At the very least some Apple software program engineers proceed to imagine that iOS 18 would be the “largest” replace within the iPhone’s historical past, in response to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. Beneath, we recap rumored options and modifications for the iPhone.
“The iOS 18 replace is predicted to be essentially the most bold overhaul of the iPhone’s software program in its historical past, in response to individuals engaged on the improve,” wrote Gurman, in a report centered on WWDC 2024. Apple lately stated that its annual builders convention will run from June 10 by June 14, and iOS 18 can be a key announcement.
iOS 18 is rumored to incorporate new generative AI options for Siri and lots of apps, and Apple plans so as to add RCS help to the Messages app for an improved texting expertise between iPhones and Android gadgets. The replace can also be anticipated to introduce a extra customizable House Display screen and different consumer interface design modifications, new options in apps like Apple Maps and Freeform, extra accessibility options, and extra.
Smarter Siri and Generative AI
iOS 18 is rumored to have new generative AI options for Siri, Highlight, Shortcuts, Apple Music, Messages, Well being, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and extra, in response to sources comparable to Gurman and The Data‘s Wayne Ma.
Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner has repeatedly teased that the corporate is engaged on generative AI, and plans to share particulars “later this 12 months,” and Apple’s advertising chief Greg Joswiak additionally hinted at AI this week in a social media publish about WWDC 2024.
Generative AI surged in reputation in late 2022, when OpenAI launched ChatGPT, a chatbot that may reply to questions and different textual content prompts. The corporate has additionally expanded into generative AI instruments for pictures and movies. Different firms like Google and Microsoft have additionally pushed into the generative AI area, and the expertise is rapidly evolving.
iOS 18 will not be anticipated to incorporate Apple’s personal ChatGPT-like chatbot. As an alternative, Apple has reportedly held discussions with firms comparable to OpenAI, Google, and China’s Baidu about potential generative AI partnerships, which may result in different chatbots being built-in into iOS 18, though Apple’s precise plans are unclear.
Some generative AI options is perhaps unique to iPhone 16 Professional fashions, that are rumored to have a Neural Engine with “considerably” extra cores.
Extra Customizable House Display screen
iOS 18 will function a “extra customizable” House Display screen, in response to Gurman.
MacRumors completely reported that iOS 18 will lastly permit customers to put app icons wherever on the House Display screen grid. Which means customers will have the ability to create clean areas, columns, and rows between app icons. This primary function has lengthy been accessible on Android smartphones, and now Apple is bringing it to the iPhone.
iPhone customers can already customise the House Display screen with apps comparable to Shortcuts and Widgetsmith, which can be utilized to create “clean” app icons and widgets, however Apple’s official answer can be way more handy.
We anticipate iOS 18 to incorporate extra customization choices past icon association, as a part of the largest House Display screen revamp in years.
New Apple Maps Options
MacRumors lately revealed two potential new Apple Maps options coming with iOS 18: customized routes and topographic maps.
With the customized routes function, Apple Maps customers would have the ability to select particular roads to journey on whereas navigating, for causes comparable to familiarity or scenic views. This function is predicted to be accessible within the U.S. solely at launch. Google Maps already permits customers to create customized routes on the net, after which view them on an iPhone.
Topographic maps first debuted on the Apple Watch final 12 months with watchOS 10, and code means that the function can be expanded to the iPhone, Mac, and Imaginative and prescient Professional with iOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2. These maps embrace particulars comparable to trails, contour traces, elevation, and factors of curiosity for mountain climbing and different outside makes use of.
RCS Assist in Messages App
In November, Apple introduced that it might help the cross-platform messaging commonplace RCS within the Messages app on the iPhone beginning “later” in 2024, so it is going to possible be an iOS 18 function based mostly on that timeframe.
RCS help ought to outcome within the following enhancements to the default messaging expertise between iPhones and Android gadgets:
- Increased-resolution photographs and movies
- Audio messages
- Typing indicators
- Learn receipts
- Wi-Fi messaging between iPhones and Android gadgets
- Improved group chats, together with the flexibility for iPhone customers to go away a dialog that features Android customers
These trendy options are already accessible for iPhone-to-iPhone conversations with blue bubbles, by way of iMessage, and lots of the options are additionally accessible in third-party messaging apps, comparable to WhatsApp and Telegram. RCS help on the iPhone will lengthen the options to inexperienced bubbles within the Messages app.
Design Modifications
Apple plans to replace the design of the iOS consumer interface as “early as this 12 months,” in response to Gurman. He beforehand stated that iOS 18 would have “main new options and designs,” however he has but to supply any particular particulars.
Extra Rumors
For extra data, learn our iOS 18 roundup.