Apple executives all the time describe new {hardware} and software program because the “finest” or “greatest” ever, however the supply doesn’t normally stay as much as the hype (see the iPads from earlier this 12 months). Nonetheless, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 is perhaps deserving of some of these adjectives. The brand new working methods, now obtainable, have the standard diploma of year-over-year quality-of-life enhancements, however Apple Intelligence steals the limelight.
That is Apple’s implementation of artificial-intelligence-powered duties which have been sweeping by way of the tech trade over the previous 12 months. Even Siri is getting an overdue improve—the most important because the voice assistant’s debut 13 years in the past. Listed here are all the brand new options in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, obtain each working methods, and what precisely you’ll expertise with Apple Intelligence.
Up to date December 2024: We have added new information on the rollout of iOS 18.2.
Desk of Contents
Is Your iPhone or iPad Appropriate?
Excellent news! Each iPhone that was able to putting in iOS 17 can run iOS 18. Apple didn’t drop any iPhones from the record of supported gadgets this 12 months. If in case you have the iPhone XR and iPhone XS from 2018 or newer (together with the second- and third-gen iPhone SE), you possibly can obtain and run iOS 18. In the event you’re uncertain what mannequin iPhone you could have, head to the Settings app, faucet on Normal > About and take a look at the Mannequin Title. This doesn’t suggest each characteristic is offered, as some require extra trendy processors. (Apple Intelligence, for instance, is unique to the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 16 fashions; extra on this under.)
It’s a little bit extra difficult for iPads, because the naming scheme will depend on the {hardware} technology somewhat than particular gadget names. Listed here are the generations that help iPadOS 18 (in contrast to iPhones, some iPads are now not supported). You possibly can work out which mannequin you could have by following the instructions right here.
- iPad: seventh gen and later
- iPad Mini: fifth gen and later
- iPad Air: third gen and later (together with M2)
- iPad Professional 11-inch: 1st gen and later
- iPad Professional 12.9-inch: third gen and later (together with M4)
Try our Greatest iPhones and Greatest iPads guides to study extra about present fashions.
Earlier than putting in the brand new working system, I extremely advocate you again up your gadgets. You are able to do this through iCloud—go to Settings, faucet in your identify on the prime, and choose iCloud. Then, faucet on iCloud Backup, toggle it on, and faucet Again Up Now to begin a brand new backup. On the earlier iCloud web page, you even have the choice to toggle off sure apps that you do not wish to embody within the backup. Haven’t got sufficient iCloud storage, or wish to use one other methodology? Try our The right way to Again Up Your iPhone or iPad information for various choices.
As soon as you’ve got backed up, you are prepared to put in iOS 18. Since this can be a hefty replace, you need to plug your gadgets right into a charger and guarantee they’re linked to Wi-Fi earlier than the replace begins. Now go to Settings > Normal > Software program Replace. You will see the choice to obtain the replace. Faucet Obtain and Set up and, when the obtain is finished, faucet Set up Now to begin the replace. You’ll know the replace is full when your gadget restarts.
New iOS/iPadOS 18 Model Updates
All the highest options in iOS and iPadOS 18 are highlighted under, however it’s necessary to notice that Apple will proceed to launch further updates all through the following 12 months. These embody new options unavailable at launch, bug fixes, and safety patches. To replace your iPhone to the most recent model, go to Settings > Normal > Software program Replace and comply with the directions above.
iOS/iPadOS 18.2: With the most recent replace, you will now have entry to Genmoji, Picture Playground, Picture Wand, ChatGPT in Siri, Visible Intelligence, AirTag shared location monitoring in Discover My, new Mail app options, and new settings for Digital camera Management. Additionally, Writing Instruments will get a raise from ChatGPT too, with the flexibility to compose messages. There isn’t any want to affix a waitlist anymore to benefit from Apple Intelligence.
iOS/iPadOS 18.1: Apple has formally launched Apple Intelligence. When you obtain the most recent model, head to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Be a part of the Waitlist to enroll. The ready record may take just a few hours; Apple says it is to make sure there’s ample server capability. You will get a notification while you’ve been accepted.
If in case you have an Apple Intelligence–appropriate iPhone or iPad, the next good options are out now: Writing Instruments, Reminiscence Films and Clear Up in Apple Pictures, Precedence Messages in Mail, Sensible Reply in Messages, Summaries for Transcriptions and Name recordings in Notes, Notification Summaries, and the brand new Cut back Interruptions Focus. Moreover, the brand new Siri is offered, permitting you to kind requests. It helps conversational context and extra resilient request dealing with; you may make a mistake mid-sentence and proper your self, and Siri will perceive what you imply. The replace additionally consists of new Digital camera Management options and spatial picture seize (for the iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Professional line).
What Is Apple Intelligence?
