Apple executives all the time describe new {hardware} and software program because the “greatest” or “largest” ever, however the supply doesn’t often dwell as much as the hype (see final 12 months’s iPads). Nevertheless, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 may be deserving of some of these adjectives. The most recent model of the working system has the same old diploma of year-over-year quality-of-life enhancements, however Apple Intelligence steals the limelight.
That is Apple’s implementation of artificial-intelligence-powered duties which have been sweeping by means of the tech business over the previous few years. Even Siri obtained an overdue improve—the largest for the reason that voice assistant’s debut 13 years in the past. Listed here are all the brand new iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 options, learn how to obtain the present model, and what precisely you’ll expertise with Apple Intelligence.
Up to date March 2025: We have added new particulars about iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4.
Desk of Contents
Is Your iPhone or iPad Appropriate?
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Excellent news! Each iPhone that was able to putting in iOS 17 can run iOS 18. Apple didn’t drop any iPhones from the checklist of supported units. You probably have the iPhone XR and iPhone XS from 2018 or newer (together with the second- and third-gen iPhone SE), you may obtain and run iOS 18. Should you’re uncertain what mannequin iPhone you’ve got, head to the Settings app, faucet on Common > About and have a look at the Mannequin Identify. This doesn’t suggest each characteristic is obtainable, as some require extra fashionable processors. (Apple Intelligence, for instance, is unique to the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 16 fashions; extra on this under.)
It’s a bit extra difficult for iPads, for the reason that naming scheme relies on the {hardware} era moderately than particular machine names. Listed here are the generations that help iPadOS 18 (in contrast to iPhones, some iPads are now not supported). You may determine which mannequin you’ve got by following the instructions right here.
iPad: seventh gen and lateriPad Mini: fifth gen and lateriPad Air: third gen and later (together with M2 and M3)iPad Professional 11-inch: 1st gen and lateriPad 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.
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Earlier than putting in the brand new working system, I extremely advocate you again up your units. You are able to do this by way of 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 technique? Take a look at our The best way to Again Up Your iPhone or iPad information for different choices.
As soon as you have backed up, you are prepared to put in iOS 18. Since it is a hefty replace, it’s best to plug your units right into a charger and guarantee they’re linked 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 completed, faucet Set up Now to start out the replace. You’ll know the replace is full when your machine restarts.
New iOS/iPadOS 18 Model Updates
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All the highest options in iOS and iPadOS 18 are highlighted under, however Apple continues to launch extra updates all year long. These embody new options unavailable at launch, bug fixes, and safety patches. To replace your iPhone, go to Settings > Common > Software program Replace and comply with the directions above.
iOS/iPados 18.4: This replace consists of Precedence Notifications inside Apple Intelligence, Visible Intelligence for the iPhone 15 Professional, a stand-alone Imaginative and prescient Professional app, new Emoji, Sketch mode in Picture Playground, recipes in Apple Information+, new group options within the Pictures app, preauthorized funds in Apple Pockets, lossless audio with AirPods Max, and entry to Apple Intelligence options within the Management Middle.
iOS/iPadOS 18.3: This replace consists of improved notification summaries, upgrades to Visible Intelligence for iPhone 16 fashions, and a minor characteristic added to the Calculator app. Apple Intelligence is now enabled by default (although you may flip it off).
iOS/iPadOS 18.2: This replace introduced Genmoji, Picture Playground, Picture Wand, ChatGPT in Siri, Visible Intelligence, AirTag shared location monitoring in Discover My, new Mail app options, and new settings for Digital camera Management. Additionally, Writing Instruments will get a carry from ChatGPT too, with the flexibility to compose messages. There is no want to affix a waitlist anymore to reap the benefits of Apple Intelligence.
iOS/iPadOS 18.1: Apple formally launched Apple Intelligence on this model. Initially, you needed to head to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Be a part of the Waitlist to enroll. The ready checklist took a couple of hours; Apple mentioned it was to make sure there’s enough server capability. Apple Intelligence launched with the next good options: Writing Instruments, Reminiscence Motion pictures and Clear Up in Apple Pictures, Precedence Messages in Mail, Good Reply in Messages, Summaries for Transcriptions and Name recordings in Notes, Notification Summaries, and the brand new Scale back Interruptions Focus.
What Is Apple Intelligence?
Siri is getting an AI increase.
{Photograph}: Apple
Each main tech firm has been integrating synthetic intelligence into its {hardware} and software program, from Google to Samsung to Microsoft, and now it is Apple’s flip. Apple Intelligence is the time period you may see the corporate throw round over the subsequent few years, and it powers lots of the new AI options in its units.
