Wed Sep 18 05:54:02 UTC 2024: ## iPhone Gets a Big Upgrade: iOS 18 Brings Personalization, Intelligence, and More

**Cupertino, California** – Apple today announced the release of iOS 18, a major update to the iPhone operating system that brings a host of new features, including deeper customization, powerful new ways to manage photos and messages, and the introduction of Apple Intelligence, a privacy-focused personal intelligence system.

**More Personal Than Ever:**

* **Redesigned Home Screen:** Users can now customize their Home Screen with new ways to place app icons and widgets, creating a unique look and feel.
* **Flexible Control Center:** The Control Center gets a makeover with flexible group controls and the ability to customize the controls available on the Lock Screen.
* **Photos Overhaul:** The Photos app receives a major update with a simplified layout and new features like automatic organization with “Recent Days,” “People & Pets,” and “Trips” collections. Users can personalize the layout and pin favorite collections for easy access.

**Enhanced Communication and Organization:**

* **Messages Power-Up:** The Messages app gains powerful formatting options, text effects, emoji and sticker Tapbacks, and the ability to schedule messages.
* **Satellite Messaging:** Users can send and receive texts, emojis, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS via satellite, even without cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity.
* **Phone App Features:** The Phone app adds the ability to record and transcribe live calls, providing a searchable record of important conversations.
* **Mail Categorization:** Later this year, Mail will introduce categorization, organizing messages into “Primary,” “Transactions,” “Updates,” and “Promotions” for easier management.

**New Safari Features:**

* **Highlights:** Safari intelligently highlights key information from webpages, providing quick summaries and relevant details.
* **Redesigned Reader:** The Reader mode receives a refresh for a streamlined reading experience with summaries and table of contents.
* **Distraction Control:** Users can hide distracting elements from webpages, such as sign-in banners or content overlays.
* **Passwords App:** The new Passwords app provides a centralized location for managing passwords, passcodes, and verification codes, all secured with end-to-end encryption.

**Privacy-Focused Intelligence:**

* **Apple Intelligence:** This new personal intelligence system utilizes the power of Apple silicon and generative models to provide personalized insights, streamline tasks, and enhance user experiences.
* **First Features:** Initial Apple Intelligence features include text rewriting and proofreading, powerful image editing tools in Photos, improved audio recording and transcription, and a smarter Siri with richer language understanding and extensive product knowledge.
* **Privacy Protection:** Apple Intelligence prioritizes privacy with on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute, extending device security to the cloud.

**Availability:**

iOS 18 is available today as a free software update for iPhone Xs and later. For more information, visit apple.com/ios/ios-18.

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