Apple releases iOS 18: Now available for iPhones

Apple has made iOS 18 available for download. Anyone who wants to can now update their iPhone to the latest version of the operating system. With iOS 18, Apple is creating new ways to personalize the iPhone, with more customization options for the home screen and control center. The update to the Photos app should make it easier to find special moments, and the Messages and Mail apps have also been further improved.

iOS 18 also includes support for Apple Intelligence. However, we will have to wait for this feature in the EU. Apple Intelligence may not even arrive until after 2025.

Advanced home screen customization options

iOS 18 introduces new ways for users to customize the home screen. App icons and widgets can be arranged around the wallpaper. Users can also choose how app icons and widgets are displayed – light, dark, or colored – and make app icons larger.

Revised Control Center

The Control Center has also been redesigned: Convenient groups of controls—including Favorites, Media Playback, Home Controls, and Connectivity, and the new Controls Gallery with options from third-party apps—can be organized for easy swipe access.

Improved Photos app

The update to the Photos app makes everything easier. The simplified layout shows the library in a single new but still familiar view. New collections like Recents, People & Pets or Travel automatically organize the library with on-device intelligence (at least outside the EU), so users spend less time searching. Users can personalize the layout and customize it with what matters most to them. They can pin frequently used collections for easy access.

iOS 18: New features in the Messages app

The Messages app is also getting an update. With formatting like bold, italic, underline, or strikethrough, users can better convey their tone. New text effects bring words, phrases, and sentences to life. Emoji and sticker Tapbacks offer ways to react in conversations. And users can now compose messages and send them at a later time.

Phone App: New organizational features

The Phone app helps keep you organized and can record and transcribe calls. Callers are notified before recording starts. And transcripts are saved in the Notes app so users can quickly and easily search for conversation content. The feature is known as Live Voicemail.

Safari and the password app have also received an update. iOS 18 also brings new options to further improve data protection.

The update to iOS 18 can now be initiated under “Settings”, “General”, “Software Update”. This requires at least 3.89 GB of storage space. If you want, you can wait with the update to iOS 18 and instead install iOS 17.7, which does not have any new features but does have various security features.