iOS 18 arrives on the iPhone: here’s everything you need to know about the new operating system

Apple has officially launched this Monday the new version of its operating systems, among which is iOS 18which includes new customization, privacy and security features, although it delays the arrival of image generation tools such as Genmoji and Image Playground.

In June, the Cupertino company announced the new features introduced by its new iPhone operating system, when it highlighted its capabilities for customizing icons and widgets, as well as privacy features to block and hide services installed on the device or Apple Intelligence.

They also shared innovations in the operating systems that run on tablets (iPadOS 18) and Mac computers, with the new macOS Sequoia, as well as new features for the Apple Vision Pro and Apple TV with tvOS.

In this sense, Apple has already officially launched iOS 18, which It comes with a variety of features designed to personalize smartphone use, stay connected with friends and family and “relive favorite moments”all in a secure and private manner.

Among these new features, iOS 18 offers a new look for applications, which stand out against the background when dark mode is implemented, and whose icons can also be colored according to the user’s tastes.

The control center has also been redesigned to feature new sets of controls, which can be accessed more fluidly by simply swiping down on the home screen. These controls include things like managing music, screen brightness, notifications, and the clock, among others. You can also add controls from third-party apps that support this manager to keep everything in one place.

To remember important moments, Apple has also introduced improvements to the Gallery, which has been redesigned so that users can organize it according to their needs. For example, allows you to generate collections to automatically organize the library according to the theme of the image in question.

As a result, the gallery can be organized based on trips, photos from recent days, people, or even pets. In addition, these collections can be organized so that they appear in the order desired by users and save search time.

Apple has also introduced new features to its Messages app, including new ways to customize text, with animated effects. Along these lines, iOS 18 includes the option to schedule messages to send latereven when there is no good coverage with satellite messages. Meanwhile, the Mail application also introduces new options to improve the service, with the ability to sort messages according to their importance or urgency.

As for security and privacy-focused features, iOS 18 has introduced tools such as ‘Locked Apps’, which requires a password or FaceID to access the applications where it has been configured, and ‘Hidden Apps’, which hides desired applications in an external folder.

Another new feature that comes with iOS 18 It is the blocking of component activation, a new measure that seeks to discourage the sale of parts from stolen iPhonesThis feature links an iPhone or iPad device, including all its components, to an Apple ID account so that, in the event of theft or loss, it prevents another person from using or selling it.

With all this, as the technology company has detailed on its website, the compatible iPhone devices that You can now install iOS 18 for free on all models included in the iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone Xs, iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 series and the recently introduced iPhone 16with the standard, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max models.

IPADOS, MACOS AND WATCHOS

On the other hand, Apple has also officially launched the new versions of its operating systems for tablets (iPadOS 18), for computers (macOS Sequoia) and for its smart watches watchOS 11.

In this regard, all the new features launched in iOS 18 will also be present in the new operating system for tablets, such as the redesign of the Photos app. However, it includes new features such as the Calculator function.

Until now, iPads did not have a Calculator application, however, with iPadOS 18, users will be able to access this tool, which has the same appearance as the iPhone calculator but optimized for large screens and with new options, such as the function of viewing the results history.

As for the new version of the operating system for computers, macOS Sequoia, Apple has launched improvements such as the reorganization of the windows that are open. Likewise, has also launched a new Passwords app, which allows you to organize your credentials and security codes in one place.

In addition, Safari introduces the ‘machine learning’ function, which makes it possible to extract the most important information from web pages with the ‘Highlights’ tool.

iPadOS 18 is now available for iPad Pro (with M4 chip), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation or later), 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation or later), iPad Air (with M2 chip), iPad Air (3rd generation or later), iPad (7th generation or later), and iPad mini (5th generation or later).

macOS Sequoia, on the other hand, can be downloaded on iMac (from the 2019 version), iMac Pro (from 2017), Mac Studio (from 2022), MacBook Air (from 2020), Mac mini (from 2018), MacBook Pro (from 2018) and Mac Pro (from 2019) models.

Likewise, Apple has also launched the new version of the operating system for smartwatches, watchOS 11, which is available for the Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), Apple Watch Series 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, Apple Watch Ultra, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models.

DELAYED FUNCTIONS

Regarding its ecosystem Apple Intelligence, which offers tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI), is currently rolling out with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, in beta for devices configured in US English.This includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models, as well as iPads and Macs with M1 chips, as detailed by Apple on its website. Therefore, its arrival in Europe and, specifically, in Spain, is not yet planned.

In this context, the technology company has also delayed the launch of some AI-based image generation functions included in Apple Intelligence, such as Genmoji and Image Playground. The former allows users to create new emojis directly with generative AI, while Image Playground allows users to generate images in seconds. As we recently learned, both imaging tools will arrive via iOS 18.2, which is scheduled to be released in December.

In addition to Apple Intelligence and its features, Apple has also delayed the arrival of some iOS 18 tools in Europe, such as SharePlay Screen Sharing, which allows users to share screens between devices. The same goes for the iPhone Mirroring feature for Mac, which allows users to bring the iPhone experience to their computer without having to use a smartphone, and which has also been delayed.

This decision is due to the “regulatory uncertainties” related to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires the promotion of interoperability and which, according to Apple, limits the arrival of certain features to its products, as shared in June of this year.