The 10 Best iOS 18 features

Apple introduced iOS 18, the next version of their mobile operating system, at the WWDC 2024 event. As per usual, they gave us their usual high quality run down of what the new version will encapsulate, but shocked us with their Apple Intelligence announcement.

The much awaited integration of AI into Apple’s OS ecosystem means that users will have a lot more functionality and can expect a whole new experience on their Apple devices. In this article, we are going to talk about the 10 BEST iOS 18 features (in no particular order).

Let’s begin –

The 10 Best iOS 18 features

Number 1. Lock and/or Hide your Apps

iOS 18 will allow users to lock or hide apps that may contain sensitive information. While there are some apps that already allow you to add a layer of security via Touch ID or Face ID, iOS 18 will bring this functionality to all the apps that you have, or will eventually install on your iPhones.

Suppose, you need to lend your device to someone else for a split second, and you do not want them prying into your App library, iOS 18 will allow you to hide the sensitive apps. Looks like Apple finally listened to the user base and got this much appreciated feature to the iPhone family.

 

 

Number 2. Mirror your iPhone onto your MacBook/Mac

Before you tell me that screen mirroring has been there on the Apple ecosystem since years, let me tell, you, this takes the mirroring experience to a whole new level.

You see, when you screen mirror your device to your Mac display, it will simply mimic your actions. What I mean to say is, the mirrored screen will simply show what you are doing on your iPhone in real time.

However, in iOS 18, once you mirror your iPhone onto your MacBook/Mac, it will create a virtual copy of your iPhone. You can then use this new mirrored iPhone from your MacBook/Mac display itself!! You do not need to unlock your physical iPhone. This way, if you are sitting in your living room, while your iPhone is charging in your bedroom, you will not have to worry about missing out on important calls or messages.

 

 

Number 3. Satellite messaging (iMessage and SMS)

Last year, Apple demonstrated messaging over satellite. Basically, if you are in an ara that has no network coverage, you will be able to message your contacts via satellite. It looks like iOS 18 will finally bring this feature to compatible iPhones.

Ofcourse, there will be a lot of technicalities to satisfy in order to use satellite messaging, so we will have to wait it out to see exactly who, and how people will be able to put this to use in real life. Nevertheless, it is a really useful feature to have on your device.

 

 

Number 4. Contacts Privacy

Usually, when you download and install a new app on your device, there is a chance that it will ask you for access to your contacts. At the moment, you have no choice but to provide access to all your contacts, which is not always great.

Thankfully, with iOS 18, you will now be able to choose which contacts to share with the app, and which to keep private.

 

 

Number 5. Schedule iMessages

One of the features that I personally was not expecting, but duly appreciate is this feature. On the surface, scheduling iMessages may not sound like a useful feature, but think about it, you have a friend’s birthday coming up and you want to be the first to send in a wish.

Now, instead of risking falling asleep and missing the 12AM timing, you can simply write in your message and schedule it for the date and time you desire.

Never miss out on sending the right message at the right time, ever again!!

 

 

Number 6. A Control Centre tailored for you

iOS 18 will finally allow users to FULLY customise the control centre. You will now be able to select the controls that you use the most, and if there are third party app controls, you can add those in as well. This way, you will be able to use the control centre, exactly the way you want to.

 

 

Number 7. A built-in Passwords app

iOS 18 will ship with a built-in password app. If you are wondering what this is, it is basically a dedicated app that you can use to manage all the important passwords for your various accounts. If you have a Passkey, you can save that and modify it as well.

It is not really a groundbreaking feature, but it is great if you are someone who uses unique passwords for every sign up.

 

 

Number 8. New ways to customise App icons

If you have a lot of Android friends, you may have received a lot of taunts regarding the lack of customisations on iOS. But now, you will be able to make those customisations as Apple has finally announced a slew of aesthetic modifications that you can make to your app icons.

You have the standard theme, which will show your wallpaper and app icons in their default appearance. Now, if you have dark mode enabled, the wallpaper will change accordingly, while the app icons will also change to a ‘dark version’.

In addition, you have the option to set a colour theme for your icons. For example, if you choose a blue colour, you will see that all your app icons will get a blue theme. You will also be able to place apps wherever you want on your screen, bridging the gap to Android.

 

 

Number 9. iPad finally gets its own calculator app

After what seems like an eternity, Apple finally announced that the iPad lineup will finally get its own calculator app, thanks to iPadOS 18. However, what really makes it next level, is Math notes. In this, you can simply write in a math equation or problem that you want to solve, and the Math Notes app will do it for you.

If the problem you are solving involves a graph, you can use Math notes to graph your equation as well. Earlier, Apple executives did say that the reason iPad dod not get a calculator app is because the company wanted to make it unique. Well, it looks like they succeeded with full marks with this feature.

 

 

Number 10. Apple Intelligence

Last, but definitely not the least, we have Apple Intelligence. In the follow up to WWDC, there was a running joke that Apple will rename AI (artificial intelligence) to Apple Intelligence, and it turns out, they did!!

This AI integration will bring ChatGPT 4-o to eligible iPhones, and every app on your device will be able to leverage this model to give you that little extra, making the iPhone, smarter, and more personal.

 

 

We have written a dedicated post on Apple Intelligence, and you should give it a read if you are curious about this new technology.