Apple executives always Describing new hardware and software as the “best” or “biggest” ever, but delivery usually doesn’t live up to the hype (see iPads earlier this year). However, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 may deserve some of these qualities. Newer operating systems, available now, have the usual degree of quality-of-life improvements year over year, however Apple intelligence Steals the spotlight.
This is Apple’s implementation of AI-driven tasks Sweeping the technology industry During the past year. Even Siri got a long-overdue upgrade, the biggest since the voice assistant debuted 13 years ago. Here’s all the new features in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, how to download both operating systems, and exactly what you’ll experience with Apple Intelligence.
Updated December 2024: We added new information about the iOS 18.2 rollout.
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Is your iPhone or iPad compatible?
Good news! Every iPhone was able to install iOS 17 It can run iOS 18. Apple has not dropped any iPhones from the list of supported devices this year. If you have an iPhone XR and iPhone XS from 2018 or later (incl second- and Third generation iPhone SE), you can download and run iOS 18. If you’re not sure which iPhone model you have, head to the Settings app and tap general > on And look at Model name. This does not mean that all features are available, as some require more modern processors. (Apple Intelligence, for example, is… Exclusively for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Models; More on this below.)
It’s a bit more complicated for iPads, since the naming system is based on the generation of the devices rather than the specific device names. Here are the generations that support iPadOS 18 (unlike iPhones, some iPads are no longer supported). You can find out which model you have by it Follow the directions here.
- iPad: The seventh generation and beyond
- iPad mini: Fifth generation and beyond
- iPad Air: 3rd generation and later (including M2)
- iPad Pro 11 inch: The first generation and beyond
- iPad Pro 12.9 inch: 3rd generation and later (including M4)
Check out our The best iPhones and The best iPads Guides to learn more about current models.
Before installing the new operating system, Extremely We recommend that you make a backup copy of your devices. You can do this via iCloud — go to SettingsClick on your name at the top, then choose iCloud. Then press iCloud backupturn it on, and then click Backup now To start a new backup. On the previous iCloud page, you also have the option to toggle some of the apps you don’t want to include in the backup. Don’t have enough iCloud storage space, or want to use another method? Check out our How to back up your iPhone or iPad A guide to alternative options.
Once you’ve made a backup, you’re ready to install iOS 18. Since this is a huge update, you should connect your devices to a charger and make sure they are connected to a Wi-Fi network before starting the update. Now go to Settings > General > Software Update. You will see the option to download the update. handle Download and install When the download is complete, press Install now To start the update. You will know that the update is complete when your device restarts.
New iOS/iPadOS 18 version updates
All the key features in iOS and iPadOS 18 are highlighted below, but it’s important to note that Apple will continue to release additional updates throughout the next year. This includes new features not available at launch, bug fixes, and security patches. To update your iPhone to the latest version, go to Settings > general > Software update And follow the instructions above.
iOS/iPad OS 18.2: With the latest update, you’ll now have access to Genmoji, Image Playground, Image Wand, ChatGPT in Siri, Visual Intelligence, AirTag for shared location tracking in Find My, new Mail app features, and new settings for camera control. Also, writing tools got a boost from ChatGPT as well, with the ability to compose messages. There is no need to join the waiting list anymore to take advantage of Apple’s intelligence.
iOS/iPad OS 18.1: Apple has officially launched Apple Intelligence. Once you download the latest version, head to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Join Queue To register. The waiting list may take a few hours; Apple says this is to ensure there is enough server capacity. You will receive a notification when you are accepted.
If you have an iPhone or iPad compatible with Apple Intelligence, the following smart features are now rolling out: Writing Tools, Memory Movies, Cleanup in Apple Photos, Priority messages in Mail, Smart Reply in Messages, Transcript summaries, Call recordings in Notes and Notification summaries, and a new focus on reducing interruptions . Plus, new Siri is available, allowing you to type requests. It supports conversation context and more flexible processing of requests; You can make a mistake mid-sentence and correct yourself, and Siri will understand what you mean. The update also includes new camera control and spatial capture features (for the iPhone 16 lineup and iPhone 15 Pro line).
