iOS 18: Upcoming Features and Device Compatibility

Should I Upgrade to iPhone 16 for iOS 18 Apple Intelligence?

iOS 18's exciting Apple Intelligence functionality won't work on the majority of iPhones due to processing power requirements, so you might be wondering if it's worth upgrading to an iPhone 16 model to get access. That answer is going to vary for everyone based on budget and desire for the latest features, but we have some context that might help you make a decision. First of all, Apple Intelligence is NOT going to be included in the launch versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia that we are expecting in September. The initial version of iOS 18 will have no Apple Intelligence features, but an iOS 18.1 update that's likely planned for October will introduce them. Not all Apple Intelligence features are going to launch at once, and some aren't coming until later in 2024 or in 2025. Apple is already testing iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 with developers, so we have a pretty good idea of what's going to be available first. In Notes and other apps, you can record audio and get a transcript along with a summary of your transcript, which is useful for recording lectures and other audio. There is a dedicated Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode that only shows you important notifications that need attention while filtering out everything else. Phone call recording is available in iOS 18.1. When starting a call, you can tap on the little record button in the upper left corner of the display. All participants are notified that the call is being recorded before the recording starts. Some of the best Apple Intelligence features aren't going to even be in that first iOS 18.1 release, including ChatGPT integration with Siri. As of right now, the Image Playground and Genmoji image generation options aren't in iOS 18.1, and it's entirely possible these will be delayed until later in 2024 too. Here's what's expected at some point in 2024: Even with Apple planning to introduce new Apple Intelligence capabilities in the later months of 2024, some of the most notable changes to the Siri personal assistant won't be ready until 2025. Apple showed a lot of these functions off at WWDC, but we're going to be waiting for some time to actually use them. Right now, the only iPhones that work with Apple Intelligence are the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple is going to add an Apple Intelligence-compatible A18 chip to all of the iPhone 16 models, so the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be able to work with Apple Intelligence. You can use Apple Intelligence on an iPad with an M-series chip or a Mac with an M-series chip, so if you have one of those and don't mind not having the Apple Intelligence features on an iPhone, it might not even be worth upgrading. At launch, Apple Intelligence is only going to be available in U.S. English, and it will not launch in China or the European Union. Apple plans to add new languages and expand availability across 2024 and 2025, but timing is unclear. In the European Union, the holdup is the Digital Markets Act. Apple says that it needs to figure out how to release Apple Intelligence while complying with its obligations under the DMA so it doesn't get fined by the European Commission. In China, Apple needs to find a China-based partner for AI features due to government restrictions. OpenAI and ChatGPT do not work in China, and Apple cannot operate its own AI servers in the country. It will need a partner for all of the Apple Intelligence features that are not handled on-device. Apple Intelligence in iOS 18 is exciting, but it's going to have a slow rollout. The most fun Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground and Genmoji will not be in the release versions of iOS 18, and we might not even see them in the October update. The best Siri features aren't even going to be coming in 2024, so deciding on whether to upgrade hinges on what you're looking forward to. If you don't mind the wait and want Image Playground or Genmoji, it could be worth upgrading this year. If it's the new Siri features you want, holding off until the iPhone 17 might be the better move. What you're upgrading from might also be a factor. If you have an iPhone 13 or earlier, jumping up to the iPhone 16 is going to be a huge improvement and you're also going to get other key features like Crash Detection, Emergency SOS via satellite and satellite text messaging, plus better cameras. It's worth it for that alone, and Apple Intelligence is just a bonus. If you have an iPhone 14 model or an iPhone 15 or 15 Plus, upgrading is less obvious. You're not going to see huge new features beyond Apple Intelligence, nor are you going to get great leaps in performance. With these models, it comes down to how eager you are to test Apple's AI. Keep in mind that we are expecting some much bigger changes with the iPhone 17 lineup than the iPhone 16 lineup, because rumors suggest Apple is working on an all-new model with a much thinner design. If you don't upgrade regularly and want the biggest impact for your next upgrade, waiting until 2025 might make more sense. If you are in the European Union, China, or don't primarily speak English, it's not worth upgrading to the iPhone 16 just to get Apple Intelligence because there's no word yet on when Apple is going to make it available in those countries or in additional languages.

Which iPhones will work with iOS 18?

Apple will release iOS 18, the next iteration of its iPhone operating system, later in 2024. The new update will bring exciting features like Apple Intelligence, customization capabilities, animated text in Messages, and plenty of other improvements and tweaks. But, will your existing iPhone support iOS 18 and will it be able to utilize all the new features? Here's a guide to what you should expect if you want to upgrade to iOS 18. Here are the iPhones that Apple has confirmed will support iOS 18: While most of the new features Apple brings to iOS 18 will work on all iPhones, there are particular ones that have hardware requirements that mean they will only be available on certain models. Here are the features that will only be supported on newer devices. Apple's new AI capabilities might grab the headlines, but the hardware demands mean that it will only be available for a handful of iPhones. These are the models that will be able to support Apple Intelligence: We don't know yet if Apple Intelligence will only be available on the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models or whether the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will also be included. We think it's likely they all get the feature, as Apple usually uses the processors from the previous Pro generation in the following standard iPhone models and we know these to be compatible with the AI requirements. This feature allows you to record notes and have your iPhone turn the speech into text you can use afterward. The feature will only be available for iPhone 12 or later devices. This means if you have any of the iPhone 11, Xr, Xs or SE range then you won't be able to use this capability. This impressive new addition in iOS 18 allows users to control their iPhone just with eye movements. It's available on iPhone 12 and later models including iPhone SE (3rd Gen), but won't be supported on any of the iPhone 11, Xr or Xs range. Another accessibility feature coming in iOS 18 is Music Haptics, which uses the iPhone's Taptic Engine to tap along to the beat of the music that's playing, so hearing impaired users can still enjoy the beats. It's available on all iPhone 12 models and later, but again if you have any of the iPhone 11, Xr, Xs or SE range then you won't be able to use this feature. Apple does an amazing job of keeping older iPhones on the latest software and that continues with iOS 18. If your current iPhone has iOS 17 then it will also be getting iOS 18, simple as that. Obviously, as you can see from the section above, you might not get all the cool new features, but there will still be plenty to explore in the latest upgrade.