iOS 18: Release date, Latest Features, and Much More. iOS 18 will be Apple’s annual iPhone software update for 2024, and it will be packed with new features. The update has been dubbed “ambitious and compelling,” with substantial new functionality and design changes on the way. Continue reading for a rundown of what we know so far regarding iOS 18’s new features.
iOS 18: Release date, Latest Features, and Much More
Bloomberg reported in November that Apple had put a one-week halt on the development of new features for iOS 18 to resolve issues. This was done upon the completion of iOS 18’s “first milestone” build. Normally, Apple would immediately begin work on the second milestone, but this year, the one-week hiatus was used to iron out early faults and difficulties.
However, this delay is unlikely to have a significant impact on iOS 18’s new features or release schedule. Instead, it was merely Apple taking an early stop to ensure that iOS 18 is built on the most robust basis possible.
When will iOS 18 be available?
iOS 18 is expected to be unveiled at WWDC 2024, which will take place in the first or second week of June. It will then be made available for beta testing to developers. A public beta will most likely be issued in July 2024, followed by a broad public release in September.
Major Latest AI features
Apple was reportedly caught “flat-footed” by the rapid rise of AI technologies such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Microsoft Copilot. As a result, the corporation is said to be working on a slew of new artificial intelligence features for iOS.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman provided an in-depth review of some of Apple’s AI aspirations for iOS 18 in October. According to the story, “There’s an Edict” Apple and Craig Federighi’s software team populated iOS 18 “with features running on the company’s large language model.”
Here’s a quick recap:
- A redesigned Siri that is more sophisticated and capable of utilising a new AI system that integrates massive language model technologies.
- Messages app AI integration that can “field questions and auto-complete sentences”
- Apple Music’s new AI tools for creating “auto-generated playlists”
- Including generative AI in iWork products such as Keynote and Pages
- Adding generative AI capabilities to Xcode to allow developers to “write new applications more quickly”
Not all of them will be linked to iOS 18 or ready to deploy as part of iOS 18. Apple’s clear goal, however, is to pack as many AI functions as possible into it.
Also Read: iPhone 16: Release Date, Price, Specs & Features
RCS assistance
In October, Apple made an unexpected announcement: RCS capability would be added to iPhones sometime in 2024. RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is the SMS and MMS replacement. It will add a variety of iMessage-like features to text messages sent between iPhone and Android users.
RCS will provide read receipts, typing indicators, and the ability to transfer high-quality photos and videos during discussions between iPhone and Android devices. It will also allow users to disclose their location to other people via text chats. Unlike traditional SMS, RCS can be sent via mobile data or Wi-Fi.
According to Apple, RCS will be available on iPhone “later next year” via a software update. This appears to imply that the feature will be implemented in iOS 18.
Also Read: How to Fix the iOS 17 Bug of Switching Apps While Typing
