Discover the New Features in Apple’s iOS 18 Update

Apple has unveiled iOS 18, the upcoming update for iPhone, featuring improved customization options, a revamped Photos app, and more. This update introduces new tools for personalizing the Home Screen, including the ability to tint app icons and freely arrange them.

The Control Center has been redesigned for greater customization and now includes a new gallery. Developers can offer tools for their apps within the Control Center, and users can swipe continuously to access additional Control Center screens. Customizable controls are also available on the Lock Screen.

In the Messages app, tapbacks have been revamped, and users can now react with any emoji. There's also the ability to schedule messages, format text with bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough, and use new text effects with automatic suggestions. Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving messages is now supported.

The Mail app automatically sorts emails into categories to help prioritize them. The Maps app includes new topographical maps with trail networks and hiking routes. The Wallet app introduces "Tap to Cash," allowing users to send money by holding iPhones together.

The Photos app has been completely redesigned, offering a unified view with a photo grid that displays the entire library and collections organized by theme. Users can view photos by Months and Years, and use a filter button to hide screenshots and sort images. The space below the grid features Collections, allowing browsing by topics like Time, People, Memories, and Trips. The Recent Days view filters out non-relevant photos like receipts, and People and Pets gather photos of groups of people. A new carousel on the right side displays Featured Photos and favorite collections, refreshing automatically to highlight new images.

iOS 18 also includes the ability to lock apps with authentication, hiding information from Search and Siri. It offers a more seamless way to connect accessories and brings RCS messaging support, larger Home Screen icons, and Reminders integration in the calendar.

For gamers, Game Mode debuts on the iPhone, minimizing background activity to maintain high frame rates and offering more responsive connections to AirPods and wireless game controllers.

The first developer beta of iOS 18 is available today, with a public beta in July and an official release in the fall.