I ’ve been usingiOS 18on myiPhone 15 Pro Maxsince the first developer version was free in June at Apple ’s Worldwide Developers Conference ( WWDC ) . The upcoming software update for iPhone , arrange to be released this fall , has plenty of exciting feature article . I have a clear favorite characteristic , and I ’m starting to apprize many more .
iOS 18 remains an bare Cartesian product from the perspective of anyone outside of Apple , as we have yet to see its most predict fresh feature debut . At least for now , here ’s what I like .
Dark app icons for the win
Over the years , Apple has gradually introduced new features to the iPhone that adjust the screen door base on the time of day or its general surroundings . For lesson , straight Tone adjusts the display according to ambient lighting atmospheric condition , while Night Shift adds a warmer feeling after grim to make the take in experience easier on the eye .
However , until now , the iPhone covert has exhibit very bright icon irrespective of the time of twenty-four hour period . This changes with iOS 18 , thanks to the Modern Dark mode for icons . Now , as day turn into night , the desktop of the app icons adjusts automatically . As someone who finds himself staring at a CRT screen for at least half of my day , I think it ’s a pregnant change , and it is one Apple should have bring to the table years ago .
Apple is also making it easy tochange the app icon colorsto match your stylus or mood better . I ’m less thrilled about this alteration since the color tints rinse out every app icon ’s uniqueness . However , I am activated to see the unexampled eyedropper tool that allow you to grab a people of colour from the exist desktop for use on the icons . This tool makes the tints more likely to look good , although I probably still wo n’t utilize it .
The party should also receive significant extolment for letting us make apps and gadget appear large with a simple water tap in iOS 18 . This change is more noticeable on an iPad ’s big screen , although it also looks great on iPhone . We can now isolate apps so they can sit off by themselves ( and not lined up in rows ) . It ’s a dainty , minor touch modality .
Another novel characteristic in the iOS 18 beta is dynamic wallpapers . Throughout the sidereal day , the coloration on these backdrop transition from bright hues in the morning to gentle tonus in the evening . The available wallpapers in the genus Beta all await like , the only dispute being their accent colour . So , you might be let down if you do n’t care the overall looking at . Nevertheless , this is a step in the right commission , and I bear to see some exclusive dynamical wallpapers for theiPhone 16this fall that will take this Modern feature to another grade .
Apple should also be commended for enable us to lucubrate apps and widgets with a simple pat . This sweetening look even better on an iPad ’s bigger display but also work well on the iPhone . Additionally , the ability to secernate apps so that they can be place asunder from each other alternatively of line up in rows is a nice feature .
Another newfangled home screen customization feature in iOS 18 is the potentiality tolock and hide apps . It ’s a slick characteristic , but like isolating apps , I doubt most user will use it .
The Passwords app
It take Apple a long time to sum an official calculator app to the iPad , which it will do so iniPadOS 18 . likewise , we ’re about to get a new prescribed Passwords app , which will be an first-class summation to iPadOS 18 , iOS 18 , and macOS 15 Sequoia . It ’s really well - designed on the iPhone .
This dedicated app has all the features you would expect . It allows you to save passwords , master key , Wi - Fi word , and more . It also offers AutoFill and pee it easy to partake in entropy sharing . The Passwords app supply flexible organization , allow you to regard your information alphabetically , by recently create , or by other criteria .
Apple has been head toward developing a word app and fix it easier to keep and employ hallmark tools across dissimilar apps and devices . With the app almost ready for outlet , there are concerns about third - party solutions like 1Password , as they are at jeopardy of being eclipse by Apple ’s oblation . However , this could also motivate the developer of these solution to enhance their product by adding more feature of speech .
disregardless , I ’m glad to see an Apple Passwords app become a reality . It ’s almost for certain my second preferred feature so far in iOS 18 .
The big unknown
As I sat down to write this clause , I immediately knew my two favorite features of iOS 18 . However , I find it difficult to think beyond those , as there are numerous forestall iOS 18 features that Apple has not yet released to developers or the world .
The biggest omission by far isApple Intelligence , which will innovate new AI lineament across various Apple platform , including iPhone , iPad , and Mac . It ’s available nowin the iOS 18.1 developer genus Beta , but it ’s not yet uncommitted for public genus Beta users , and not all of the announce Apple Intelligence features are lively yet . For what it ’s deserving , I support Apple ’s determination to release Apple Intelligence feature tardily to control their success during the developer beta physical process and the world-wide acquittance .
alas , I also believe Apple ’s selling strategy will meet a role in the timing and rollout of Apple Intelligence . Despite underwhelming iPhone sales this year , Apple is anticipating a quick turnaround with the upcoming release of the iPhone 16 seriesin a few weeks . Integrating Apple Intelligence into at least the iPhone 16 Pro models is crucial to the company ’s confidence . In other parole , we might not see all of Apple Intelligence in the wild until those phone are annunciate , most potential in other September . Other written report take the AI featuresmay not be quick until October .
In close , iOS 18 will admit plenty of exciting features . However , it ’s still too other to predict which features will be most bosom , and much will bet on the specific iPhone someone is using .
Should you update now?
It ’s other August , and this stand for that both the developer and public beta edition of Io 18 are getting effective and more static . consider this , I evoke regular user upgrade to at least the public beta adaptation of iOS 18 , especially if they have an iPhone 15 Pro . The few Apple Intelligence features uncommitted now are still determine to the developer genus Beta , but they should make their way to a public genus Beta before too long .
iOS 18 is n’t a rotatory update properly now , but that could also change as Apple Intelligence becomes available to more people and more of its feature article become useable . Until then , iOS 18 is still a very in effect iOS update — just not a particularly vast one .
