Apple executives always New hardware and software touted as the “best” or “biggest” ever, but delivery usually doesn't live up to the hype (see iPad from earlier this yearHowever, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 may be worthy of some of these adjectives. The new operating systems now available result in general improvements in quality of life year after year, but apple intelligence Steals the limelight.
This is Apple's implementation of artificial-intelligence-powered functions Widespread in Tech Industry During the last year. Even Siri has been getting an upgrade of late — the biggest since the voice assistant debuted 13 years ago. Here's all the new features in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, how to download both operating systems, and what exactly you'll experience with Apple Intelligence.
Updated December 2024: We've added new information on the rollout of iOS 18.2.
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Is your iPhone or iPad compatible?
Good news! Every iPhone that was able to install ios 17 Can run iOS 18. Apple has not removed any iPhone from the list of supported devices this year. If you have an iPhone XR and iPhone XS from 2018 or later (including Second- And 3rd generation iPhone SE), you can download and run iOS 18. If you're not sure which model iPhone you have, go to the Settings app, tap General , About this look more model nameThis does not mean that every feature is available, as some require more modern processors. (For example, Apple Intelligence is Exclusive for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 modelMore details on this are given below.)
For the iPad it's a bit more complicated, as the naming scheme depends on the hardware generation rather than specific device names. Here are the generations that support iPadOS 18 (unlike iPhones, some iPads are no longer supported). You can find out which model you have Follow the instructions here,
- ipad: 7th generation and later
- ipad mini: 5th generation and later
- ipad air: 3rd generation and later (including M2)
- iPad Pro 11-inch:First generation and later
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch: Third generation and later (including M4)
check us out best iPhone And best ipad Guides to learn more about current models.
Before installing a new operating system, Excessive You are advised to backup your device. You can do this through iCloud—go to settingsTap on your name at the top and select icloudThen, tap icloud backupTurn it on and tap backup now To start a new backup. On the previous iCloud page, you also have the option to toggle off certain apps that you don't want to include in the backup. Don't have enough iCloud storage, or do you want to use another method? check us out How to Back Up Your iPhone or iPad Guidance for alternative options.
Once backed up, you're ready to install iOS 18. Since this is a major update, you should plug your devices into a charger and make sure they are connected to Wi-Fi before the update begins. go now Settings > General > Software UpdateYou will see an option to download updates. Tap Download and Install And, when the download is complete, tap install now To start the update. You will know the update is complete when your device restarts.
New iOS/iPadOS 18 version update
All of the top features in iOS and iPadOS 18 are highlighted below, but it's important to note that Apple will continue to release additional updates throughout the next year. These include new features, bug fixes, and security patches unavailable at launch. To update your iPhone to the latest version, go to settings , General , software update And follow the instructions given above.
iOS/iPadOS 18.2: With the latest update, you will now have access to new settings for Zenmoji, Image Playground, Image Wand, ChatGPT in Siri, visual intelligence, AirTag shared location tracking in Find My, new Mail app features, and camera controls. Additionally, the writing tools also get a boost from ChatGPT, with the ability to compose messages. There's no longer any need to join a waiting list to take advantage of Apple Intelligence.
iOS/iPadOS 18.1: Apple has officially released Apple Intelligence. Once you have downloaded the latest version, proceed Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Join Waitlist to sign up. The waiting list may take a few hours; Apple says this is to ensure there is enough server capacity. You will get a notification when you are accepted.
If you have an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone or iPad, the following smart features are now available: writing tools in Apple Photos, Memory Movies and Clean Up, priority messages in Mail, smart replies in Messages, transcription in Notes, and for call recording. Summary, Notification Summary, and the new Minimize Disruption Focus. Additionally, the new Siri is available, which allows you to type requests. It supports conversational context and more flexible request management; You can make a mistake mid-sentence and correct yourself, and Siri will understand what you mean. The update also includes new camera control features and spatial photo capture (for the iPhone 16 lineup and iPhone 15 Pro line).
What is Apple Intelligence?