What is Apple’s intelligence?
Every major tech company has integrated AI into their hardware and software, starting with Google to Samsung to MicrosoftNow it’s Apple’s turn. Apple intelligence It is a term that the company will introduce over the next few years, and it powers many of the new AI features in its devices.
It’s powered by Apple’s large language models (partially trained by… Data from the public Internet, according to Axios’ Ina Fried) and requires Apple silicon, the company’s custom-designed chips with a hybrid architecture designed to power AI tasks. Although the hardware that Apple Intelligence runs on is capable of performing the on-device processing needed to complete AI tasks, sometimes the task is too large and must be sent to the cloud. When a task requires further processing, it will be sent to a secure data center equipped with computers also running Apple silicon. Although this method of computing is usually less private, Apple claims it is private Private cloud computing platform It focuses on ensuring data privacy for every user. Only data relevant to your query is sent to these servers, and the data is only used for your requests and is never stored.
Apple intelligence compatible devices
Before you get too excited, Apple Intelligence won’t be available to you Every device supports iOS 18. It is only supported in specific processors (and languages).
What exactly is Apple intelligence? Apple divides its core capabilities into three groups: Language, Images, and Action.
Apple Intelligence: Language
Across all Apple devices and software, you’ll find new writing tools that rely on the power of generative AI to help you with your writing. These include rewriting, which can help change the tone of your text to sound friendlier or more professional (as in email), and proofreading, which more or less does what the name suggests. You can also summarize selected text with one click.
These text-based improvements go beyond typing. It also supports prioritized notifications, which appear at the top of your notification list and summarize them so you get a more easy-to-understand summary at a glance. Likewise, the Mail app will see priority messages, meaning important emails will float to the top of your inbox. You can also get summaries of long emails, and the Smart Reply function allows you to quickly respond to emails (even answers to multiple questions asked in an email), unlike Available in Gmail.
In Notes, Voice Memos, and Phone, you can tap the record button (yes, even during a call) to get an audio recording with text, and Apple Intelligence can create a summary of that text. Apple says that in states that require consent from both parties for recordings, the person on the other end of the line will be notified that the call is being recorded.
Finally, there it is New focus The mode is called “Minimize Interruptions” that can understand your personal context, so while it hides incoming things that might distract you, it knows enough about what’s going on with you to allow a text message from the babysitter to come through.
Apple Intelligence: Pictures
Apple Intelligence’s photo features revolve largely around creating new images through artificial intelligence. Much of this happens in Image Playground, an experience built into other apps (although it also exists as a standalone app). You can create images based on descriptions, suggested concepts, and even from people in your photo library. You control the style, and it can be modified to suit what’s happening in the application you’re using it in.
Genmoji might be the most anticipated feature out of everything Apple has announced. It allows you to create emojis directly from the keyboard using text prompts. You can also drag a person’s photo from your photo library to create an emoji based on their appearance. You’ll have to provide a description first, but you can then edit the description until it suits what you’re after.
Image Wand is another image creation system that works specifically in the Notes app. Using your finger or Apple Pencil, you can circle a diagram to make Apple Intelligence create something that looks more precise, but you can also circle the empty space, and it will create an image based on the surrounding text. It’s an easy way to add more visual variety to your notes.
The Photos app is getting some AI features. You can create a memory movie by entering a description like “All the sweets you ate over the summer last year, set to a pop song,” and Apple’s AI will find the appropriate photos and video, put them into a song, and create a memory video. A shareable movie to come out of. It will also be easier to search for specific photos — just describe what you want and it will find it, even moments in videos (similar to what Google recently announced Ask pictures feature). Finally, you can erase unwanted objects in the background of your photos with the new cleaning tool in the photo editor – just like… Magic eraser on Pixel phones and Samsung object eraser.
Apple Intelligence: Action
The final part of Apple Intelligence is arguably the one we use most often, and it involves Siri. The Assistant has a new look — when activated, the edges of the screen will glow — and you can now type your requests into Siri instead of using your voice (something you’ve been able to do with Google Assistant for several years).
Photo: Julian Chocato
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