iOS 18 Releases Today – See How to Download, What New Features to Expect, and More

Apple’s highly anticipated iOS 18 update has been released today, September 16. The company claims it is the most important software update since the launch of the original iPhone.

When will it be available in India?

Users in India will be able to enjoy all Apple software updates from 10:30 PM India time on Monday, September 16.

First unveiled at WWDC 2024, iOS 18 introduces features centered on Apple Intelligence, an AI-powered system designed to improve user experiences across apps.

At the heart of iOS 18 is Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools deeply integrated into the operating system. Described as “AI for all of us,” Apple Intelligence delivers a blend of generative AI and personal context, offering new ways to type, generate images, and interact with Siri.

Writing tools let users rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in apps like Mail and Notes, while Image Playground can generate images based on suggestions, offering stylized sketch and animation options.

Siri is supposed to be smarter and better at recognizing context. It’s said to do things like edit photos, manage files, and even call ChatGPT to handle more complex requests.

Non-AI features

In addition to AI capabilities, iOS 18 offers several personalization features. The redesigned Home screen offers more flexibility, allowing users to rearrange apps and widgets with open spaces around wallpapers.

The Control Center has also been rebuilt, now offering the ability to resize controls and create multiple screens for different functions.

iPhone users can schedule text messages in the Messages app for the first time, and Tapback now supports all emojis thanks to the new Genmoji tool. iPhone 14 and later models also gain satellite messaging, allowing text communication without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection.

Apple will also add support for RCS (Rich Communication Services).

RCS is a communication protocol intended to replace SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) for mobile messaging. It allows users to send high-resolution images, videos, and audio files, supports group messaging with improved features, read receipts, typing indicators, location sharing, and other interactive features.

RCS technology works over Wi-Fi or mobile data and requires support from both the user’s device and the mobile network operator.

iOS 18 also improves privacy features, including the ability to lock apps with Face ID or Touch ID, or even hide apps from the Home screen entirely. For the first time, apps can be granted access to selected contacts rather than the entire list, offering more granular control over data sharing.

While Apple Intelligence will only be available on iPhone 15 Pro models and newer and devices with M-series chips, iOS 18 brings improvements to older iPhone models as well. A new Game mode improves performance by minimizing background activity, and there are also updates to Safari, Photos, Mail, and more.

There is no Apple Intelligence today

Despite starting to roll out today, the Apple Intelligence features won’t arrive until iOS 18.1 later this year. However, iPhone users can start discovering a number of other new features and improvements today.

Which iPhone models are supported?

– iPhone 16 Series (all models)
– iPhone 15 Series (all models)
– iPhone 14 Series (all models)
– iPhone 13 series (including mini, Pro, Pro Max)
– iPhone 12 series (including mini, Pro, Pro Max)
– iPhone 11 series (Pro, Pro Max)
– iPhone XS, XS Max, XR
– iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation)

How to download iOS 18:

To download iOS 18, follow these steps:

1. Back up your device using iCloud or iTunes to prevent data loss during the update.
2. Connect to Wi-Fi and make sure your iPhone has enough battery. It’s best to have at least 50% battery or keep your phone plugged in.
3. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
4. Go to the General section and select Software Update.
5. If iOS 18 is available, tap Download and Install. Agree to the terms and conditions, then start the download.
6. Once the download is complete, your iPhone will restart to install iOS 18. Follow all on-screen instructions.

Along with iOS 18, Apple also plans to simultaneously release iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18.