It is powered by Apple’s giant language fashions (partly skilled by means of knowledge from the general public internet, in line with Axios’ Ina Fried). It requires Apple silicon, the corporate’s bespoke chips which have a hybrid structure designed to run AI duties. Despite the fact that the units Apple Intelligence runs on are able to the on-device processing wanted to finish AI duties, generally the duty is simply too large and must be despatched off to the cloud. When a process requires extra processing, it will be despatched to a safe knowledge heart stacked with computer systems that additionally run Apple silicon. Whereas this technique of computing is usually much less personal, Apple claims that its Non-public Cloud Compute platform focuses on making certain knowledge privateness for every person. Solely knowledge related to your question is distributed to those servers, and the information is just used to your requests and by no means saved.
Apple Intelligence Appropriate Gadgets
Earlier than you get too excited, Apple Intelligence is just not accessible for each machine that helps iOS 18. It is solely supported on choose processors (and languages).
What precisely is Apple Intelligence? Apple breaks down its key capabilities into three buckets: Language, Photographs, and Motion.
Apple Intelligence: Language
The brand new Apple Intelligence Writing Instruments.
{Photograph}: Julian chokkattu
All through Apple’s {hardware} and software program, you may discover new writing instruments that draw on the facility of generative AI to help your writing. This consists of Rewrite, which may 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. You may also summarize chosen textual content with a faucet.
These text-based enhancements transcend writing. It additionally powers Precedence notifications, which seem on the prime of your notification checklist and summarize it so that you get a extra digestible abstract at a look. You may flip the characteristic on by going to Settings > Notifications> Prioritize Notifications. Equally, the Mail app provides Precedence messages, which suggests essential emails will float to the highest of your inbox. You may also get summaries of lengthy emails, and a Good Reply operate permits you to rapidly reply to emails (even solutions to a number of questions posed in an e mail), not in contrast to what’s accessible in Gmail.
For now, nonetheless, Apple has paused notification summaries for information apps following a number of situations the place the characteristic didn’t summarize articles precisely. Notifications summarized by Apple Intelligence will now seem as italicized textual content.
Apple Intelligence can learn your notifications and provide fast summaries of what is inside.
{Photograph}: Apple
Within the Notes, Voice Memos, and Cellphone app, you may hit the file 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 that in states that require two-party consent for recordings, the individual on the opposite finish of the road might be made conscious that the decision is being recorded.
Lastly, there is a new Focus mode referred to as Scale back Interruptions that may perceive your private context, so whereas it hides incoming stuff that might distract you, it is aware of sufficient about what you have obtained happening to permit a textual content out of your babysitter to return by means of.
Apple Intelligence: Photographs
The Apple Intelligence picture options largely revolve round producing new pictures by means 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 may generate pictures based mostly on an outline, recommended ideas, and even from individuals in your Pictures library. You’ve got management over the model, and it may be tweaked to match no matter’s occurring within the app you are utilizing it in. You may also select between totally different types, together with Illustration, Animation, and (most lately) Sketch, which supplies pictures a extra pure, hand-drawn look.
Welcome to Genmoji.
{Photograph}: Apple
Genmoji simply may be essentially the most anticipated characteristic out of the whole lot Apple has introduced. It permits you to generate emojis instantly from the keyboard with textual content prompts. You may also pull an individual’s photograph out of your Pictures library to make an emoji based mostly on their appears. You may have to offer an outline first, however then you may alter the outline till it fits what you’re going for.
Picture Wand is one other picture era system that works particularly within the Notes app. Together with your finger or Apple Pencil, you may circle a sketch to have Apple Intelligence create one thing that appears extra refined, however you can even circle an empty house, and it’ll generate a picture based mostly on the encompassing textual content. It is a simple approach so as to add extra visible selection to your notes.
Seashore clean-up.
Video: Apple
The Pictures app is getting a couple of AI options. You can also make a Reminiscence Film by coming into an outline like “All of the desserts I ate in the course of the summer season final 12 months, set to a pop tune,” and Apple’s AI will discover the suitable pictures and video, put them to a tune, and craft a shareable film out of it. It will even be simpler to seek for particular pictures—simply describe what you need and it will discover it, even moments in video clips (just like Google’s Ask Pictures characteristic). Lastly, you may erase undesirable objects within the background of your pictures with the brand new Clear Up software within the photograph editor, precisely like Magic Eraser on Pixel telephones and Samsung’s Object Eraser.
Apple Intelligence: Motion
The ultimate a part of Apple Intelligence is arguably one which may be used essentially the most typically, and it entails Siri. The assistant has a brand new look—when activated, the sides of the display will glow—and now you can kind your requests to Siri as a substitute of utilizing your voice (one thing you have been in a position to do with Google Assistant for a number of years).
{Photograph}: Julian chokkattu
