We may earn compensation from reviewed products. Learn about our editorial policies.
There’s a lot of talk going around at the moment about how iOS 18 will be the most transformative update to Apple’s operating system ever. Now, that sounds very exciting but what does it actually mean?
iOS 17 was a very good, but not especially groundbreaking, update. But it lacked one main thing, the elephant in the Apple room; Artificial Intelligence. You would think, therefore, in order to be the biggest Apple software update ever, AI would have to feature heavily in iOS 18.
We only have rumours and educated guesses to go on so far but, whether you like it or not, AI is coming to the iPhone. We’ve compiled all the latest available information about iOS 18 below to keep you up to date!
iOS 18 Release Date
While there isn’t a specific date yet, we are almost certain that iOS 18 to be released in September 2024. This is based on previous iOS launches which have all happened in mid-September since iOS 6.
The release of a new Apple OS usually coincides with the new iPhone. So we should see iOS 18 drop alongside the iPhone 16.
And we should learn some more solid information about iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 on 10th June. Following that, Apple usually releases early versions of iOS for developers and in public betas, so you will have the chance to get your hands on it early.
iOs 18 AI Features
Ever since the Samsung S24 Ultra became the first major flagship phone to seriously incorporate AI into an operating system, the speculation about Apple’s next move has been rife. They have famously ignored any external noise about AI and refused to talk about it publicly.
But that has changed recently.
Rumours have become firmer that Apple has been working on its own large language model (LLM) called Ajax. From what we know, this will be the base from which Apple will build its own generative AI systems like ChatGPT.
Things like Ajax will have an impact on Siri but also on a host of other potential features. For example, Samsung’s Galaxy AI has a notes summary feature which, well, summarises your notes or a page of writing. That isn’t possible without some form of generative AI capability.
Interestingly though, rumours suggest a mixed picture for AI features on iOS 18. There are whispers of some more fun features like suggested playlists on Apple Music and assistance on apps like Pages and Keynote.
However, although Apple has invested in its own LLM, iOS 18 won’t have a Cupertino-made generative AI chatbot included. There is also no indication of generative image features like the S24’s capability to stitch in augmented backgrounds behind edited photos.
Instead, Apple is looking to outsource many of its AI needs. They have contacted both Google and OpenAI to explore using their services in iOS 18 which suggests that it might not be the definitive AI moment for Apple.
Further evidence to this point also comes with the expectation that the most complex AI features will only come on iPhone 16 models. This will be dictated by how Apple chooses to run its AI; on the cloud or on device.
If it’s the latter, then any features will only be available on devices that Apple physically manufactures it on. But features held on the cloud could be downloaded on other, older Apple devices. It just depends on whether those older devices have the power to run AI stuff which tends to be very demanding.
The most likely outcome? Well, Apple has been building it’s own AI servers for a few years now, but they aren’t yet large enough to accommodate a full rollout to all users. A hybrid approach is therefore most likely, with the more sophisticated features coming on-device and low-demand ones existing on the cloud.
Siri
iOS is an excellent operating system. If you use an iPhone or iPad, you’ll know how smooth everything is and how intuitive the UI is. There are also lots of interesting, Apple-exclusive features. But one area remains below par. And that is Siri.
This problem has been highlighted by other companies like Google whose Google Assistant is so much better. Siri has been pretty bad for a while now. At best it is vaguely useful, at worst it is frustratingly obstructive. For most users, it sits unused.
So an AI refresh for Apple has great potential here. First priority will be to improve how Siri communicates with users, especially the accuracy and relevance of its answers. Apple is also reportedly working on integrating Siri with Messages so that it can improve things like predictive messaging and automatic replies.
More excitingly though, Apple is also looking into linking Siri with Shortcuts more extensively. This would mean Siri would be able to perform complex tasks like opening the camera and taking a certain amount of photos, or opening Notes to write down a passing thought.
As ever, these developments sound interesting but it is yet to be seen if people actually want to use them. And if they save people significant amounts of time. At least Apple is trying.
Apple Maps
Apple users might be about to get the topographic maps feature first seen in watchOS 10. This would mean users could choose whether to see geographic features and contours, instead of just plain maps.
Additionally, Apple Maps is likely to get support for custom routes, meaning users can design their own journeys instead of being forced to choose from Apple’s recommendations.
In all honesty, there are no pats on the back for Apple with this. Google Maps is superior. I’m sorry, they just are and have been for decades. It’s more intuitive and packed full of very genuinely useful features (you have been able to make custom routes and see topography for years on Google). Get with it Apple!
RCS Messaging For Android
RCS messaging stands for Rich Communication Services. It is the successor to SMS messaging and is used by default on many Android devices, specifically on Google’s smartphones.
Apple has been far too stubborn on this issue, refusing to enable RCS messaging for the last few years meaning communication between iPhone and Android users has been made unnecessarily difficult. Maybe it has something to do with that anti-competition lawsuit…
Either way though, it’s good news that Apple will be incorporating RCS into the iOS 18 update. That means, when messaging an Android user, things like picture formats, GIFs and stickers won’t result in error messages. And you’ll be able to see read receipts.
It’s a feature that should have existed long before now. And it can’t come soon enough.
iOS 18 Compatability
We’re expecting iOS 18 to be able to run on any device that can already run iOS 17. That includes all iPhone 11 models and later, the iPhone XS and XS Max, iPhone XR and iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation).
It is a less rosy picture for iPad users. iPad OS 18 will likely drop support for first-generation 10.5-inch iPad Pro, second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, sixth-generation and seventh-generation iPad.
That means you’ll be able to use iPad OS 18 on any iPad Pro released in 2018 or later, iPad Air or iPad mini released in 2019 or later and standard iPad released in 2020 or later.
Conclusion
Will iOS 18 be the biggest update from Apple ever? On balance, it looks like it will, but not by as much as people are expecting.
New AI features will certainly make iOS feel shiny and different compared to older versions. They also herald a new direction for Apple, one they have been forced down due to the developments by competitors.
I think there is much more to come in later iOS updates though. This will be the first we’ll see of Apple AI, but it’s just the launch pad.
Are you excited for iOS 18? Let me know below!
