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Apple iOS 18: Public Release Schedule, Eligible iPhones, and New Features

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Updated on 28th July 2024

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Apple iOS 18: Public Release Schedule, Eligible iPhones, and New Features

iOS 17 added more interactivity to widgets on the iPhone home screen VivaTung/CNET

Apple has released iOS 18 in developer beta, with the first public beta version now available. This rollout aligns with Apple’s annual release schedule for its new iPhone operating system. If Apple continues this trend, the first stable public release of iOS 18 could happen after the launch of the next-generation iPhone series, likely in September.

According to a report by 9To5Mac, iOS 18 is expected to make its official debut in mid-to-late September, unless Apple decides on a significant change in their release plan. The report stated that if Apple holds the iPhone 16 series launch event between September 9 to September 17, the iOS 18 public release would likely roll out between September 16 to September 23.

For reference, iOS 17 was released on September 18, 2023, following the iPhone 15 series launch on September 12. Similarly, iOS 16 was publicly released on September 16, 2022, after the Apple fall event on September 7 of that year. Apple is expected to follow a similar pattern for iOS 18, targeting eligible iPhone models.

iOS 18: What’s New

Apple introduced the next-generation iPhone operating system, iOS 18, at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The standout features of iOS 18 include advanced artificial intelligence tools and features collectively called Apple Intelligence. This system-wide AI integration brings capabilities like writing assistance, summarization, image generation, and more. Reports indicate that Apple will offer these AI features as a preview with the initial iOS 18 release. Not all eligible iPhones will receive AI integration immediately; the features may only be available on iPhone 15 Pro models and the anticipated iPhone 16 series devices.

Another major feature of iOS 18 is the AI-powered Siri. The updated Siri includes an interactive interface with enhanced control over in-app actions for native Apple apps. Additionally, the AI-backed Siri offers improved contextual understanding for more personalized responses. A significant update is the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, allowing users to send queries or prompts directly to ChatGPT for assistance. This enhanced version of Siri is not expected in the initial iOS 18 release but will likely roll out in spring next year as part of the iOS 18.4 update.

The initial version of iOS 18 is expected to bring new Home Screen customization features, allowing users to place icons and widgets anywhere on the home screen and add tint to app icons for a more personalized look. Additionally, iOS 18 will enable users to customize the controls on the iPhone Lock screen, redesign the Control Center layout, offer a revamped Photos app, and introduce new messaging features like effects for individual words and Rich Communication Services (RCS) message support in select regions.