On this preliminary hands-on walkthrough, I focus on 18 of my favourite new modifications and options from the primary iOS 18 beta for iPhone. I clarify why you have to be enthusiastic about new long-awaited updates to the iOS Calendar app, Reminders, Notes, Messages, and extra. Watch our hands-on video, and be sure you subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for extra hands-on iOS 18 protection.
Notice: To your comfort, clicking the heading of every part will soar on to the corresponding timestamp within the embedded video under.
In iOS 18, the house display receives a number of radical (for iOS) modifications. For the primary time, customers are allowed to position app icons wherever, so long as they adhere to the normal grid construction. The identical factor now applies to widgets on iPhone, a function beforehand unique to iPadOS.
Talking of widgets, in iOS 18 now you can resize widgets dynamically by way of a helpful drag deal with that surfaces whereas in edit mode. Widgets may also be upsized and downsized, all the way in which again all the way down to an everyday app icon, utilizing a context menu possibility that seems when long-pressing the app.
Video: iOS 18 high options and modifications
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There’s additionally the power to make app icons bigger, which additionally brings forth the power to cover app names on the Residence Display screen for the primary time. Hopefully, Apple will lengthen this function to the smaller icons as effectively.
Customers may also like the brand new choice to allow a darkish mode for icons. At the moment, solely Apple’s first-party pre-installed apps are affected by the darkish mode possibility, however builders will have the ability to function it of their apps as effectively. As well as, there’s a new choice to tint all app icons with the identical coloration for a extra cohesive theme on the Residence Display screen.
Up till now, the Calendar app was an enormous disappointment for me, as a result of the month-to-month view offered nearly no element. In iOS 18, Apple has lastly addressed this obtrusive omission by offering the month view with totally different colours for every calendar, and the power to pinch out to view particular particulars about upcoming occasions.
However Apple took it a step additional in iOS 18, and tightly built-in the Calendar with Reminders. Now you can schedule a reminder straight within the Calendar, and add a calendar occasion straight from Reminders. These are each high quality enhancements which are positive to simplify occasion and process administration.
In iOS 18, the Messages app good points a number of new options, similar to with the ability to use emojis and stickers with tapbacks, the super-handy one-icon replies for shortly acknowledging a message that doesn’t require a full textual content response.
Customers may also love the power to schedule messages, a function that I and lots of others have been wanting for years. Apple additionally included a brand new textual content impact possibility that permits you to apply particular results and textual content formatting in your messages all the way down to a person phrase or emoji character.
Notes have obtained some incredible updates through the years, and that pattern continues with iOS 18. Certainly one of my favourite new options is the power to break down headings, which is nice for organizing dense textual content. Notes additionally good points the power to report and embed audio notes and spotlight textual content utilizing considered one of 5 new coloration choices.
As all the time, this yr’s main iOS replace contains fairly just a few noteworthy accessibility enhancements. A brand new Vocal Shortcuts possibility, which helps you to set up particular key phrases for executing Siri instructions and shortcuts offers a particularly highly effective new automation instrument.
There’s additionally a brand new visionOS-like eye-tracking function that permits you to management your gadget utilizing simply your eyes. I can solely think about this function turning into extra highly effective over time and could also be a ok purpose for a major replace to the front-facing digicam {hardware} in future iPhones.
13 further high options
Along with the 5 areas touched on above, I additionally cowl a further 13 sections on this preliminary iOS 18 walkthrough. The sections embody the next:
I’ll be again with extra in-depth, hands-on protection of iOS 18 and all of Apple’s platforms within the coming days and weeks. Within the meantime, inform me, what’s your favourite new function in iOS 18? Hold forth within the feedback under.
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