At least some Apple software engineers still believe iOS 18 will be the “biggest” update in iPhone history, according to BloombergIt’s Mark Gurman. Below, we summarize the rumored features and changes for the iPhone.
“The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of iPhone software in its history, according to people working on the update,” wrote Gurman, in a report focused on WWDC 2024. Apple recently said that its conference Developer Annual will run from June 10 to 14, and iOS 18 will be a key announcement.
iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more customizable home screen and other UI design changes, new features in apps like Apple Maps and Freeform, additional accessibility features, and more.
Smarter Siri and generative AI
iOS 18 is rumored to have new generative AI features for Siri, Spotlight, Shortcuts, Apple Music, Messages, Health, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and more, according to sources like Gurman and InformationI’m Wayne Ma.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly teased that the company is working on generative AI and plans to share details “later this year,” and Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak also hinted at AI this week in a social media post about WWDC 2024.
Generative AI gained popularity in late 2022, when OpenAI launched ChatGPT, a chatbot that can answer questions and other text prompts. The company has also expanded into generative AI tools for images and videos. Other companies like Google and Microsoft have also entered the generative AI space, and the technology is evolving rapidly.
iOS 18 is not expected to include Apple’s ChatGPT-like chatbot. Instead, Apple has reportedly held talks with companies like OpenAI, Google, and China’s Baidu about potential generative AI partnerships, which could lead to the integration of other chatbots in iOS 18, although Apple’s exact plans are unclear.
Some generative AI features could be exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro models, which are rumored to have a neural engine with “significantly” more cores.
More customizable home screen
iOS 18 will feature a “more customizable” home screen, according to Gurman.
MacRumors exclusively reported that iOS 18 will finally allow users to place app icons anywhere on the home screen grid. This means that users will be able to create white space, columns and rows between app icons. This basic feature has long been available on Android smartphones and now Apple is bringing it to the iPhone.
iPhone users can already customize the home screen with apps like Shortcuts and Widgetsmith, which can be used to create “blank” app icons and widgets, but Apple’s official solution will be much more convenient.
We expect iOS 18 to include additional customization options beyond the icon layout, as part of the biggest overhaul of the home screen in years.
New Apple Maps features
MacRumors It recently revealed two potential new Apple Maps features coming with iOS 18: custom routes and topographic maps.
With the custom routes feature, Apple Maps users could choose specific roads to travel while navigating, for reasons such as familiarity or scenic views. This feature is expected to be available in the US only at launch. Google Maps already allows users to create custom routes on the web and then view them on an iPhone.
Topographic maps first debuted on the Apple Watch last year with watchOS 10, and code suggests the feature will expand to the iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro with iOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2. These maps include details like trails . , contour lines, elevation and points of interest for hiking and other outdoor uses.
RCS support in Messages app
In November, Apple announced that it would support the RCS cross-platform messaging standard in the iPhone’s Messages app starting “later” in 2024, so it will likely be an iOS 18 feature based on that time frame.
RCS support should result in the following improvements to the default messaging experience between iPhone and Android devices:
- Higher resolution photos and videos
- audio messages
- Writing prompts
- Read receipts
- Wi-Fi messaging between iPhones and Android devices
- Improved group chats, including the ability for iPhone users to leave a conversation that includes Android users.
These modern features are already available for iPhone-to-iPhone conversations with blue bubbles, via iMessage, and many of the features are also available in third-party messaging apps, such as WhatsApp and Telegram. Support for RCS on iPhone will expand features to green bubbles in the Messages app.
Design changes
Apple plans to update the iOS user interface design “early this year,” according to Gurman. He previously said iOS 18 would have “major new features and designs,” but has yet to provide specific details.
More rumors
For additional information, read our iOS 18 overview.
