Apple lastly previewed what’s coming to iOS 18 at its annual developer convention keynote. The iPhone’s subsequent main software program replace will roll out later this yr, that includes loads of AI infusion—Apple Intelligence—plus different quality-of-life enhancements throughout the platform. It’s all good news for iPhone customers, even when Android wielders have heard it earlier than.
In some instances, iOS 18 is taking part in catchup to its Android competitors. However iPhone customers appear enthusiastic about what’s coming—there have been many cheers within the keynote viewers—and so-called copycat options imply extra parity throughout cellular platforms, which implies much less of a Sophie’s Selection every time looking for a brand new smartphone. Listed here are some new options coming to the iPhone with iOS 18 and the way they examine to these already on Android gadgets.
Transfer apps wherever you want
Customized icon placement is not restricted to Android customers with time to burn. At WWDC 2024, Apple introduced that iOS 18 would lastly allow you to place app icons wherever you need on the House display, releasing them from the stringent rail it was on earlier than. You’ll be able to transfer apps to both facet of the display with area within the center to focus on a topic in your wallpaper.
Tinted icons
iOS 18 customers can have entry to tinted icons—one thing the Pixel Launcher has completed since Android 13. The iOS 18 developer beta reveals that the colour accents choose up based mostly in your wallpaper and system theme. And in the event you don’t like the colour Apple picks for you, you’ll be able to alter it to one thing else.
RCS
In the event you’ve learn any tech weblog prior to now few years, you already know that Google had RCS first—and received’t cease reminding us about it. It even took out a large promoting marketing campaign to hone in on the message.
Nonetheless, despite the fact that Apple quietly introduced RCS help this week throughout its developer convention, Google doesn’t get its victory lap. Apple didn’t dedicate any fanfare to its acquiescing to the cellular protocol. On the plus facet, messages between iPhones and their inexperienced bubbles will be capable of share options like high-resolution images and Tapback animations later this yr.
Schedule a message
The Messages app on the iPhone will allow you to schedule your messages to ship later when iOS 18 rolls out later this yr. Google Messages has been capable of schedule textual content messages since 2022. It’s how I’ve stored my iPhone-using buddies from coming after me for sending them textual content messages late at evening when my mind is most lively.
Recreation Mode
iOS 18 will provide a Recreation Mode. Apple advertises that it’ll decrease background exercise to assist maintain a constant framerate. Android has had an official recreation mode providing since Android 12. Some Android smartphones have even made it their id to be gaming telephones— you, Asus Rog Telephone.
Kind to Siri
Okay, I’ll admit that Google’s transition from the Assistant to Gemini has not been clean. However I’ve been capable of sort out a command to the Assistant for years now, sufficient that I’ll miss it when the Assistant ultimately faces its expiration date.
Effectively, no less than Siri customers can sort instructions, or you’ll as soon as iOS 18 goes reside. I noticed an illustration of typing to Siri at WWDC, which jogged my memory that it’s a characteristic I’ll miss if/when Google forces me to Gemini. Sob.
Dwell Audio Transcriptions
iOS 18 can have a useful characteristic that permits you to file audio periods with the Notes app after which have it generate a transcription of the session, which you’ll then mix with different paperwork and checklists.
Google launched Dwell Transcribe to the Pixel again in 2019. As of 2021, it’s built-in into the Android system settings.
Management Middle
iOS 18 will convey extra customization to this pull-down a part of the iPhone. Along with house controls and fast settings, third-party app builders can provide pinnable shortcuts.
Android has at all times had the notification shade. In Android 7, the Fast Settings within the notification shade added editable tiles, which had been ultimately opened as much as third-party app builders.
iPhone Mirroring
There’s good news for iPhone customers with a Mac on the desk. iOS 18 will allow you to stream your iPhone reside to your Mac and use it with a mouse and keyboard. You’ll be able to even drop media between the desktop and cellular environments easy-peasy.
Android customers have been having fun with this sort of mirrored synchronization with their telephones because the first third-party supplied the flexibility within the 2010s. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless as much as third events a decade later, as there’s no native implementation between Android and Google’s Chrome OS. Solely the newest Samsung flagships have the additional advantage of cellphone mirroring to the PC utilizing Micorosft’s Telephone app.
Genmoji, meet Emoji Kitchen
Apple customers can generate emojis from a textual content immediate on the iPhone when iOS 18 hits later this yr. Genmoji, because it’s referred to as, is supposed to showcase the corporate’s underlying Apple Intelligence capabilities.
The flexibility sounds much like Android’s Emoji Kitchen, which has been a success because it launched on the Google Keyboard in 2020. Emoji Kitchen isn’t as AI-forward as Apple’s Genmoji however simply as enjoyable.
Dwell audio transcripts
Apple introduced its Apple Intelligence infusion will assist energy a reside transcription characteristic within the Notes app on iOS 18. The device will file your name after which spit out a abstract after you’ve hung up.
Android has been capable of do each these items individually however not collectively. The Pixel’s Dwell Transcribe works properly, nevertheless it’s meant for in-person interactions reasonably than over-the-phone audio. And whereas Android has allowed third-party apps to allow name recording, the transcription half requires a little analysis to search out the fitting service.
Kind-to-Siri
iOS 18 will allow you to sort out a command to Siri. There’s been a run-around solution to allow this since iOS 11, however this technique is extra direct and simpler to entry. It’ll even be extra contextual than Siri’s ever been, giving us Android customers struggling to just accept Gemini a bit FOMO.
I’ve been typing utilizing Google Assistant for 5 years. It’s been useful once I can’t converse out loud, which is why Apple additionally adopted the characteristic for iOS 18. This means remains to be obtainable on Android gadgets, although the eventual transition to Gemini could change this means.
Bonus: Calculator app on the iPad
iPad OS 18 is lastly getting its very personal optimized calculator app. This isn’t associated to iOS 18, however it’s price mentioning as a result of Android has had a calculator for tablets lengthy earlier than Apple did.
On the very least, Apple sweetened the deal for iPad customers with its calculator app by providing Math Notes, that are unlockable with the Apple Pencil.
