5 min readNew DelhiMar 27, 2024 08:16 AM IST
First published on: Mar 26, 2024 at 02:07 PM IST
Apple’s upcoming operating system for iPhones – iOS 18 might bring numerous generative AI features, new customisation options and a much-needed design overhaul. While Apple’s WWDC conference, which primarily focuses on iOS updates is still a few weeks away, here’s a quick look at everything we know so far about iOS 18.
When will Apple release iOS 18?
Apple’s upcoming operating system for iPhones reportedly hit a roadblock in November last year, with a Bloomberg report suggesting that the Cupertino-based tech giant had paused the development for a week to fix issues that were haunting iOS 17 users.
However, the delay may have little to no impact on the development cycle of iOS 18, meaning we might see Apple announcing the upcoming operating system in the second week of June at the WWDC 2024. Soon after, Apple is expected to make it available to developers for beta testing followed by a public beta in July. If everything goes as planned, we expect Apple to release the iOS 18 update sometime in the second or third week of September alongside the iPhone 16 series.
Visual overhaul and RCS support
Apple will give us a glimpse of what’s upcoming at the June WWDC 2024 event, but rumour has it that the upcoming version of iOS will take inspiration from Vision OS, the operating system that powers the Vision Pro headset. If true, this means we will see more circular icons alongside a translucent user interface.
Some other changes that may find their way on the much-anticipated update include a revamped control center and a more customisable home screen that might allow users to freely move icons wherever they want and even leave a gap between two icons.
In October last year, the Cupertino-based company announced that iPhones would be getting support for Rich Communication Services (RCS), a protocol designed by Google that will enable iPhone users to send high-quality images and videos to Android devices. It will also bring features like read receipts, typing indicators and the ability to share location with others inside text threads.
Apple had said that RCS support will be coming to iPhones sometime later this year via a software update, so it is highly likely that the feature will be available with iOS 18.
Generative AI-powered features
Apple is reportedly working on several generative AI features, which are expected to make their debut with the launch of iOS 18. The upcoming software update might integrate artificial intelligence into native apps. First-party apps like Mail and Notes might have translation and summarisation features, but chances are Apple might limit them to newer iPhone models since they require more memory.
A new report by 9to5Mac also suggests that the company is working on new AI features for Apple Music, which might help auto-generate music playlists. According to Bloomberg, Apple might be working on its very own large language model (LLM) codenamed Ajax, which will offer ChatGPT-like features and might be integrated with Siri to improve the conversation experience with the voice assistant.
Rumour also has it that similar to Samsung, Apple might go ahead with hybrid AI integration, meaning a bunch of features will be powered by an on-device model while resource-intensive functionalities will use cloud computing. In the last few weeks, Apple was reportedly in talks with Google to bring some Gemini-powered features to iPhones. The tech giant is also exploring using AI models developed by ChatGPT creator OpenAI and the Chinese tech giant Baidu.
Apple might make icons more rounded with iOS 18. (Express Photo)
Will my iPhone get iOS 18?
Apple usually supports iPhones for several years, so if you have an old iPhone that was purchased in the last four or five years, chances are you will get the iOS 18 update. However, as is the case with older Apple devices, not all features will find their way to these older devices.
Speculations suggest that over twenty iPhone models will be eligible for the update (review). Here’s a list of all the devices that are expected to get iOS 18.
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPhone SE (3rd generation)
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out with its premium build, brand value, and camera performance (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express) 
Apple might make icons more rounded with iOS 18. (Express Photo)
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