Like clockwork, we’ll see Apple debut its newest software program at WWDC 2024 in June, together with the extremely anticipated iOS 18 replace. And based on Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple views iOS 18 as “One of many greatest iOS updates — if not the largest — within the firm’s historical past.”
Whereas Apple may assume that about every of its iOS variations, the rumors we have heard definitely hype up iOS 18 as extra accessible, customizable, and filled with quality-of-life enhancements that, if true, would make it one of the vital iOS updates in recent times.
This is every thing we all know up to now about iOS 18, from which units are prone to obtain the replace to its rumored launch date and new options.
Newest information
Launch date
Apple releases a brand new iOS model yearly across the similar time, and there is no motive to anticipate the rumored iOS 18 replace to stray from this sample. iOS 18 will probably debut on the WWDC 2024 occasion, which we now know will likely be held between June 10 and 14.
The general public rollout for iOS 18 will most likely coincide with the rumored iPhone 16 launch round September 2024. In between June and September, Apple will roll out beta variations of iOS 18 to builders for testing and app tweaks, adopted by a beta model made obtainable to the general public.
Seemingly supported units
Rumor has it Apple is likely to be delivering the iOS 18 replace to any iPhone at the moment working iOS 17. So iOS 18 won’t finish help for any further iPhones, previous those that did not make the lower with final yr’s replace.
Listed here are all of the iPhones which might be reportedly eligible for iOS 18:
- iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Professional, iPhone 15 Professional Max
- iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Professional, iPhone 14 Professional Max
- iPhone SE (2022)
- iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Professional, iPhone 13 Professional Max
- iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Professional, iPhone 12 Professional Max
- iPhone SE (2020)
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Professional, iPhone 11 Professional Max
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR
RCS messaging customary
Top-of-the-line options coming to iPhones by way of iOS 18 is RCS messaging customary help. After years of attributing the iPhone’s lack of RCS help to it being much less safe than iMessage — and the unlucky “purchase your mother an iPhone” comment from Tim Cook dinner when requested by a reporter about RCS messaging — Apple will lastly help RCS messages from Android telephones with the iOS 18 replace.
And this is not even a rumor; the RCS textual content protocol is certainly coming to all iPhones that may obtain the iOS 18 replace.
With RCS help, iPhone customers can lastly ship movies to Android customers with out them getting compressed, which leads to a pixelated and distorted video. Conversations between iPhone and Android customers may also now have typing indicators and skim receipts. One huge characteristic that is not altering, nonetheless, is the inexperienced textual content bubbles for Android customers in iMessage.
Accessibility options
As with most iOS updates, the iOS 18 replace is likely to be bringing some further accessibility options with it. In keeping with MacRumors, business sources have revealed three new accessibility options for iOS 18:
- Adaptive Voice Shortcuts: With this characteristic, customers can create a “distinctive spoken phrase” and tie it to an accessibility setting.
- New “Classes” part in Reside Speech: iOS 17 debuted the Reside Speech characteristic, and iOS 18 is reportedly going to develop on it by including a brand new user-created classes part the place folks can manage their desired phrases.
- Customizable font dimension in additional apps: Apple is likely to be increasing help for adjustable textual content dimension in apps for iOS 18 and macOS 15, which implies customers will be capable of customise font dimension for extra particular person apps.
The iOS 18 replace may also make it attainable for AirPods Professional to double as listening to aids. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman stated that AirPods Professional could also be getting a “main new listening to assist mode,” nevertheless it’s not clear but whether or not they can be labeled as an official, FDA-approved listening to assist or as a Private Sound Amplification Product, which does not require FDA approval.
AI options
Apple’s gearing as much as enter the AI race with a bang, and one among its first main forays into generative AI could possibly be with iOS 18. Whereas Google, Microsoft, and Meta have been outwardly dabbling in generative AI for years, Apple has been silently making a ton of AI enterprise acquisitions, taking a sluggish and methodical method to AI.
We have been listening to rumors of Apple GPT since early final yr, and it is completely attainable that this AI chatbot could possibly be included into Siri somewhat than used to utterly exchange Siri. If that is true, WWDC 2024 might debut a massively upgraded, AI-powered Siri — Siri 2.0, if you’ll.
Along with the potential for an improved digital assistant, iOS 18 may characteristic an AI code named Ajax, which was first seen within the beta model of iOS 17.4. This Ajax code will reportedly help with summarizing content material and answering complicated questions, and it might combine with a number of iOS apps, like Apple Music, Keynote, Pages, and Messages.
It is price noting that older iPhones that obtain the iOS replace won’t get each rumored AI characteristic as a result of the {hardware} simply will not be suitable. The iPhone 16 may characteristic on-board {hardware} that reinforces AI energy, whereas older iPhones may solely obtain fundamental cloud-based AI options with iOS 18.
Extra customizable house display screen
One of many greatest variations between Android telephones and iPhones is the quantity of customization attainable in your Residence Display screen. In keeping with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (by way of TechRadar) in a paywalled part of the Energy On publication, iOS 18 will lastly introduce a “extra customizable” Residence Display screen that iPhone customers have been wanting for some time.
Gurman did not develop a lot on this declare, however MacRumors claims this elevated customization might embrace the power to put app icons anyplace on the Residence Display screen and “create clean areas, rows, and columns between app icons.”
Outlook
Up to now, iOS 18 seems to be prefer it’s shaping as much as be a major replace. It is rumored to be an AI-heavy working system, however many AI options will not attain their full potential until you are utilizing iOS 18 on the upcoming iPhone 16.
We’re most excited for the addition of RCS messaging customary help, which is a confirmed characteristic for iOS 18, and the potential for lastly with the ability to customise your iPhone’s Residence Display screen — a luxurious Android customers have had for years now. And we’ll solely have to attend a couple of quick months till WWDC 2024 in June for iOS 18 to formally debut.
