iOS 18 Release: Key Features and When to Expect

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Apple is set to release its highly anticipated iOS 18 update on Monday, September 16, 2024, bringing with it a host of new features designed to enhance user experience and further integrate intelligence across Apple devices. Following Phonefix, there’s a breakdown of the standout features in iOS 18 and everything you need to know about the release.

Key Features in iOS 1

Customizable Home and Lock Screens

One of the most significant changes in iOS 18 is the enhanced ability to customize both the home and lock iPhone screens. Users can now arrange app icons and widgets in any configuration they prefer, creating a personalized layout that suits their workflow and aesthetic. Additionally, the lock screen now supports custom controls, allowing users to choose which options appear—or to remove them entirely for a minimalist look.

Redesigned Control Center

The Control Center has undergone a complete redesign, making it more intuitive and streamlined for users. With new control groupings, accessing key functions is smoother and faster. The introduction of a Control Library allows users to browse all available control options and fully customize the layout and size of these controls for a tailored experience.

Major Overhaul of the Photos App

The Photos app sees a significant update with iOS 18, now featuring automatically organized collections by theme and a new “carousel” view to showcase daily highlights. Users can also reorder their collections and pin frequently accessed photo albums at the top, making it easier to navigate and enjoy their memories.

Enhanced Messaging Features

iOS 18 brings new life to the Messages app with additional text effects and customizable "Genmoji" avatars. Perhaps more notably, the app now supports satellite messaging for communication in remote areas. Apple has also added RCS support, allowing users to send rich media messages to non-Apple devices—an upgrade from the standard SMS and MMS formats.

Apple Intelligence with Generative AI

Apple has integrated generative AI into iOS 18, enhancing the system’s ability to assist users in tasks like writing, image creation, and even boosting Siri’s capabilities. As always, privacy remains a core focus, ensuring that all data is securely handled while using these intelligent features.

Smarter Email Management

The Mail app receives a useful upgrade in iOS 18, introducing on-device intelligence to automatically categorize emails and declutter your inbox. A new summary view brings together all relevant emails from the same business, allowing users to quickly browse important messages without sifting through multiple threads.

Safari's New Intelligent Features

Safari continues to push the boundaries of browsing with the new Highlights feature, powered by machine learning. This allows the browser to present key information from webpages, helping users quickly find what they need. A redesigned reading experience also generates a table of contents for long articles, offering a more enjoyable way to consume content.

All-New Passwords App

One of the most exciting additions in iOS 18 is the brand-new Passwords app. This app consolidates all your passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi credentials, and verification codes into one convenient location. It also alerts users to potential security vulnerabilities, such as weak or compromised passwords, helping to safeguard personal information.

iOS 18 Release and Download Details

Apple will officially launch iOS 18 on September 16, 2024, and eligible iPhones will be able to download the update on that day. While Apple has not confirmed the exact release time, it’s likely that iOS 18 will be available starting at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, based on previous release patterns. Here are the expected download times for different regions:

Hawaii: 7 a.m.

Alaska: 9 a.m.

U.S./Canada Pacific Time (California, Arizona, Vancouver, etc.): 10 a.m.

U.S./Canada Mountain Time (Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, etc.): 11 a.m.

U.S./Canada Central Time (Texas, Missouri, Wisconsin, etc.): 12 noon

U.S./Canada Eastern Time (New York, North Carolina, Florida, Toronto, etc.): 1 p.m.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina: 3 p.m.

Iceland: 5 p.m.

United Kingdom, Portugal: 6 p.m.

Germany, France, Spain, Italy: 7 p.m.

Moscow, Finland, Turkey: 8 p.m.

India: 10:30 p.m.