The big annual updates for all of Apple’s software platforms are now available to download. As usual,
iOS 18 is probably the most important update, with more ways to customize the home screen, a redesigned Photos app, and a handy integration of Reminders into the Calendar app. A standalone Passwords app is also launching on iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sonoma today, and it will also integrate with the iCloud for Windows app.
iOS 18 and
iPadOS 18 share the same codebase, so Apple’s tablet OS will also let users place app icons anywhere they want on their home screen. Moreover, app icons can now be customized to appear light, dark, with a tint, and even larger.
iPadOS 18 is also finally getting Apple’s Calculator app, which also offers a new way to solve mathematical problems with a feature called Math Notes. Apple’s Notes app, however, will let Apple Pencil users edit text with a more intuitive ‘Smart Script’ experience.
Safari on iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 is also getting a lot of new bells and whistles, including a redesigned Reader mode and a Highlights feature that can surface key information from a web page. With
Distraction Control, Safari users will also be able to hide any items on a web page, including pop ups and ads.
This year, Apple is releasing the latest macOS release alongside the new iOS and iPadOS releases. The biggest new feature in
macOS Sequoia is probably iPhone Mirroring, a new Continuity feature that lets Mac users access their iPhone, see and respond to their iPhone notifications, and more without touching it. This feature works while the iPhone remains locked, and it will likely be more reliable than Microsoft’s Android integration on Windows 11.
Other highlights in macOS Sequoia include new ways to arrange windows – an area where Windows 11 had a lead – and the ability to apply backgrounds in FaceTime and other video conferencing apps like Webex. The Notes app is also getting the ability to record audio and receive a live transcription.
As a reminder, Apple Intelligence won’t be available until next month with the release of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. However, the generative AI features will only be available on the iPhone 16, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and iPad and Mac models with M-series chips. Apple is also currently
engaging with regulators to bring Apple Intelligence to the EU and China.
For Apple Watch users,
watchOS 11 introduces sleep apnea notifications on the Apple Watch Series 9, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and the upcoming Apple Watch Series 10, as well as a new Vitals app to help users check in on key health metrics. This update also brings a more personalized Smart Stack, new customization options for Activity rings, and more.
vision OS 2 is the first annual update for Apple’s Vision Pro headset, and it’s also packed with new features. There are new hand gestures to navigate the OS, the ability to transform 2D pictures into spatial photos, and important productivity enhancements. It’s now possible to use a mouse to navigate within visionOS, and the Mac Virtual Display feature will be improved later this year with the ability to use two 4K displays side by side.
Let’s end with
tvOS 18, which is a more minor update for Apple TV devices. The biggest new feature is InSight, which will display information about actors on screen and background music from every live-action Apple TV+ movie. This is quite similar to Amazon’s X-Ray feature on Prime Video. tvOS 18 also improves the existing Enhance Dialogue accessibility feature with machine learning, and the new update will also display subtitles across video streaming apps more intelligently.
If you aren’t ready to install Apple’s annual updates, the company also released iOS 17.7, iPadOS 17.7, and macOS Sonoma 14.7 today. These updates only include security fixes, however.
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