While new AI features will steal the show at WWDC this week, Apple has a host of other changes planned for iOS 18. These include new home screen customization options, design tweaks, and more. Below is a roundup of some non-AI features rumored for iOS 18 this year.
Place Icons Anywhere on the Home Screen
Rumors suggest that Apple will allow users to freely place app icons and widgets on their Home Screen for the first time. This means iPhone users can break free from the current fixed grid system and create gaps between widgets and app icons.
This mirrors functionality available on Android. Additionally, the iPad currently allows users to place widgets (though not app icons) anywhere on the home screen.
Theming App Icons
Another significant change coming to the iOS 18 home screen is the ability to customize app icons. According to Bloomberg, this new feature will let users “change the color of app icons” on a system-wide level for the first time.
Details on how exactly this will work are still pending. Bloomberg’s example suggests you could “make all your social icons blue or finance-related ones green.”
Apple Maps Upgrades
Apple Maps will reportedly add support for a new custom route creation feature with iOS 18.
Custom route creation will enable iPhone users to design their specific routes for a trip, rather than relying on one of the routes suggested by Apple Maps. Currently, Apple Maps offers several route options to your destination, but this feature in iOS 18 would provide complete control over the precise details of your journey.
Control Center Revamp
According to Bloomberg, iOS 18 will bring a revamped Control Center functionality to iPhone users. The new Control Center design will feature an updated music widget, as well as improvements to HomeKit integration.
Currently, iOS “intelligently” chooses up to six accessories to display in the Home section of Control Center. This layout, however, is managed automatically and isn’t always great at surfacing the exact controls users are looking for. While Bloomberg doesn’t offer specific details on how iOS 18 will improve HomeKit support in Control Center, ideally, one area of focus will be providing users with added customization.
Text Effects in Messages
A report last week suggested that iOS 18 will add text effect support to the Messages app. According to MacRumors, this feature will let users “add animations to individual words within a message.”
New Settings App
Finally, iOS 18 will reportedly include a new version of the Settings app for iPhone users. The new Settings app will feature a revamped interface with improved organization and more powerful search for easily finding the settings you’re looking for.
By Andrej Kovacevic
Updated on 14th July 2024