For months, Apple’s iOS 18 operating system was touted as the most significant iPhone software update in years. Now Apple has released the full list of upgrades included in iOS 18, and it includes some surprises that Apple has kept secret until now.
The full list is available in a PDF on Apple’s website, and there’s also a separate PDF with the list of changes coming with iPadOS 18 (currently, there doesn’t seem to be a PDF for the new features in macOS Sequoia). The documents provide detailed breakdowns of what the operating systems have to offer, with everything sorted into categories for easier reading.
There are many familiar features that Apple has already talked about. For example, the iOS 18 list starts with Apple Intelligence, with sections for writing tools, the Image Playground, Siri, Genmoji, and more. Many of the features will look familiar if you’ve been following Apple’s announcements and third-party roundups (like our own).
Still, it’s worth checking out the articles to see exactly what to expect and how to use the new features.
However, among the features discussed above, there are also some that have received very little attention. For example, MacRumors points out that the following features are either relatively unknown or have never been revealed by Apple before:
- In iOS 18, you can use spatial audio with CarPlay, provided you have a compatible vehicle. It works with Apple Music and other third-party apps. Spatial audio with Dolby Atmos is also available.
- Speaking of spatial audio, it now works when you use AirPlay to stream audio from an iPhone to a HomePod (or other third-party AirPlay-compatible speakers).
- Wi-Fi-based Matter accessories can be added and controlled locally in Apple’s Home app without the need for a Home Hub.
- Live Voicemail will be available in additional regions and languages, including English (UK, Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Puerto Rico), Spanish (US, Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico), French (France), German (Germany), Japanese (Japan), Mandarin Chinese (mainland, Taiwan, Macau), Cantonese (mainland, Hong Kong, Macau), and Portuguese (Brazil).
While these are mostly small changes, it’s interesting to see some of the lesser-known additions and updates that will be available in iOS 18. Apple says its new operating systems, including iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, will be available to download on Monday, September 16, so you can try out everything new for yourself.