iOS 18: the rumors so far and everything we want to see
From what little we’ve heard so far, iOS 18 could be one of the most interesting software releases of 2024, with early leaks suggesting it will include some “major new features and designs”, along with a big focus on AI.
Considering we described iOS 17 in our 4.5-star iOS 17 review as “one of the best iOS updates we’ve seen in years,” the idea is that iOS 18 could be an even more substantial update certainly attractive.
That said, we don’t know much about this update yet, so it’s unclear what exactly it will offer. What little we’ve heard is below, along with information on the possible release date and the phones we expect to be supported.
Ahead, you’ll find a list of the most important things we want from iOS 18 to make it the best update possible. We’ll also add leaks and news to this article as new information emerges, so check back soon to stay informed.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next big iOS release
- When is it out? Probably September 2024
- How much is it? It will be a free upgrade
iOS 18: Predicted Release Date
Based on previous incarnation, iOS 18 will almost certainly launch in mid-September 2024, as every major iOS release from iOS 6 onwards rolled out between September 13 and September 20 of their release year. This launch will likely coincide (roughly) with the launch of the iPhone 16 line and the Apple Watch 10.
However, you don’t have to wait until September to see, or even try out, some of iOS 18’s features, as Apple typically announces new iOS versions at WWDC, which is usually held in early June. That means we’ll get a good taste of iOS 18’s talents at WWDC 2024.
Here we get a first look at many of the key features, and soon after, Apple releases developer previews, followed by public betas. So if you don’t mind a few bugs, you can probably try an unfinished version of iOS 18 long before September.
iOS 18: Expected Compatibility
We don’t know yet which phones will support iOS 18, but for reference, iOS 17 works on every iPhone from the iPhone XR and iPhone XS. Apple dropped support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, all of which landed in the same year as each other (2017).
So it’s likely that with iOS 18, Apple will end support for iPhones released in 2018, namely the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. That would mean you need an iPhone 11 or newer to get iOS 18. While this is the most likely scenario based on recent history, this is just speculation for now.
iOS 18: News and Leaks
There aren’t many iOS 18 leaks yet, but one thing we’ve heard is that Apple is spending a lot of money on AI servers and features – and that the first fruits of these efforts will be ready later in 2024.
Apple GPT – the company’s rumored ChatGPT rival – is apparently being worked on internally, and it could help reinvent both Siri and AppleCare. In addition to an AI chatbot, Apple is also reportedly working on image-generating AI, and both AI features could potentially be baked into Siri, to upgrade Apple’s increasingly disappointing digital assistant.
Likewise, we’ve heard that Apple’s AI-powered Siri assistant could be unveiled as soon as WWDC 2024, which is when we expect to get our first official look at iOS 18. But it reportedly only works with the iPhone 16 and later suggests this feature may require special hardware.
We don’t know much about how Siri could improve, but one example given is that it could replace the Shortcuts app, and work as a simple way to perform complex tasks. For example, you can ask Siri to create a GIF from the last five photos you took and then send it to a contact, all with a simple voice command.
Elsewhere, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has claimed that Apple has internally described iOS 18 as a major upgrade, calling it “ambitious and compelling” with some “key new features and designs.”
However, Apple also reportedly halted development of iOS 18 in November to fix any issues. This is rare, which could indicate that some of the planned features are proving to be problematic. That in turn could mean some features are postponed or canceled, but that remains to be seen.
iOS 18: what we want to see
There are a number of things we’d like to see in iOS 18, including the following five improvements.
1. A global rollout of all important features
One of the key features of iOS 17 was Live Voicemail, but this is really only available in the US and Canada, making iOS 17 and by extension the iPhone 15 significantly worse outside of the US and Canada.
It’s an unfortunate situation, and while Google may be even more guilty of locking down phone features to the US, Apple could still do a lot better here.
So for iOS 18, we want all features to be made available globally, and if that’s really not possible, we want Apple to be more transparent about that, rather than burying availability in fine print.
2. Android check-in compatibility
Another Apple habit we’re not fond of is blocking Android from features like iMessage and SharePlay. This is unfortunate, but somewhat understandable. Where it becomes less understandable, however, is when these features involve security, as is the case with Check In.
This iOS 17 feature is an automated way to let loved ones know that you have arrived home safely, or conversely to let them know that you may not be safe if you haven’t checked in. In the latter case, certain people can see where you are. phone is.
But it requires both the sender and recipient to have iOS 17 in order to function, which means Android users not only can’t actively use the feature (understandable), but also can’t receive check-in notifications from others (to a lesser extent).
So with iOS 18, we’d like to see Apple open up this feature to Android users so that even if they can’t automate their own check-ins, they can receive these automated messages and alerts from friends and family members who use iOS.
3. An AI upgrade for Siri
Rumors suggest that Apple will be using a lot of AI in iOS 18, and it’s likely that Siri will be one of the main recipients of this. We certainly hope so, because ChatGPT makes Siri look incredibly dated in its current form. Especially now that ChatGPT Voice is available for free on iOS.
These Siri upgrades may enable more natural, fluid conversation, and allow Siri to perform much more complex tasks than simply Googling something or turning on your smart lights.
4. Place the cursor in the middle of a word with a tap
One feature we really wish Apple would borrow from Android is the ability to simply tap in the middle of a word to place the cursor there, so you can then easily correct typos.
Currently, to reach the middle of a word you have to hold down the space bar and drag, which works well enough but is considerably slower. We don’t expect this in iOS 18, but it would be nice to see.
5. Deep but thoughtful AI integration
In addition to Siri, we hope Apple integrates AI into other parts of iOS 18, but we want it to be done thoughtfully, rather than with half-baked or gimmicky features.
We’d especially like to see photography get a large AI toolset to help with image editing. We’re thinking of things like Google’s Magic Eraser and Magic Editor tools, which let you move or delete things in photos. And it would also be interesting to see spatial photos and videos become more accessible, so that they aren’t just designed for Apple Vision Pro owners.