter Siri and Generative AI
iOS 18 is rumored to have
new AI features for Siri, Spotlight, Shortcuts, Apple Music, Messages, Health, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and more, according to sources such as
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and
The Information's Wayne Ma.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly teased that the company is working on generative AI, and plans to
share details "later this year," and Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak also
hinted at AI in a social media post about WWDC 2024.
Generative AI surged in popularity in late 2022, when OpenAI released ChatGPT, a chatbot that can respond to questions and other text prompts. The company has also expanded into generative AI tools for images and videos. Other companies like Google and Microsoft have also pushed into the generative AI space, and the technology is quickly evolving.
iOS 18 is
not expected to include an Apple-designed chatbot, but a
partnership with OpenAI will reportedly be announced at WWDC.
More Customizable Home Screen
iOS 18 will feature a
"more customizable" Home Screen, according to Gurman.
MacRumors exclusively reported that iOS 18 will finally allow users to
place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid. This means that users will be able to create blank spaces, columns, and rows between app icons. This basic feature has long been available on Android smartphones, and now Apple is bringing it to the iPhone.
iPhone users can already customize the Home Screen with apps such as Shortcuts and Widgetsmith, which can be used to create "blank" app icons and widgets, but Apple's official solution will be much more convenient.
It was also reported that iOS 18 will allow users to
change the color of app icons.
New Accessibility Features
Earlier this month, Apple previewed many new accessibility features coming later this year with software updates like iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2. The announcement came one day ahead of Global Accessibility Awareness Day.
Some of the new features coming to the iPhone
include Eye Tracking,
Vehicle Motion Cues, Music Haptics, and Vocal Shortcuts.
CarPlay will also be getting more accessibility features with iOS 18, including Sound Recognition, which will allow drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing to turn on alerts to be notified of car horns and sirens.
New Apple Maps Features
MacRumors previously revealed two potential new Apple Maps features coming with iOS 18:
custom routes and
topographic maps.
With the custom routes feature, Apple Maps users would be able to choose specific roads to travel on while navigating, for reasons such as familiarity or scenic views. This feature is expected to be available in the U.S. only at launch. Google Maps already allows users to create custom routes on the web, and then view them on an iPhone.
Topographic maps first debuted on the Apple Watch last year with watchOS 10, and code suggests that the feature will be expanded to the iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro with iOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2. These maps include details such as trails, contour lines, elevation, and points of interest for hiking and other outdoor uses.
RCS Support in Messages App
In November, Apple announced that it would
support the cross-platform messaging standard RCS in the Messages app on the iPhone starting "later" in 2024, so it will likely be an iOS 18 feature based on that timeframe.
RCS support should result in the following improvements to the default messaging experience between iPhones...
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Article Link:
iOS 18 Rumor Recap: Over 20 New Features to Expect as WWDC Nears
