The latest update to the iPhone operating system has been talked about for the second week already. But not everyone has yet figured out all the useful functions and hidden features of iOS 18. In this article, we decided to collect all the new features of the update that may be useful to users. Which of them are worth trying and whether it makes sense to update your smartphone at all – you decide after reading our article!
The iOS 18 update with the Apple Intelligence system based on artificial intelligence is already available for installation on iPhone, starting with the 2018 XR and XS models. What the operating system will change in your smartphone – we tell you below!
Personalized Home Screen Customization
New screen customization and personalization options are the first thing that catches the user’s eye after installing the iOS 18 update. iPhone owners now have all the tools for more advanced changes to the Home screen. For example, you can group and organize applications, change their size and paint them in different colors.
Hidden Apps
Users will be able to not only customize widgets on the Home screen, but also hide them, and even block them if necessary. Services that have been restricted will be stored in a special hidden folder on the screen. Also, no one except the owner of the smartphone will be able to access the blocked widget – it will only open using Face ID, Touch ID or a set password.
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Pause During Video Recording
This is where Apple developers managed to satisfy all the requests and desires of users – in the video settings. Now in the Camera app, when shooting a video, you can pause the recording and then resume it again. The result is almost a finished edit! In addition, it became possible to create video content with background music. The melody does not stop when you press the red button.
Delayed Sending of Messages
The iOS 18 update also affected the built-in Messages service, and that’s good news. The latest version of the operating system now allows delayed sending of messages, both in regular SMS and iMessage modes. In addition, a text formatting function has been implemented. Reactions to messages and text effects have also been added.
In the update, Apple has improved the transmission of messages via satellite: the innovation will allow you to stay in touch even if there is no Internet or the connection is poor. And yes, it seems that for the first time the company has thought about more than just itself (with the easy submission of EU regulators). A more advanced system now supports the RCS messaging protocol, which is gradually replacing and displacing the outdated SMS format. The technology will allow you to send text messages, as well as multimedia files (photos, videos) in high quality from iOS to Android – that is, to those people who do not use iMessage. As a bonus, users will be able to track the process of typing messages by the interlocutor, much like in a messenger, and see the “delivered” and “read” statuses after sending.
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is a protocol for exchanging messages via Wi-Fi and a mobile network.
Flashlight Settings
A small thing, but nice! After the update, the flashlight on the smartphone has changed. It supports various control modes for the necessary tasks. Brightness, focus, intensity, beam thickness – all this can be adjusted with one touch.
Game Mode
With the arrival of iOS 18, all smartphones now have a built-in game mode: during gaming, the iPhone limits background activity, improving the smoothness of graphics. Immediately after starting the game, a notification about the mode pops up at the top of the screen. If desired, you can disable the option by pressing.
Updated Control Center
We should have started with the quick access menu, but we left the most interesting for the end. It’s an understatement to say that the control center, which is called by swiping the curtain from top to bottom, has been transformed. It began to unfold into an extensive menu with new groups of quick access elements. The widget gallery can easily be changed by adding new icons.
Smart Calculator
Perhaps the most important update for schoolchildren, students and for all those who work with numbers. In iOS 18, the development team also pumped up the calculator. Among the improvements is the neural network mode of “Mathematical notes”, which allows you to do calculations by hand and get the same stylized handwritten answers. With its help, you can solve problems and equations, count in a column, make drawings, and build complex graphs. Other nice bonuses include a built-in converter of currencies and other units.
Adding Audio to Notes
A feature that we, as journalists, couldn’t pass by is the built-in voice recorder in “Notes.” Previously, you could enter text there, as well as create lists, tables, and documents. Today, when you go to the so-called Notes, you can directly add audio to your notes. To do this, click on the paperclip icon at the bottom of the sheet, then select the “Record audio” option and dictate your thoughts to the application. The track will be saved along with the note, and if necessary, the iPhone will even convert the audio to text.
Control Siri Without Words
If you wear the second-generation AirPods Pro, after updating your smartphone, you will be able to interact with the smart assistant Siri without words. Literally… For example, if in some situation you cannot speak, let’s say a child is sleeping nearby or a family member in the room is talking on the phone, you can give Siri commands simply by nodding or shaking your head.