Apple simply launched its new iOS 18 for all eligible iPhones to obtain free at this time, which you will discover within the Software program Replace settings. And should you’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 record. Final yr, as an example, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X have been left off the compatibility record. That meant these iPhone homeowners could not replace to iOS 17 and missed out on some notable options. On the flip facet, 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 assist, full with a built-in listening to take a look at. (Apple simply obtained FDA authorization to launch that characteristic later this yr.)
We’ll make it easier 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. In order for you a full record of all the brand new iOS 18, try Apple’s exhaustive record in PDF kind (through MacRumors). Nonetheless catching up on every little thing new that Apple introduced at its September 9 launch occasion? Take a look at our full AirPods 4 overview, together with hands-on previews of the Apple Watch Collection 10, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional.
iPhones appropriate with iOS 18
We’ve excellent news: In the event you had an eligible cellphone final yr once you up to date to iOS 17, that gadget ought to nonetheless be appropriate with iOS 18, based on Apple. Which means you will not have to purchase a brand new cellphone to take a look at a lot of the new software program options.
Put one other means, if in case you have an iPhone from the 2017 mannequin yr or earlier (iPhone 8 or iPhone X), you possibly can’t improve to the newest iOS, however your cellphone ought to proceed to work — albeit with out the newest and best options.
Is your iPhone appropriate with Apple Intelligence?
Whereas your older gadget will nonetheless have the ability to help the newest iOS, chances are high that you simply will not get to strive the Apple Intelligence beta but subsequent month. Except you may have 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 gadget 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 will turn into 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 international locations anytime quickly. The American tech big stays locked in a battle with European regulators over enforcement particulars of the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
The largest new iOS 18 options
Whereas Apple Intelligence is by far the most important 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 except for 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 possibly can anticipate once 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 you could entry straight within the app. (Whereas this performance at the moment 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 higher help Android compatibility.
An organized images library: The Photographs 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.
Personalised house display structure: You will lastly get the choice to rearrange your apps — as an example, you possibly can go away the center house open to show your own home display picture, and as an alternative have your apps alone the border of the display. You may also 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 decisions for one of the best 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?
This is when you possibly can obtain the latest software program updates in your different Apple units (most are at this time as nicely).
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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 gadget with iOS 18. (Simply observe that listening to assist performance talked about above might not hit with the primary wave of updates, regardless of its latest FDA clearance.)
Replace, September 16, 1:55PM ET: Confirmed iOS 18 availability.
Replace, September 12, 3:28PM ET: Added particulars concerning the FDA authorizing the listening to assist 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 extra Apple OS software program updates.
Replace, September 9, 5:00PM ET: Added particulars relating to the shortage of Apple Intelligence availability in EU international locations.
Replace, September 9, 3:37PM ET: This story has been up to date with the introduced launch dates for iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence.