iOS 18 is out on Monday. To my surprise, I don’t think everyone pays attention to every Apple news story like I do. Even less likely, do they install the beta software as soon as it’s relatively safe. That makes me wonder if when everyone installs the updates if they have any idea what is in them. I’ve been using iOS 18 for 2+ months and here are some of the things that you’ll notice or might want to consider looking into. This way you’ll be ready when you update.

I’ll grab images from Apple’s iOS 18 page, which you should also check out to see all the features. I also don’t have an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence but so far on the devices I do have with it, I don’t see much use for it.

Home Screen Changes

This is the biggest change to me, probably because it is the most seen. I enabled the large icons (Edit Home Screen -> Customize) which also removes the app labels under the icons. I like it a lot but when I use my work phone that isn’t updated yet, it’s pretty shocking how tiny the icons look. You will need to know what all the app icons are since the labels will be gone.

In that same menu, you can pick light or dark icons, or have them adjust automatically with the mode your phone is in. I went with the automatic mode and stuck with it. I’ll be curious if the icons start to change once developers can release their iOS 18 enabled apps. I think the current icons are adjusted to dark mode by the phone now. There is also a tint option that let’s you pick a color and all the icons use that tint color, I didn’t have any interest in trying that.

Last one, you can put your apps wherever you want on the grid. Not too exciting but I do like the option if I have a page of apps that isn’t full I can put them at the bottom of the screen instead of the top.

Customize Control Center

A long overdue option to tweak what you have in the Control Center and rearrange/resize how you like it. During that past few months this would randomly reset itself so I haven’t reinvested the time to customize as much as I like but be sure to check it out and don’t forget some elements can be resized. There is also the ability to have multiple pages, you will probably have some by default that shows it off. I just have a few things on a 2nd page that are rarely used. Like Low Power mode – I never use it but sometimes when I get the low battery pop-up and I accidentally turn on low power mode, I can go in here and turn it off.

Change/Remove Lock Screen Icons

You know on the Lock Screen, at the bottom there are the shortcuts to open your camera or turn on your flashlight. And how your flashlight is on at random times because of this? Just me? Now you can change which icons are down there. I couldn’t think of what to put here, so I just removed them entirely. Not having the flashlight button to accidentally hit is a huge win.

Passwords app

Apple has saved your passwords in iCloud (if you wanted) for a long long time. There was no app for it so if you wanted to use it, it was buried in settings. It can do 2-factor codes and sharing (for family passwords). It’s so much nicer having it as an app. I’ve had 1Password (a paid family plan) for years and I think this is enough to replace that. The only feature I think I’ll miss is easily saving credit card numbers.

Photos app redesign

I’m still not sure I like this and I still don’t think Apple pushes one of their best features – Shared Albums – enough. I mention this to point out that you should scroll all the way to the bottom and click “Customize & Reorder” to rearrange everything for what you use the most.

Messages Updates

Not too many changes here but to highlight a few:

• Tapback with any emoji and at some point Apple Intelligence will let you create your own emoji.
• RCS, if you have Android friends, and they are using an RCS compatible app it should improve things. It will still have green bubbles but you’ll get typing indicators, tapbacks should be normal, and images/video are better quality.
• Satellite messaging, if you have a phone that supports the satellite SOS (I think it’s 14 and up). I don’t have one of these phones so I haven’t tried it.

AirPods

Not referring to the new AirPods 4 (which look great but I’m not getting yet). The one cool feature I haven’t been able to try is that you’ll be able to respond to Siri by shaking your head yes or no. I’ll also be giving myself a hearing test when that feature comes out for the Pros.

Math in Notes

While an even cooler feature on the iPad if you are using an Apple Pencil, the Notes app will do math for you if you type it out in a note.

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Overall, I’ve liked the changes and it’s working well enough to update all your stuff as soon as you can.

Did I miss any features you are excited about?