Apple’s iOS 18 is finally here, and while the highly anticipated Apple Intelligence AI features are absent from this launch, there’s still plenty to get excited about. The update introduces a range of improvements that enhance your iPhone experience with added customization options, better privacy controls, and revamped apps. While at first glance, your iPhone may look the same after installing the update, diving deeper into its new features reveals exciting changes.

Here’s what you’ll notice when you update:

No Apple Intelligence Yet, But That’s Okay

The most talked-about feature—Apple Intelligence, which promised smarter Siri, AI-powered writing tools, and image generation from prompts—isn’t part of the initial iOS 18 release. This feature was the star of Apple’s announcement but has been delayed until iOS 18.1. While this might be disappointing for those waiting for next-level AI capabilities, there’s still plenty to love in this update.

Enhanced Customization

One of the standout features of iOS 18 is the new Home Screen customization options. You can now rearrange apps and widgets more flexibly, even leaving empty spaces for a cleaner look. Widgets can now be resized, and you can add a dark tint to app icons that blends seamlessly with Dark Mode, giving your phone a sleek, modern vibe.

For those who enjoy personalizing their screens, you can now tint app icons to match your wallpaper, creating a more cohesive style. This is easily done by long pressing the Home Screen and tapping “Edit.”

Messages Get a Makeover

For anyone who spends a lot of time messaging, iOS 18 brings welcome upgrades. You can now schedule texts to be sent at a specific time—perfect for everything from birthday messages to reminders. Additionally, the Tapback feature allows for emoji reactions to messages, and links now display prettier previews with backgrounds matching the content.

Redesigned Control Centre

The Control Centre has received a complete overhaul in iOS 18. You can now fully customize it by rearranging, resizing buttons, and splitting it into multiple screens dedicated to different functions like media controls or smart home devices. Swiping between these screens is smooth and intuitive, making it easier to access your most-used features.

Even better, third-party apps can now integrate their controls into the Control Centre, further enhancing your customization options.

Privacy Upgrades

Apple continues its focus on privacy with iOS 18. You can now lock individual apps with Face ID or Touch ID, so even if your phone is unlocked, apps like Photos or Messages will still require additional authentication. There’s also an option to completely hide apps in a hidden folder that won’t show up in search or send notifications.

Another smart feature is the ability to grant apps access to specific contacts rather than your entire contact list, allowing for more selective data sharing.

Revamped Photos App

The Photos app gets a helpful update with the introduction of the new “Collections” feature, which organizes your pictures into categories such as recent trips, people, and pets. This makes it much easier to browse through your photos. The app’s design also includes customizable tabs like “Recent Days,” “Memories,” and “Trips,” which you can rearrange to suit your preferences.

Customizable Lock Screen Buttons

If you’ve ever been frustrated by accidentally turning on your camera or flashlight from the Lock Screen, iOS 18 solves that problem. You can now swap out or remove these buttons entirely. Simply long press the Lock Screen, select “Customize,” and choose to add or remove controls like Dark Mode, Voice Memos, or even third-party app shortcuts.

Safari’s Distraction Control

One of the more innovative features in Safari is Distraction Control. This tool allows you to hide annoying webpage elements like cookie popups, sign-in windows, and newsletter banners. While it doesn’t block ads, it does create a much cleaner browsing experience by clearing away unnecessary clutter.

To activate it, go to a webpage, tap the Page Menu, and select “Hide Distracting Items.” You can choose which elements to hide, and if you want them back, you can easily unhide them through the same menu.

Still Plenty to Explore

Though we’ll have to wait for the AI-driven Apple Intelligence, iOS 18 is packed with enough exciting features to make the update worthwhile. With enhanced customization, upgraded messaging tools, a more flexible Control Centre, and improved privacy, this version of iOS ensures your iPhone is more functional, fun, and secure than ever before.

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