Apple executives at all times describe new {hardware} and software program because the “greatest” or “largest” ever, however the supply doesn’t often reside as much as the hype (see the iPads from earlier this 12 months). Nevertheless, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 is perhaps deserving of some of these adjectives. The brand new working methods, now out there, have the same old diploma of year-over-year quality-of-life enhancements, however Apple Intelligence steals the limelight.
That is Apple’s implementation of synthetic intelligence-powered duties which were sweeping by way of the tech business over the previous 12 months. Even Siri is getting an overdue improve—the largest because the voice assistant’s debut 13 years in the past. Listed below are all the brand new options in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, to not point out iOS 18.1, methods to obtain each working methods, and what precisely you’ll expertise with Apple Intelligence.
Up to date October 28, 2024: We have added the launch of Apple Intelligence with iOS 18.1.
Desk of Contents
Is Your iPhone or iPad Appropriate?
Excellent news! Each iPhone that was able to putting in iOS 17 can run iOS 18. Apple didn’t drop any iPhones from the listing of supported gadgets this 12 months. When you have the iPhone XR and iPhone XS from 2018 or newer (together with the second- and third-gen iPhone SE), you possibly can obtain and run iOS 18. Should you’re uncertain what mannequin iPhone you have got, head to the Settings app, faucet on Common > About and have a look at the Mannequin Title. This doesn’t suggest each characteristic is on the market, as some require extra trendy processors (Apple Intelligence, for instance, is unique to the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 16 fashions; extra on this under).
It’s just a little extra difficult for iPads because the naming scheme relies on the {hardware} era moderately than particular system names. Listed below are the generations that help iPadOS 18 (not like iPhones, some iPads are now not supported). You possibly can determine which mannequin you have got by following the instructions right here.
- iPad: seventh gen and later
- iPad Mini: fifth gen and later
- iPad Air: third gen and later (together with M2)
- iPad Professional 11-inch: 1st gen and later
- iPad Professional 12.9-inch: third gen and later (together with M4)
Take a look at our Finest iPhones and Finest iPads guides to be taught extra about present fashions.
Earlier than putting in the brand new working system, I extremely advocate you again up your gadgets. You are able to do this through iCloud—go to Settings, faucet in your title on the prime, and choose iCloud. Then, faucet on iCloud Backup, toggle it on, and faucet Again Up Now to start out a brand new backup. On the earlier iCloud web page, you even have the choice to toggle off sure apps that you do not wish to embody within the backup. Do not have sufficient iCloud storage, or wish to use one other methodology? Take a look at our Tips on how to Again Up Your iPhone or iPad information for various choices.
As soon as you’ve got backed up, you are prepared to put in iOS 18. Since this can be a hefty replace, you need to plug your gadgets right into a charger and guarantee they’re related to Wi-Fi earlier than the replace begins. Now go to Settings > Common > Software program Replace. You may see the choice to obtain the replace. Faucet Obtain and Set up and, when the obtain is finished, faucet Set up Now to start out the replace. You’ll know the replace is full when your system restarts.
New iOS/iPadOS 18 Model Updates
All the highest options in iOS and iPadOS 18 are highlighted under, but it surely’s vital to notice that Apple will proceed to launch extra updates all through the subsequent 12 months. These embody new options unavailable at launch, bug fixes, and safety patches. To replace your iPhone to the newest model, go to Settings > Common > Software program Replace and observe the directions above.
iOS/iPadOS 18.1: Apple has formally launched Apple Intelligence. When you obtain the newest model, head to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Be a part of the Waitlist to enroll. The ready listing may take just a few hours, as Apple says it is to make sure there’s ample server capability. You may get a notification whenever you’ve been accepted.
When you have an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone or iPad, the next good options are out now: Writing Instruments, Reminiscence Motion pictures and Clear Up in Apple Images, Precedence Messages in Mail, Sensible Reply in Messages, Summaries for Transcriptions and Name recordings in Notes, Notification Summaries, and the brand new Cut back Interruptions Focus. Moreover, the brand new Siri is on the market, permitting you to sort requests. It helps conversational context and extra resilient request dealing with; you can also make a mistake mid-sentence and proper your self, and Siri will perceive what you imply. The replace additionally contains new Digicam Management options and spatial photograph seize (for the iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Professional line).
What Is Apple Intelligence?
Each main tech firm has been integrating synthetic intelligence into their {hardware} and software program, from Google to Samsung to Microsoft, and now it is Apple’s flip. Apple Intelligence is the time period you will see the corporate throw round over the subsequent few years, and it powers most of the new AI options in its gadgets.
It is powered by Apple’s massive language fashions (partly skilled by way of knowledge from the general public net, in keeping with Axios’ Ina Fried) and requires Apple silicon, the corporate’s bespoke chips which have a hybrid structure designed to run AI duties. Despite the fact that the gadgets Apple Intelligence runs on are able to the on-device processing wanted to finish AI duties, generally the duty is just too large and must be despatched off to the cloud. When a job requires extra processing, it’s going to be despatched to a safe knowledge heart stacked with computer systems that additionally run Apple silicon. Whereas this methodology of computing is often much less non-public, Apple claims that its Personal Cloud Compute platform focuses on guaranteeing knowledge privateness for every person. Solely knowledge related to your question is shipped to those servers, and the information is barely used to your requests and by no means saved.
Apple Intelligence Appropriate Units
Earlier than you get too excited, Apple Intelligence is not going to be out there for each system that helps iOS 18. It is solely supported on choose processors and in US English. Additionally, you will have to set Siri’s language to English.
What precisely is Apple Intelligence? Apple breaks down its key capabilities into three buckets: Language, Pictures, and Motion.
Apple Intelligence: Language
All through Apple’s {hardware} and software program, you will discover new writing instruments that draw on the facility of generative AI to help your writing. This contains Rewrite, which might help change the tone of your textual content to sound extra pleasant or extra skilled (like in an e mail), and Proofread, which roughly does what the title suggests. It’s also possible to summarize chosen textual content with a faucet.
These text-based enhancements go previous writing. It additionally powers Precedence notifications, which seem on the prime of your notification listing and summarizes it so that you get a extra digestible abstract at a look. Equally, the Mail app will see Precedence messages, which suggests vital emails will float to the highest of your inbox. It’s also possible to get summaries of lengthy emails, and a Sensible Reply operate permits you to shortly reply to emails (even solutions to a number of questions posed in an e mail), not not like what’s out there in Gmail.
Within the Notes, Voice Memos, and Cellphone app, you possibly can hit the report button (sure, even on a name) to get an audio recording with a transcript, and Apple Intelligence can create a abstract of that transcript. Apple says customers in states that require two-party consent for recordings, the individual on the opposite finish of the road will likely be made conscious that the decision is being recorded.
Lastly, there is a new Focus mode known as Cut back Interruptions that may perceive your private context, so whereas it hides incoming stuff that would distract you, it is aware of sufficient about what you’ve got acquired occurring to permit a textual content out of your babysitter to return by way of.
Apple Intelligence: Pictures
The Apple Intelligence picture options largely revolve round producing new photographs by way of synthetic intelligence. A lot of this occurs in Picture Playground, an expertise baked into different apps (although it additionally exists as a stand-alone app). You possibly can generate photographs primarily based on an outline, advised ideas, and even from folks in your Images library. You might have management over the type, and it may be tweaked to match no matter’s occurring within the app you are utilizing it in.
