New iOS 18 Features That’ll Level Up Your iPhone Experience

While the latest iPhone 16 series might not seem like a monumental upgrade over the previous iPhones, the new iOS 18 brings so many features – you might actually get overwhelmed.

iOS 18 is here, and we at Cubix are ever so excited about it. We really can’t wait to create mobile apps that tap into the extensive set of features of this brand-new iOS version. 

If you’re wondering whether you should wait for this update, the answer is a big YES! 

iOS 18 is a massive upgrade over iOS 17 and brings features that are really worth it. 

So, in case you haven’t had the chance to experience iOS 18 yet, we’re here to guide you through the new features and updates you should look forward to. 

iOS 18 features we’ve explored so far

Before moving forward, we must mention that some iOS 18 features on this list are exclusive to the iPhone 16 series. However, we hope they’ll be released for other iPhone models soon.

Apple Intelligence

iOS 18 ushers in Apple’s new AI capabilities called Apple Intelligence. It introduces personalized suggestions, automation, and powerful writing and image-generation tools.

Thanks to Apple’s privacy and security-centric approach, all processing occurs directly on your device rather than in the cloud. This keeps your data more protected.

On top of that, Siri has also gained new capabilities to understand more natural language requests and reference previous conversations for helpful context. You can now type requests to Siri as well.

Within apps like Mail, Apple Intelligence can automatically surface priority messages at the top of your inbox. The built-in writing assistance tools help with rewrites, proofreading, summarizing blocks of texts, and more.

Later on, Siri will gain even more advanced on-screen awareness that lets you operate apps via voice requests. Through a newly announced partnership with OpenAI, ChatGPT comes built into Siri.

Looks like OpenAI has become a crucial part of both Apple and Microsoft’s AI initiatives.

Camera Control Key

All iPhone 16 models gain the new Camera Control key. This multi-functional physical button transforms camera access and shooting adjustment speeds.

A quick press launches the camera app instantly, readying you to capture fleeting moments. Long presses take burst photos for as long as you hold it down.

But the Camera Control’s advances extend well beyond basic clicks. Its touch-sensitive surface enables horizontal swiping to swiftly cycle through different camera modes and settings like flash, live photo toggling, aspect ratio changes, and more.

Plus, a force sensor facilitates light presses for additional functionality. You can assign a specific camera setting or feature to a light press for rapid single-handed access to controls like exposure adjustments and zoom levels.

Lock Screen Widgets and Shortcuts

iOS 18 brings massive changes to the lock screen. While the theme doesn’t seem all too different, it comes with features that make the new lock screen more useful and productivity-friendly.

The updated lock screen now houses notification center widgets alongside shortcuts for camera and flashlight access. You can select personalized wallpapers, clocks, and widgets to craft a lock screen that’s uniquely yours.

Replacing the camera and flashlight shortcuts is an option, too. You can swap them out for apps, Focus modes, Apple Pay shortcuts, and more. Pairing your customized lock screen with equally tailored home screens is also possible in one simple step.

Share WiFi Password via QR

Sending your Wi-Fi password to friends and family is now quicker with iOS 18’s QR code Wi-Fi sharing.

Head to the new Passwords section in Settings. Select your Wi-Fi network > Show Network QR Code. Whoever scans the QR code that appears will automatically join the network without needing to enter the password manually.

It’s perfect for sharing access when you have multiple people to connect, Android users in the mix, or guests you haven’t saved as contacts. No more fumbling with hard-to-read passwords.

Hide App Labels

Tidy up cluttered home screens by removing app icon labels in iOS 18. This de-emphasizes the text to highlight icons and wallpapers better.

Activate jiggle mode by pressing and holding an empty space on your home screen. Select the “Customize” menu and choose the “Large” icon option.

This also hides labels across in the App Library. If you already recognize most icons anyway, ditching icon labels can seriously clean up needless clutter.

Identify Songs Using the New Action Button

Impress friends by secretly identifying songs using the Action Button and integrated Music Recognition.

