iOS 18 makes iPhone more personal, capable, and intelligent than ever

(CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA - Apple today previewed iOS 18, a significant update that introduces extensive customization options, the most substantial redesign of the Photos app, innovative methods for managing email in Mail, satellite messaging, and much more. Users will be able to arrange apps and widgets in any open space on the Home Screen, customize the buttons at the bottom of the Lock Screen, and access more controls quickly in Control Center. Photo libraries will be automatically organized in a new single view in Photos, with new collections making favorites easily accessible. Mail simplifies inbox management by sorting emails into categories using on-device intelligence, and iMessage introduces all-new text effects. Utilizing the same groundbreaking technology as existing iPhone satellite capabilities, users can now communicate over satellite in the Messages app when cellular or Wi-Fi connections are unavailable.

iOS 18 also introduces Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that combines generative models with personal context to deliver highly useful and relevant intelligence. Built with privacy at its core, Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It leverages Apple silicon to understand and create language and images, perform actions across apps, and utilize personal context to simplify and expedite everyday tasks.

“We are thrilled to introduce iOS 18. It is a huge release with incredible features, including new levels of customization and capability, a redesigned Photos app, and powerful ways to stay connected with Messages. There are so many benefits for everyone,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “This release also marks the beginning of a tremendously exciting new era of personal intelligence with Apple Intelligence delivering intuitive, powerful, and instantly useful experiences that will transform the iPhone experience, all with privacy at the core. We can’t wait for users to experience it.”

New Levels of Customization and Capability

iPhone users now have new ways to customize the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center. They can arrange apps and widgets in any open space on the Home Screen, including placing them above the dock for easy access or perfectly framing a wallpaper. App icons and widgets can adopt a new look with dark or tinted effects, and users can enlarge them to create the perfect experience.

Control Center has been redesigned to offer easier access to frequently used functions, introducing new levels of customization and flexibility. The redesign provides quick access to groups of commonly used controls, such as media playback, Home controls, and connectivity, with the ability to easily swipe between them. Users can now add controls from supported third-party apps into Control Center to quickly unlock a vehicle or capture social media content — all from one place. The new controls gallery displays the full set of available options, and users can customize the layout, adjust sizes, and create entirely new groups.

For the first time, users can switch the controls at the bottom of the Lock Screen, choosing from options in the controls gallery or removing them entirely. With the Action button available on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, users can quickly access controls in the gallery.

Photos Gets a Unified View, New Collections, and Customization

Photos undergoes its biggest-ever redesign to help users easily find and relive special moments. A simplified, single view displays a familiar grid, and new collections help users browse by themes without organizing content into albums. Collections can be pinned to keep favorites easily accessible. A new carousel view presents highlights that update daily and feature favorite people, pets, places, and more. Autoplaying content throughout the app brings libraries to life, allowing users to enjoy past moments while browsing. Because each user’s photo library is unique, the app is customizable, enabling users to organize collections, pin frequently accessed collections, and include important items in the carousel view.

Powerful Ways to Stay Connected in Messages

iMessage introduces all-new text effects that enliven conversations by dynamically animating any letter, word, phrase, or emoji. Users can better express tone by adding formatting like bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough. Tapbacks now include any emoji or sticker, and users can compose and schedule messages to send later.

When messaging contacts without an Apple device, the Messages app now supports RCS for richer media and more reliable group messaging compared to SMS and MMS. iOS 18 introduces satellite messaging for times when cellular and Wi-Fi connections aren’t available. Powered by the same technology as existing iPhone satellite capabilities, Messages via satellite prompts users to connect to the nearest satellite from the Messages app to send and receive texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS. With Dynamic Island, users always know when they are connected to a satellite. Because iMessage was built with privacy in mind, iMessages sent via satellite are end-to-end encrypted.