Each main tech firm has been integrating synthetic intelligence into its {hardware} and software program, from Google to Samsung to Microsoft, and now it is Apple’s flip. Apple Intelligence is the time period you will see the corporate throw round over the following few years, and it powers lots of the new AI options in its gadgets.
It is powered by Apple’s massive language fashions (partly skilled by way of knowledge from the general public internet, in line with Axios’ Ina Fried) and requires Apple silicon, the corporate’s bespoke chips which have a hybrid structure designed to run AI duties. Despite the fact that the gadgets Apple Intelligence runs on are able to the on-device processing wanted to finish AI duties, typically the duty is just too huge and must be despatched off to the cloud. When a job requires extra processing, it’s going to be despatched to a safe knowledge middle stacked with computer systems that additionally run Apple silicon. Whereas this methodology of computing is often much less non-public, Apple claims that its Personal Cloud Compute platform focuses on making certain knowledge privateness for every person. Solely knowledge related to your question is distributed to those servers, and the information is just used in your requests and by no means saved.
Apple Intelligence Appropriate Units
Earlier than you get too excited, Apple Intelligence won’t be obtainable for each gadget that helps iOS 18. It is solely supported on choose processors (and languages).
What precisely is Apple Intelligence? Apple breaks down its key capabilities into three buckets: Language, Photographs, and Motion.
Apple Intelligence: Language
All through Apple’s {hardware} and software program, you will discover new writing instruments that draw on the ability of generative AI to help your writing. This consists of Rewrite, which may help change the tone of your textual content to sound extra pleasant or extra skilled (like in an e mail), and Proofread, which kind of does what the identify suggests. You can too summarize chosen textual content with a faucet.
These text-based enhancements go previous writing. It additionally powers Precedence notifications, which seem on the prime of your notification record and summarize it so that you get a extra digestible abstract at a look. Equally, the Mail app will see Precedence messages, which implies necessary emails will float to the highest of your inbox. You can too get summaries of lengthy emails, and a Sensible Reply perform allows you to shortly reply to emails (even solutions to a number of questions posed in an e mail), not in contrast to what’s obtainable in Gmail.
Within the Notes, Voice Memos, and Telephone app, you possibly can hit the report button (sure, even on a name) to get an audio recording with a transcript, and Apple Intelligence can create a abstract of that transcript. Apple says that in states that require two-party consent for recordings, the individual on the opposite finish of the road might be made conscious that the decision is being recorded.
Lastly, there is a new Focus mode known as Cut back Interruptions that may perceive your private context, so whereas it hides incoming stuff that would distract you, it is aware of sufficient about what you’ve got obtained occurring to permit a textual content out of your babysitter to return by way of.
Apple Intelligence: Photographs
The Apple Intelligence picture options largely revolve round producing new photographs by way of synthetic intelligence. A lot of this occurs in Picture Playground, an expertise baked into different apps (although it additionally exists as a stand-alone app). You possibly can generate photographs based mostly on an outline, advised ideas, and even from folks in your Pictures library. You might have management over the fashion, and it may be tweaked to match no matter’s taking place within the app you are utilizing it in.
Genmoji simply is perhaps essentially the most anticipated characteristic out of every thing Apple has introduced. It allows you to generate emojis instantly from the keyboard with textual content prompts. You can too pull an individual’s picture out of your Pictures library to make an emoji based mostly on their appears. You will have to supply an outline first, however then you possibly can regulate the outline till it fits what you’re going for.
Picture Wand is one other picture technology system that works particularly within the Notes app. Along with your finger or Apple Pencil, you possibly can circle a sketch to have Apple Intelligence create one thing that appears extra refined, however you too can circle empty house, and it’ll generate a picture based mostly on the encompassing textual content. It is a simple approach so as to add extra visible selection to your notes.
The Pictures app is getting just a few AI options. You can also make a Reminiscence Film by getting into an outline like “All of the desserts I ate through the summer time final 12 months, set to a pop track,” and Apple’s AI will discover the fitting photographs and video, put it to a track, and craft a shareable film out of it. It will even be simpler to seek for particular photographs—simply describe what you need and it will discover it, even moments in video clips (much like Google’s lately introduced Ask Pictures characteristic). Lastly, you possibly can erase undesirable objects within the background of your photographs with the brand new Clear Up software within the picture editor—precisely like Magic Eraser on Pixel telephones and Samsung’s Object Eraser.
Apple Intelligence: Motion
The ultimate a part of Apple Intelligence is arguably one which is perhaps used essentially the most usually, and it includes Siri. The assistant has a brand new look—when activated, the perimeters of the display will glow—and now you can kind your requests to Siri as a substitute of utilizing your voice (one thing you’ve got been in a position to do with Google Assistant for a number of years).
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
