iOS 18: features, release date, compatibility
WWDC will take place in June 2024 and the anticipation for iOS is already building. Rumor has it that Apple is preparing to implement AI-powered services in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 which will be released next year. It is set to be the most significant iOS update to date, and we're going to tell you why.
What's new in iOS 18?
Artificial intelligence has become a key element for technology companies, with tools such as ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Google Bard, integrating into search engines and various applications. It is in this context that a rumor has started to run regarding iOS 18, the newest update that the iPhone will get in 2024, and that, apparently, would come hand in hand with the artificial intelligence developed by Apple itself.
The rumor comes from analyst Jeff Pu, who works at investment firm Haitong International Securities, as well as Bloomberg's reporter Mark Gurman, two reliable sources when it comes to Apple news. Pu claims that the new iOS will have artificial intelligence features built into compatible iPhones, as well as cloud-accessible features, although he didn't specify much more on this matter. Meanwhile, according to Gurman, one of the most likely apps to benefit would be Siri, which would now be able to better understand the context and perform more complex tasks using multiple apps on your phone simultaneously, thanks to the AI rendering engine internally dubbed Ajax. This would integrate Apple's own language model generation corpus, known as LLM or "Large Language Model" in all its native apps.
Thus, we can think of a Mail app that integrates text creation, enrichment, and correction functions, or the possibility of answering questions or sending query results through the Messages app. For their part, application developers would also benefit from this technology, as it could help them use Xcode more efficiently, something similar to what Microsoft does with GitHub Copilot.
For now, we do not have many details, but we can get an idea of some of the features that could be included from now on, for example with the implementation of predictive text in iOS 17. Let's not forget also that this release will come hand in hand with the Apple Vision Pro, so a number of revolutionary features compatible with the Apple device ecosystem are anticipated and that would give added value to those who buy them. Another factor to consider would be its ability to launch simultaneously in several languages, targeting its most lucrative markets, or whether it would initially only be available in English. The pressure to launch several ambitious products with a powerful system is quite strong, so it is uncertain whether the company will ultimately delay this launch to fine-tune details.
When will iOS 18 be available?
It is still early to talk about the release of this revolutionary operating system, as it is only recently that iOS 17 has been released hand in hand with the iPhone 15. Usually, each new version of the operating system comes with the launch of the latest generation devices, so we can expect iOS 18 to be presented during Apple's developer event in June 2024, and to be available for download in September or October of the same year. We also don't rule out the possibility that some AI-powered features will start to be included as the date approaches, perhaps as a strategy to make the transition as natural as possible.
Which iPhones will be compatible with iOS 18?
At the moment nothing is confirmed, although we can expect that this update will be limited to the most recent models. The hardware requirements will definitely be higher in order to work properly, so we could see its limited compatibility, perhaps starting with the iPhone 11. Of course, we will have to wait for an official statement from Apple confirming these rumors; for now, we can speculate that these will be the models that can install iOS 18:
- iPhone 11, Pro and Pro Max
- iPhone SE second generation
- iPhone 12, Mini, Pro and Pro Max
- iPhone 13, Mini, Pro and Pro Max
- iPhone SE third generation
- iPhone 14, Plus, Pro and Pro Max
- iPhone 15, Plus, Pro and Pro Max
How to beta test iOS 18
We know it's very tempting to test iOS integration with AI, however, we still have to wait until the summer of 2024 to access the iOS 18 beta. Currently, you can test what's new in iOS 17 and keep up with what improves with each update. As the date approaches we will keep you updated on Apple's plans for its release.