Apple simply launched its new iOS 18 for all eligible iPhones to obtain free immediately, which you’ll find within the Software program Replace settings. And if you happen to’re planning to purchase one of many new iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Professional fashions coming out there on September 20, they’re going to have already got iOS 18 put in. However not each iPhone will have the ability to run iOS 18, and even those that may will not have all of the bells and whistles of the brand new Apple Intelligence options.
That replace stratification is nothing now. Usually annually, some older iPhone fashions are faraway from Apple’s iOS eligibility checklist. Final yr, for example, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X had been left off the compatibility checklist. That meant these iPhone house owners could not replace to iOS 17 and missed out on some notable options. On the flip aspect, some older {hardware} will get main new options: Think about the upcoming software program replace that successfully turns current AirPods Professional headphones right into a listening to help, full with a built-in listening to check. (Apple simply obtained FDA authorization to launch that characteristic later this yr.)
We’ll allow you to discover out in case your iPhone will help iOS 18, in addition to Apple Intelligence. As well as, Apple has additionally launched a firmware replace for AirPods Professional 2. If you need a full checklist of all the brand new iOS 18, try Apple’s exhaustive checklist in PDF kind (through MacRumors). Nonetheless catching up on all the things new that Apple introduced at its September 9 launch occasion? Take a look at our full AirPods 4 evaluation, together with hands-on previews of the Apple Watch Sequence 10, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional.
iPhones appropriate with iOS 18
We now have excellent news: For those who had an eligible cellphone final yr while you up to date to iOS 17, that system ought to nonetheless be appropriate with iOS 18, in keeping with Apple. Which means you will not have to purchase a brand new cellphone to take a look at many of the new software program options.
Put one other method, you probably have an iPhone from the 2017 mannequin yr or earlier (iPhone 8 or iPhone X), you may’t improve to the most recent iOS, however your cellphone ought to proceed to work — albeit with out the most recent and best options.
Is your iPhone appropriate with Apple Intelligence?
Whereas your older system will nonetheless have the ability to help the most recent iOS, chances are high that you just will not get to attempt the Apple Intelligence beta but subsequent month. Until you’ve gotten an iPhone 15 Professional or iPhone 15 Professional Max — the top-end 2023 fashions — or one of many new iPhone 16 fashions, your iPhone is not eligible.
When will Apple Intelligence options be out there?
In case your system is appropriate with Apple Intelligence, you can begin enjoying with a few of these options in October, after they start to hit these newer iPhones in subsequent updates.
The primary spherical of Apple Intelligence options shall be out there in English within the US this October. In December, it’s going to grow to be out there in localized English to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK. Extra language help, together with Chinese language, French, Japanese and Spanish, shall be out there someday subsequent yr, Apple says.
As beforehand reported, Apple Intelligence won’t be making its technique to EU nations anytime quickly. The American tech large stays locked in a battle with European regulators over enforcement particulars of the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
The most important new iOS 18 options
Whereas Apple Intelligence is by far the largest replace coming with iOS 18, its options are going to be launched extra piecemeal over the next few months. And the extra superior options will not be out there on older iPhone fashions other than the iPhone 15 Professional collection. However the remainder of the iOS 18 options can be found now. Listed below are simply a few of the highlights you may count on while you obtain Apple’s new software program.
Passwords app: Securely retailer all of your credentials in a single place, together with passwords and safety alerts that you would be able to entry straight within the app. (Whereas this performance presently exists in Settings, shifting it to a brand new app ought to make it simpler to find and entry.)
Improved Messages app: A brand new iMessages expertise is bringing the choice to daring, italicize, underline and strikethrough your textual content. You will additionally have the ability to add animations to your textual content messages. The replace can be bringing RCS to iPhones to raised help Android compatibility.
An organized photographs library: The Pictures app is getting a redesign, which lets you create and pin your individual collections within the app — suppose “wedding photos” or “trip to Aruba.” It removes the present tabbed backside and leans right into a grid structure. The up to date carousel view that was touted at WWDC was eliminated throughout the beta course of.
Customized residence display screen structure: You will lastly get the choice to rearrange your apps — for example, you may depart the center area open to show your house display screen photograph, and as an alternative have your apps alone the border of the display screen. You can even change the looks of the apps by tinting them with any shade, in addition to making the apps bigger.
There are many different tweaks and enhancements to keystone apps like Maps, Calendar, Safari and extra. Take a look at Cherlynn Low’s selections for the perfect hidden options of iOS 18 and its sibling Apple working system updates, primarily based on the betas launched earlier this yr.
Are MacOS Sequoia, iPadOS 18, WatchOS 11 and tvOS 18 out there now?
Here is when you may obtain the most recent software program updates in your different Apple units (most are immediately as properly).
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MacOS Sequoia: September 16
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iPadOS 18: September 16
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WatchOS 11: September 16
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tvOS 18: Apple hasn’t introduced an official date for its newest tvOS software program replace. It is nonetheless in public beta testing presently, although it is near the ultimate phases, per MacRumors.
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visionOS 2: September 16
As for AirPods, Apple has reportedly pushed new firmware to AirPods Professional earbuds to prep for the added options coming to that system with iOS 18. (Simply word that listening to help performance talked about above could not hit with the primary wave of updates, regardless of its current FDA clearance.)
Replace, September 16, 1:55PM ET: Confirmed iOS 18 availability.
Replace, September 12, 3:28PM ET: Added particulars in regards to the FDA authorizing the listening to help performance for AirPods Professional.
Replace, September 11, 12:13PM ET: New data added about new firmware pushed to AirPods Professional earbuds.
Replace, September 10, 9:54AM ET: Added launch dates for added Apple OS software program updates.
Replace, September 9, 5:00PM ET: Added particulars concerning the shortage of Apple Intelligence availability in EU nations.
Replace, September 9, 3:37PM ET: This story has been up to date with the introduced launch dates for iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence.