Apple on Monday launched its new iOS 18 for all suitable iPhones to put in — here is how download and install the new update. iOS 18 will already come put in on the brand new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional fashions (see our iPhone 16 Pro review), which can hit cabinets on September 20. 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 new. Typically annually, some older iPhone fashions are faraway from Apple’s iOS eligibility checklist. Final yr, as an illustration, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X have been left off the compatibility checklist. That meant these iPhone homeowners could not replace to iOS 17 and missed out on some notable features. On the flip aspect, some older {hardware} will get main new options: Contemplate the upcoming software program replace that successfully turns current AirPods Professional headphones right into a hearing aid, full with a built-in listening to take a look at. (Apple simply received FDA authorization to launch that characteristic later this yr.)
We’ll aid you discover out in case your iPhone will help iOS 18, in addition to Apple Intelligence. As well as, Apple has additionally launched a firmware update for AirPods Pro 2. If you would like a full checklist of all the brand new iOS 18, take a look at Apple’s exhaustive list in PDF form (via MacRumors). Nonetheless catching up on all the things new that Apple introduced at its September 9 launch event? Take a look at our full AirPods 4 review, together with hands-on previews of the Apple Watch Series 10, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro.
iPhones suitable with iOS 18
We’ve got excellent news: In the event you had an eligible cellphone final yr while you up to date to iOS 17, that machine ought to nonetheless be suitable with iOS 18, according to Apple. Meaning 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 approach, you probably have an iPhone from the 2017 model year or earlier (iPhone 8 or iPhone X), you’ll be able to’t improve to the most recent iOS, however your cellphone ought to proceed to work — albeit with out the most recent and best options.
Is your iPhone suitable with Apple Intelligence?
Whereas your older machine will nonetheless have the ability to help the most recent iOS, chances are high that you simply will not get to attempt the Apple Intelligence beta but subsequent month. Until you’ve got an iPhone 15 Professional or iPhone 15 Professional Max — the top-end 2023 fashions — or one of many new iPhone 16 fashions, your iPhone isn’t eligible.
When will Apple Intelligence options be accessible?
In case your machine is suitable with Apple Intelligence, you can begin enjoying with a few of these options in October, once they start to hit these newer iPhones in subsequent updates.
The primary spherical of Apple Intelligence options will probably be accessible in English within the US this October. In December, it’s going to turn out to be accessible in localized English to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK. Extra language help, together with Chinese language, French, Japanese and Spanish, will probably be accessible someday subsequent yr, Apple says.
As beforehand reported, Apple Intelligence will not be making its way to EU countries 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 most important new iOS 18 options
Whereas Apple Intelligence is by far the largest replace coming with iOS 18, its options are going to be launched extra piecemeal over the following few months. And the extra superior options will not be accessible on older iPhone fashions apart from the iPhone 15 Professional collection. However the remainder of the iOS 18 options can be found now. Listed here are simply a few of the highlights you’ll be able to anticipate while 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 that you could entry immediately within the app. (Whereas this performance at present exists in Settings, transferring 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 better support Android compatibility.
An organized photographs library: The Photos app is getting a redesign, which lets you create and pin your personal collections within the app — suppose “marriage ceremony photographs” or “journey 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 removed during the beta process.
Customized dwelling display screen structure: You will lastly get the choice to rearrange your apps — as an illustration, you’ll be able to depart the center house open to show your property display screen picture, and as an alternative have your apps alone the border of the display screen. 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 the best hidden features of iOS 18 and its sibling Apple working system updates, based mostly on the betas launched earlier this yr.
Are MacOS Sequoia, iPadOS 18, WatchOS 11 and tvOS 18 accessible now?
Here is when you’ll be able to obtain the most recent software program updates in your different Apple units (most are as we speak as properly).
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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 machine with iOS 18. (Simply notice that hearing aid functionality 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 info 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.
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