Every major tech company is integrating artificial intelligence into its hardware and software Google To SAMSUNG To MicrosoftAnd now it's Apple's turn. apple intelligence This is the term you'll see the company using over the next few years, and it powers many of the new AI features in its devices.
It is powered by Apple's large language models (partially trained) According to Axios' Ina Fried, data from the public web) and requires Apple Silicon, the company's specialized chips that have a hybrid architecture designed to run AI tasks. Even though the devices Apple Intelligence runs on are capable of the on-device processing required to complete AI tasks, sometimes the task is too large and needs to be sent to the cloud. When a task requires more processing, it will be sent to a secure data center filled with computers running Apple Silicon. Although this method of computing is generally less private, Apple claims that it Private Cloud Compute Platform Focuses on ensuring data privacy for every user. Only data relevant to your query is sent to these servers, and the data is only used for your requests and never stored.
Apple Intelligence Compatible Devices
Before you get too excited, Apple Intelligence won't be available Every device that supports iOS 18, It is only supported on select processors (and languages).
What exactly is Apple Intelligence? Apple divides its core capabilities into three parts: language, images, and actions.
Apple Intelligence: Language
Across Apple hardware and software, you'll find new writing tools that harness the power of generative AI to help you write. This includes rewriting, which can help change the tone of your text to be more friendly or more professional (like in an email), and proofreading, which does more or less what the name suggests. You can also summarize selected text with a single tap.
These text-based improvements go beyond writing. It also powers priority notifications, which appear at the top of your notification list and summarize it so you get a more digestible summary at a glance. Similarly, the Mail app will see priority messages, meaning important emails will float to the top of your inbox. You can also get summaries of longer emails, and a smart reply function lets you respond to emails quickly (even answering multiple questions asked in one email), which isn't unlike available in gmail,
In the Notes, Voice Memos, and Phone apps, you can press the Record button to get an audio recording with a transcript (yes, even on a call) and Apple Intelligence can create a summary of that transcript. Apple says that in states that require two-party consent for recording, the person on the other end of the line will be made aware that the call is being recorded.
Finally, there is a new focus mode called minimizing interruptions that can understand your personal context, so it hides incoming content that might distract you, it knows enough about what you're doing so that a text from your babysitter comes Could.
Apple Intelligence: Images
Apple Intelligence Image features largely revolve around generating new images through artificial intelligence. Most of this happens in Image Playground, an experience that is included in other apps (though it also exists as a stand-alone app). You can generate images based on descriptions, suggested concepts, and even ones in your photo library. You have control over the style, and it can be changed to match whatever is going on in the app you're using it in.
Of all the features announced by Apple, Genmoji might be the most anticipated feature. It lets you generate emoji directly from the keyboard with a text prompt. You can also take a photo of a person from your photo library to create an emoji based on their appearance. You must provide a description first, but then you can adjust the description until it's a good fit for you.
Image Wand is another image creation system that works exclusively in the Notes app. With your finger or the Apple Pencil, you can circle a sketch so Apple Intelligence can create something that looks more refined, but you can also circle empty space, and it will generate an image based on the surrounding text . This is an easy way to add more visual variety to your notes.
The Photos app is getting some AI features. You can create a memory movie by entering details like “All the sweets I ate during the summer last year, set them to a pop song” and Apple's AI will find the right picture and video, put it to a song and a ready Will do it. Shareable movie from this. Searching for specific photos will also be easier – just describe what you want and it will find it, even a few moments in a video clip (like Google recently announced). Ask Photos FacilityFinally, you can erase unwanted objects in the background of your photos with the new Clean Up tool in the photo editor—just like this magic eraser on pixel phones And Samsung's Object Eraser,
Apple Intelligence: Action
The last part of Apple Intelligence is arguably the one that can be used most often, and that involves Siri. The Assistant has a new look – when activated, the sides of the screen will light up – and you can now type your requests to Siri instead of using your voice (something you've been able to do with the Google Assistant for several years). Are).
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu