The update includes new home screen customization options, improved dark mode, new apps, gaming mode, privacy features, better developer options that will make the user experience more enjoyable for end smartphone owners, and much more.

What’s up

• Home screen settings. New app icons option, where you can place shortcuts to your apps wherever it’s convenient for you, without being tied to an invisible grid. You can now automatically change icons to suit dark mode. A color theme setting also appears so that the colors of icons and other elements match the color of your wallpaper. The function is almost identical to color settings on Android.

Home screen settings / Screenshot from Apple’s presentation

Home screen settings / Screenshot from Apple’s presentation

Home screen settings / Screenshot from Apple’s presentation

• Updated Control Center with multiple pages. There’s a new “Control Gallery” that allows third-party developers to create their own widgets for the Control Center (the menu bar that appears at the top). Yes, the conditional delivery service can create its own widget to display details about the order or taxi will display the arrival time of the car. And all this is not on the desktop, but in the control panel. The user will be able to change the size and shape of the blocks.
• You can do it too change controls on lock screenReplacing the flashlight and camera icons with something else.
• iOS 18 supports blocking access to individual apps using Face ID.
• Messages app now supports sending scheduled messages. This means you can set a specific time when your message will be sent. Telegram already has a similar function.
• In addition, in the “Messages” program there is an option to format the text – bold, italic, underline and strikethrough text. Added to these options are eight special effects that can be applied to each message individually: shake, bloom, vibrate, explode, and more. The Tapbacks feature now supports sending any emoji or sticker in response to a message, not just a few.
• Satellite Messaging allows iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users to send SMS via satellite as well as iMessages without a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
• Mail program: automatic classification of letters, carried out entirely on the device.
• Apple Maps adds detailed topographic maps, including offline support.
• Tap to Cash is coming to Apple Wallet, making it easier to send money to friends using Apple Pay. You can send money instantly by holding your phone close to the other person’s device and selecting the appropriate feature.

How Cash Tap works: video

• The Journal app now supports recording your mood and goals, a new Analytics view, and search support.
• A gaming mode appears on iPhone that minimizes background activity to ensure the highest frame rate. It also reduces latency when using a Bluetooth game controller and latency when using AirPods for audio.
• As for the “Photos” app, Apple says: biggest redesign ever. Designed to make it easier to work with growing photo library sizes. A new option has emerged to easily hide screenshots. The new Collections feature helps you keep up with the latest photos and offers. You can also group people. New Carousel interface for your photos.

Updated “Photos” app / Screenshot from Apple’s presentation

Updated “Photos” app / Screenshot from Apple’s presentation

Updated “Photos” app / Screenshot from Apple’s presentation

• iOS 18 will add RCS, which means the ability to receive messages from other messaging apps.
• New Passwords app for password management.
• Redesigned Settings screen.

The most important thing in iOS 18 / Apple’s Photo