New iOS 18: Release Date, Features, Compatible iPhones, and Everything We Think We Know About the New Version
Next Monday, June 10th, is the date when we will fully discover iOS 18. Until then, here are all the details we know so far about the new iPhone operating system.
Release Date
With the date for WWDC 2024 confirmed, we know that the next major version of iOS will arrive on Monday, June 10th. Initially, the update will be released for beta testers, and in September, alongside the iPhone 16, iOS 18 will be available for everyone to install.
What's New in iOS 18?
Two major updates are expected in iOS 18: the first focused on design with a change in the home screen, and the second related to artificial intelligence, either within Siri or integrated into applications.
The Artificial Intelligence of iOS 18
It appears that this will finally be Siri’s year. Apple is working on making significant improvements to the assistant to bring it to levels comparable to ChatGPT, with the help of a language model internally named Ajax.
Combined with other tools that Apple has quietly released to the developer community, such as Apple MLX, it can be deduced that iOS 18 might transform the iPhone into a personal AI device that executes requests locally on compatible models.
Siri in iOS 18
Much of this work is reportedly being done in the offices in Barcelona, as seen in job postings that have appeared. Apple is looking for engineers in various specialties but focused on AI to improve Siri on-site in Barcelona.
One of the latest reports indicates that Apple might be seeking help from Google and its Gemini AI model. Just as Safari’s default search engine is Google, Siri’s AI language could also rely on Google’s model.
There are traces of Apple talking to the media to integrate news into what will be its future generative AI. Tim Cook confirmed in the last financial results press conference that we will see developments in this area “by the end of the year,” suggesting the activation of a significant service once iOS 18 and the next iPhones are released.
Developers might also appreciate a new version of Xcode that will include AI to generate code automatically, as Apple’s response to Microsoft’s Copilot.
Lastly, Apple is working on a powerful AI model focused on analyzing what’s on our screens. Internally known as ReaAML, it boasts being faster and more efficient than GPT-4.
Based on another language model already published by Apple, we know that the intention is for all data processing to be done on the device itself without an internet connection to ensure privacy.
Applications That Will Change in iOS 18
All the AI we’ve mentioned will be applied in iOS 18 through its various applications. For instance, we know that the Notes and Calculator apps will work closely to help solve mathematical problems and scan documents with complex operations.
Moreover, advanced features will be included in the Mail, Photos, and Fitness apps, all powered by Apple’s AI. For example, emails might be drafted automatically in Mail. In Photos, we could apply effects like removing people or objects.
Design of iOS 18
One rumor about iOS 18 is that its interface could undergo a significant change, similar to the transition from iOS 6 to iOS 7 ten years ago. Mark Gurman has received similar hints from his sources, indicating a design change that won’t be as radical as the shift from iOS 6 to iOS 7 but still noticeable.
It’s said that iOS 18 will free up the iPhone home screen, allowing us to customize it to our liking, even with empty spaces between apps and widgets.
Certainly, iOS 18 is ripe for a makeover, marking the beginning of the era of spatial computing. If so far all Apple operating systems have drawn from iOS, starting in 2024, the same systems and iOS will draw from the learnings of visionOS.
Compatible iPhone Models
There are no rumors confirming this, but we should expect a cut from the older models compatible with iOS 17: the iPhone XR and XS. If confirmed, the list of iPhone models compatible with iOS 18 would be as follows:
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd gen.)
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (3rd gen.)
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max / Ultra
Again, this list is not definitive, as Apple has the final say in deciding compatible models.
Release Date of iOS 18
We know that iOS 18 will be unveiled next Monday, June 10th. During the summer months, we will receive the betas, with the final system release in the second half of September.
It’s still early to know specific details about iOS 18, but we will update this article as the weeks go by and leakers uncover new information.
How to Download and Install iOS 18
Right now, it’s impossible to install iOS 18 as the development is entirely closed off to Apple’s labs. We will be able to do so in the beta phase as we have with other iOS versions starting on June 10th, when the first version of that channel appears for developers.