Apple's Intelligence feature may not be available on launch day, but iOS 18 remains an ambitious update even without it.
It's an unusual year for iOS
Typically, the new software version is released all at once. However, with iOS 18, the foundational elements have been introduced, and in a normal year, features like RCS support and a redesigned control center would be substantial. But iOS 18's headline feature, Apple Intelligence, is not even part of this initial release, and some of its most interesting capabilities may not be seen until well into 2025. The iOS 18 rollout has begun, and it's set to continue for the foreseeable future.
iOS 18 is a highly ambitious update, even without the inclusion of Apple Intelligence. The customization options available are at an unprecedented level, allowing users to personalize their iPhone in ways never seen before. This level of personalization is quite uncharacteristic of Apple's typical approach.
The Control Center could become a small remote control for my phone.
Control Center is a good place to start. The quick-access settings panel has looked and functioned in basically the same way for most of the past decade, but it gets a big overhaul in iOS 18. I think this is Apple at its best: everything you need is still there and the vibe is overwhelmingly familiar, but once you dig in, you can see how it's a massive change.
Controls are now divided into pages, with the familiar connectivity and focus mode settings located on the first page as expected. Each page is highly customizable, allowing you to select the controls you want to add or remove, and determine their placement and size. It will become even more interesting when third-party apps start adding their own controls.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623966/IMG_1364.PNG)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623969/IMG_1363.PNG)
The new layout took some time to get accustomed to. Initially, I was swiping too far down the screen
and skipping to the second or third page of controls. It required about a week to retrain that muscle memory, and you can simply delete the additional pages if desired. Personally, I am hoping to transform the new control center into a mini remote control for my phone and use it to reduce the number of trips to individual apps.
The addition of RCS to iOS 18 will be either a minor feature or a major game-changer, with no middle ground. The author is in the latter camp and was excited to see their first RCS messages successfully sent to their Android friends. After downloading the iOS 18 beta, the messages automatically switched to RCS without any user intervention, and the experience has been surprisingly smooth. The author now enjoys features like typing indicators, read receipts, and tapbacks displayed as reactions rather than separate messages.
You can customize your homescreen in unique ways.
The real moment of truth will come when my friends finally upgrade to iOS 18, allowing us to message photos to each other without complicated side channeling. I have shown remarkable restraint in not asking my iPhone-owning friends to download beta software, but my campaign to get them all to upgrade to iOS 18 starts today. If you're an iPhone owner who regularly messages someone on Android, please consider doing the same. This incarnation of RCS on the iPhone won't end the blue-bubble, green-bubble wars, but it will relieve the biggest pain points in cross-platform messaging for people on both sides.
Equally important as sharing priceless memories with my friends is the fact that iOS 18 will also allow you to customize your homescreen in unprecedented ways. You can go all out with a unique design, or simply place the icons exactly where you want them for the first time since the invention of the iPhone. Imagine the possibilities!
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623978/IMG_1368.PNG)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25623981/IMG_1369.PNG)
Apple has showcased the app icon tinting feature with numerous attractive examples, but personally, I have not been able to discover a way to utilize them that does not result in an overly "Material Ew" appearance. However, the ability to place icons anywhere on the screen already feels remarkably intuitive, and it is surprising that this functionality was not available previously.
This is a significant update, with the new Passwords app being only the fourth most interesting feature. The app is straightforward and seems designed for users who are reluctant to learn how to use a password manager. It allows you to save passwords and access them across your iOS, iPad, and macOS devices, and also enables you to share individual passwords or groups of passwords with others, which could be useful for families and people living in the same household.
There is a lot to explore even without artificial intelligence
The catch is that everyone needs to be in the Apple ecosystem, and since I frequently jump between iOS and Android, it's not something I can really use in the long term. Using a first-party Apple password manager would also make switching away from iOS in the future that much harder, which is probably no accident. But if my parents were all in on Apple, I'd absolutely make sure they were using it.
One feature I know I'll be using for the long haul is Transcription in Voice Memos. This might be one for my fellow journalists, but it is good. For years, I've used Pixel phones to record and transcribe interviews, and the Pixel has basically remained unchallenged as the best tool for the job. In iOS 18, Voice Memos will finally transcribe your recordings, in real time or after the fact, and it's on par with the Pixel Recorder app as far as quality goes. It may not be a feature for the masses, but if you know, you know.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25624412/DSC08371_processed.jpg) |
| Voice memo transcription is surprisingly good, and I know my fellow journalists will be all over it. Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge |
A new control center and a more customizable app grid may not seem like much on paper, but if you're willing to put in a little effort, you'll find iOS 18 to be quite rewarding, without the need for artificial intelligence.
AI is the key missing component here. I've had the chance to preview some of it in early betas: the new glowing Siri will impress you the first time you use it, and the initial version of Apple Intelligence will provide email summaries, notification digests, and writing tools. I haven't been truly amazed by any of this yet, but the big advancements - as we've been repeatedly told - are still to come. Siri will gain contextual awareness and the ability to actually perform tasks for you, which could be a significant development. These features are planned for a future update; until then, you'll mostly be stuck with the same old assistant.
 |
| Pic credit by Apple |
For now, Apple's artificial intelligence capabilities are still gradually emerging. However, even without major AI features, iOS 18 is off to a promising start. Apple simply needs to complete its development.