Apple has detailed the next major software update headed to iPhone devices later this year. iOS 18 features a number of noteworthy changes including revamped features and visual changes.
First off, iOS 18 comes with a new Home Screen customization system. Instead of just applying a theme to your lock screen, users can now change app icon colours, place app icons anywhere on their screen and switch between different app icon colours depending on their dark and light theme.
Wallpapers on the home screen can now also be displayed without a blur. As a result, you can move apps around to position them around the wallpaper.
For the first time in iOS history, users can now switch out the Flashlight and Camera icons on the lock screen. Now, you’ll be able to assign certain apps to these icon slots.
There’s also a big change coming to Control Center with a new multipage layout. Users can now create Control Center pages using the new Control Galley. For example, the Music App has its own Control Center page. Developers can also build pages for their apps. You can then switch between them all to easily access data and other settings.
Users can now lock apps behind FaceID and hide them on your home screen. These apps will then go into a special “Hidden” folder in the app library.
Apple has revamped the Photos App on iOS 18. The new layout gives you a better look at your photos with the ability now hide screenshots. Apple says the new “Carousel” interface is easier to navigate around while keeping the most important memories in the front of the app.
There’s also a new Game Mode coming to iOS 18 which Apple says turns off certain system features to accelerate gaming and maintain higher frames.
iOS 18 Key Features
- New Home Screen Customization
- New Home Screen Themes
- New Home Screen Icon Tints
- Revamped Control Center
- Control Center Gallery
- Customizable Lock Screen Icons
- Lock app behind FaceID
- Hide Apps
- Tapbacks in the Messages App
- Scheduled sending the Messages App
- Text effects in the Messages App
- Messages via Satellite for iPhone 14 and up
- Automatic categorization in Mail
- Apple Maps adds detailed topographic maps, including offline support
- Apple Wallet supports the new Apple Pay Online
- Game Mode
- Revamped Photos app
- + More
Apple says iOS 18 Beta will go live today for developers with a public beta next month. The software is expected to launch later this year.