Head to Settings > Action Button and select “Recognize Music” from the available triggers.

Then, during songs, discreetly long-press the Action Button. Shazam listens and labels any tracks unknown to those around you!

Say goodbye to the embarrassment of not knowing what songs your friends are vibing to. 

Power off or Restart Your iPhone via the Control Center

The revamped Control Center in iOS 18 now enables restarting or powering off your iPhone with just a few taps, with no physical buttons required.

Simply open Control Center and long-press the new power icon. An iPhone restart slider pops up; tap it to reboot your device. It’s much more convenient than the old method of holding down multiple buttons.

Transcribe Voice Memos

Voice Memo recordings capture audio snippets quickly but have always lacked searchability…until now.

In iOS 18, the Voice Memos app can transcribe audio clips to extract text. Tap a recording, then hit Transcribe.

With text versions generated, you can hunt down specific voice memos by searching for keywords or phrases that were only previously available as audio. It makes referencing back-to-voice note ideas far easier.

No need to listen to every single voice memo to find the one you’re looking for.

Reimagined Multimedia Apps

The default iPhone multimedia apps see noteworthy improvements, too. The Photos app gains more effective organization with highlights for people, places, and events, plus integrated editing tools. You can also search for handwriting images and illustrations.

Also, the overhauled Music and TV apps have transformed into more capable entertainment hubs that allow faster media playing. And seamless ties with services like Apple Music and Apple TV+ make built-in entertainment on the iPhone better than ever.

End-to-End Spatial Audio Support

The full iPhone 16 range provides end-to-end support for Spatial Audio. They all pack additional internal microphones to capture true surround sound when recording video. Play it all back through AirPods Pro or Max headphones, and it’s like having movie theater-caliber sound in your ears.

This all-encompassing implementation exemplifies Apple’s integrated approach, which includes recording, editing, and playback powered by their own hardware and software. It brings new dimensions of realism to the video-capturing prowess iPhones offer creators.

iPhone models expected to receive the iOS 18 update

Here are the iPhone models eligible to receive the highly anticipated and hyped iOS 18 update:

• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone SE 3rd Gen
• iPhone SE 2nd Gen

However, if you have an older iPhone model, you might face iOS 18 battery drain issues. There are some cases reported where older models tend to lose charge significantly quicker after the update.

If you’re facing such an issue, we recommend waiting for the iOS 18.1 update, which will address such issues promptly.

Also, if you’re looking forward to using Apple’s very own AI, we must break it to you that Apple Intelligence is only available for the following iPhone models:

• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max

How Cubix plans to capitalize on the new iOS 18 features

So, what does Cubix have to do with the recent iOS 18 update? Well, as a tech-forward iOS app development company, we’ve always delivered app solutions that align perfectly with the feature set of the current iOS version. 

Every feature, every intricate detail, and every design element is thought out considering the latest OS’s specifications. Moreover, we offer regular updates to keep your app on par with the functionality and design standards set by the current iOS version.

With Apple Intelligence and added personalization capabilities, Cubix plans to build mobile apps that are just as momentous as the new iOS 18 update. 

By fusing Apple’s hardware and software brilliance with Cubix’s trusted mobile app development expertise, you can become a first-mover and launch apps built specifically for the iOS 18 environment, creating a massive user base, garnering millions of downloads, and boosting ROI.

What’s Next?

Since getting released on 16th September 2024, there has been a lot of buzz around the iOS 18 update and when it will be pushed to different iPhone models. While the iOS 18 beta update has many exciting features, the all-important Apple Intelligence won’t be available just yet.

We expect it to be included in the iOS 18.1 update. According to MacRumors, the iOS 18.1 release date is expected to fall somewhere in the later days of October.  Therefore, it’s still quite early to discuss any significant iOS 18 issues.

So, are you excited about the new iOS 18 public beta update and want to know about the new features our iOS development experts plan to add to their next iPhone apps? 

Contact our representatives to discuss how we can help your mobile app leverage the capabilities of the latest iOS versions and make an impact.