Yearly, Apple proclaims the brand new model of iOS on the Worldwide Builders Convention in June. It then enters a beta testing telephones (first for builders solely, then for the general public) earlier than being launched in September, across the time the brand new iPhones go on sale.
We don’t anticipate the method or timeline to alter this 12 months, however that’s about the one factor we are able to rely on being the identical as years previous. With regards to iOS 18 itself—it’s options and modifications—the rumors and leaks level to what could be probably the most consequential iPhone software program updates in years.
What follows is a abstract of rumors and leaks, however keep in mind that the ultimate product might not fairly resemble what you learn right here. Details about upcoming Apple merchandise is commonly unreliable, and even when it’s correct, plans change. That stated, that is what we expect we all know up to now.
Up to date 03/11/24: MacRumors reviews of a number of new accessibility options coming to iOS 18 this fall, together with Adaptive Voice Shortcuts, classes for Reside Speech, and customized font measurement assist for extra purposes (in macOS).
iOS 18 launch date: When will iOS 18 arrive?
For the final 10 years or so, the brand new model of iOS has been launched in September, usually within the second or third week. We haven’t heard something to counsel this 12 months might be any completely different, so listed below are the final 5 years of launch dates for reference:
- iOS 17: September 18, 2023
- iOS 16: September 12, 2022
- iOS 15: September 20, 2021
- iOS 14: September 16, 2020
- iOS 13: September 19, 2019
Previous to its common launch, Apple will make a developer beta accessible instantly after the WWDC keynote in June adopted by a public beta in early July. It can undergo a number of betas—with some options being added, modified, and dropped—earlier than the primary launch in September.
iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones will get iOS 18?
We haven’t heard any particular rumors about which gadgets might be suitable with iOS 18, however the prevailing assumption is that every one the telephones that acquired iOS 17 will get iOS 18. Which means every part from the iPhone XR and XS or 2nd-generation iPhone SE up by way of the iPhone 15, and naturally, the iPhone 16 that might be launched this fall. Here’s a checklist of all of the iPhones that assist iOS 17:
- iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Professional, iPhone 15 Professional Max
- iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Professional, iPhone 14 Professional Max
- iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Professional, iPhone 13 Professional Max
- iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Professional, iPhone 12 Professional Max
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Professional, iPhone 11 Professional Max
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE(2nd gen or later)
It’s possible that a few of the coolest new options won’t be supported on the older telephones, as a result of they lack the {hardware} essential (a powerful-enough Neural Engine or GPU to run AI stuff, or sufficient RAM). That is typical of latest iOS releases.
iOS 18 options: The largest iOS replace…ever?
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported extensively on iOS 18 growth, and claimed in his Energy On e-newsletter that, “the brand new working system is seen inside the firm as one of many greatest iOS updates — if not the most important — within the firm’s historical past.”
There might be main new AI options, we anticipate a lot of formidable updates and modifications past simply stuffing AI into every part.
An all-new Siri
Probably the most seen theme of iOS 18 is alleged to be AI. Particularly, generative AI, which Apple has been gradual to carry to market whereas merchandise like ChatGPT, Bard, CoPilot, Dall-E, Steady Diffusion, and others have taken the tech world by storm.
There was an enormous push inside Apple to construct a generative AI expertise stack, and we’ve seen Apple publish papers on a lot of subjects like a brand new massive language mannequin referred to as Ajax, object reference referred to as Ferret, new speech recognition fashions, and far more.
Siri is alleged to be getting a giant “Generative AI” overhaul, utilizing new massive language fashions and different superior AI to take it to the following degree.
AI in all places
Siri’s not the one place Apple is alleged to be incorporating new superior AI. We don’t have all the small print but, however Apple is alleged to have an edit to carry superior AI options to as a lot of its merchandise as it could possibly. Apple Music playlist technology is one oft-cited space, and so is code technology in Xcode, AI options in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, and extra.
Apple is predicted to comply with a hybrid strategy, performing many AI duties on-device for higher privateness, safety, and responsiveness, but in addition using cloud-based AI for greater duties that may’t run on an iPhone. And there’s a cause to imagine that Apple might dive into the generative AI pool as properly
RCS assist
Late in 2023, Apple introduced what appeared to be the unthinkable: RCS assist is coming to iPhone. Sure, Messages will nonetheless be a lock-in for default texting and no, iMessage isn’t going wherever. However the “inexperienced bubbles” might be RCS not SMS, when texting with different RCS-supporting gadgets.
The catch? It’s not coming till “later in 2024” which nearly definitely means iOS 18, if not iOS 18.1 or 18.2. When it arrives, you’ll lastly get issues like learn reciepts, full-size photos and video, typing indicators, and extra while you ship messages to folks with Android telephones.
New accessibility options
In accordance with MacRumors, Apple is planning no less than three new accessibility options for iOS 18.
Adaptive Voice Shortcuts will let customers activate or off particular accessibility options utilizing a customized phrase.
Reside Speech, which lets customers sort what they need to say and have it learn out loud on cellphone calls or video conferences, will get the flexibility so as to add saved phrases to classes.
The report lists 5 macOS apps that can get assist for customized font sizes, although the font measurement characteristic works in another way in iOS and this can be restricted to macOS.
Imaginative and prescient Professional affect
Apple’s visionOS interface introduces various new interface parts, most notably round dwelling display icons. A rumor from the Israeli information web site The Verifier claims “Apple is engaged on bringing parts from the visionOS working system of the Imaginative and prescient Professional glasses into the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 updates.” That might imply big modifications are coming to iOS—in any case, it’s been greater than a decade since tha final main redesign shook issues up in iOS 17.