iOS 18 could be the ‘biggest’ software update in iPhone history – and here’s why

In our iOS 17 review, we labeled Apple’s latest operating system as “one of the best iOS updates we’ve seen in years” – but iOS 18 will reportedly go one step further.

According to Bloomberg Mark Gurman (through MacRumors), iOS 18 could be “one of the biggest iOS updates – if not the biggest – in the company’s history,” with Apple employees seeing the upcoming update as a major change of gear for the iPhone.

Apple itself has teased that iOS 18 will be an “ambitious and compelling” update with “major new features and designs.” But Gurman’s comments have further increased excitement for what is expected to be Apple’s first major foray into AI.

Apple reportedly spends more than $1 billion a year on AI development, and Gurman confirmed earlier this month that several iPhone-specific AI features are on track for a big reveal at WWDC 2024.

Siri, Messages, Apple Music and Pages are expected to see significant AI-based improvements in 2024, with the former reportedly in line for a ChatGPT-style makeover. According to seriallekker indeed RevegnusApple is currently using its own LLM (major language model) to “completely revamp Siri into the ultimate virtual assistant.”

The iPhone already has several features that use machine learning, such as Personal Voice (above), which can create a near-exact replica of your voice. (Image credit: Apple)

So it seems that AI will remain the buzzword of the technology industry in 2024. Samsung’s recent Galaxy Unpacked 2024 showcase was dominated by AI-related announcements for the Samsung Galaxy S24 line, so we’re not surprised to hear that Apple will do the same. making AI the focus of iOS 18 and future iPhone updates.

Has Apple finally gotten the message?

But iOS 18 could be the “biggest” software update in iPhone history for another reason. Apple has confirmed that it will add support for RCS messages to iPhones sometime in 2024, and we expect this long-awaited feature to debut on iOS 18 later this year.

RCS (or Rich Communication Services) is a communications standard designed to universally improve messaging communications on mobile devices. Essentially, Apple’s adoption of the standard will dramatically improve the standard messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices.

Currently, iPhone-to-iPhone messages are much more versatile than iPhone-to-Android messages (Image credit: Shutterstock/DenPhotos)

Currently, features like read receipts, typing indicators, higher resolution photos and videos, and Wi-Fi messaging are limited to iPhone-to-iPhone calls (or Android-to-Android calls), but iOS 18 could finally move the parity to green can deliver – and blue bubble messages.

However, RCS will not replace iMessage and its iPhone-exclusive features. “We believe the RCS Universal Profile will provide a better interoperability experience compared to SMS or MMS,” Apple told us last year, “but this will work together with iMessage, which will remain the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users. .”

If we expect iOS 18 – and thus Apple’s AI features and RCS support – to see the light of day, it’s likely that the first iOS 18 beta will release after WWDC in June 2024. iOS 18 itself will then likely be released in September to follow, with the full release coinciding with the rumored iPhone 16 line.

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