Apple’s iOS 18 release date is September 16 but is your iPhone compatible? Here are the eligible devices and new features to expect

In simply three days, you can obtain iOS 18 in your eligible iPhone. Apple introduced the discharge date at its iPhone occasion on Monday, together with the brand new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro fashions, and the brand new Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4 gadgets (this is everything Apple revealed at the iPhone 16 launch event). When you’re fortunate sufficient to snag one of many new telephones on September 20, they will have already got iOS 18 put in. However in case you’re sticking together with your older iPhone, you’ll be able to try iOS 18 when it turns into obtainable as a free obtain on September 16. Not each iPhone, nonetheless, will be capable to run iOS 18, and even those that may will not have all of the bells and whistles of the brand new Apple Intelligence options.

That replace stratification is nothing now. Typically annually, some older iPhone fashions are faraway from Apple’s iOS eligibility listing. Final 12 months, as an illustration, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X had been left off the compatibility listing. That meant these iPhone homeowners could not replace to iOS 17 and missed out on some notable features. On the flip facet, some older {hardware} will get main new options: Take into account the upcoming software program replace that successfully turns present AirPods Professional headphones right into a hearing aid, full with a built-in listening to check. (Apple simply received FDA approval to launch that characteristic later this 12 months.)

We’ll enable you discover out in case your iPhone will assist iOS 18, in addition to Apple Intelligence. In order for you a full listing of all the brand new iOS 18, try Apple’s exhaustive list in PDF form (via MacRumors).

iPhones suitable with iOS 18

We have now excellent news: When you had an eligible cellphone final 12 months while you up to date to iOS 17, that system ought to nonetheless be suitable with iOS 18, according to Apple. Meaning you will not have to purchase a brand new cellphone to take a look at a lot of the new software program options.

Put one other approach, you probably have an iPhone from the 2017 model year or earlier (iPhone 8 or iPhone X), you’ll be able to’t improve to the most recent iOS, however your cellphone ought to proceed to work — albeit with out the most recent and biggest options.

Is your iPhone suitable with Apple Intelligence?

Whereas your older system will nonetheless be capable to assist the most recent iOS, likelihood is that you just will not get to attempt the Apple Intelligence beta but subsequent month. Until you may have an iPhone 15 Professional or iPhone 15 Professional Max — the top-end 2023 fashions — or one of many new iPhone 16 fashions, your iPhone isn’t eligible.

When will Apple Intelligence options be obtainable?

In case your system is suitable with Apple Intelligence, you can begin enjoying with a few of these options in October, once they start to hit these newer iPhones in subsequent updates.

Apple Intelligence will likely be obtainable in English within the US this October. In December, it’s going to change into obtainable in localized English to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK. Extra language assist, together with Chinese language, French, Japanese and Spanish, will likely be obtainable someday subsequent 12 months, Apple says.

As beforehand reported, Apple Intelligence will not be making its way to EU countries anytime quickly. The American tech large stays locked in a battle with European regulators over enforcement particulars of the EU’s Digital Markets Act.

iOS 18 new options to anticipate

Whereas Apple Intelligence is by far the most important replace coming with iOS 18, its options are going to be launched extra piecemeal over the following few months. And the extra superior options will not be obtainable on older iPhone fashions except for the iPhone 15 Professional sequence. However the remainder of the iOS 18 options will hit the handsets listed above. Listed below are simply among the highlights you’ll be able to anticipate while you obtain Apple’s new software program later this month.

Passwords app: Securely retailer all of your credentials in a single place, together with passwords and safety alerts which you can entry immediately within the app. (Whereas this performance presently exists in Settings, transferring it to a brand new app ought to make it simpler to find and entry.)

Improved Messages app: A brand new iMessages expertise is bringing the choice to daring, italicize, underline and strikethrough your textual content. You may additionally be capable to add animations to your textual content messages. The replace can be bringing RCS to iPhones to better support Android compatibility.

An organized photographs library: The Photos app is getting a redesign, which lets you create and pin your personal collections within the app — suppose “wedding ceremony photographs” or “journey to Aruba.” It removes the present tabbed backside and leans right into a grid format. The up to date carousel view that was touted at WWDC was removed during the beta process.

Customized dwelling display screen format: You may lastly get the choice to rearrange your apps — as an illustration, you’ll be able to depart the center house open to show your property display screen photograph, and as a substitute have your apps alone the border of the display screen. You may as well change the looks of the apps by tinting them with any colour, in addition to making the apps bigger.

There are many different tweaks and enhancements to keystone apps like Maps, Calendar, Safari and extra. Try Cherlynn Low’s decisions for the best hidden features of iOS 18 and its sibling Apple working system updates, primarily based on the betas launched earlier this 12 months.

Is there an iOS 18 beta?

There’s, and you may download it now — as long as you are keen to dwell with the glitches and challenges of beta software program. If you have not already downloaded it at this level, we would counsel simply ready for the true deal to be launched in just below per week.

What about MacOS Sequoia, iPadOS 18, WatchOS 11 and tvOS 18?

Here is when you’ll be able to anticipate the most recent software program updates to come back on your different Apple gadgets.

• MacOS Sequoia: September 16

• iPadOS 18: September 16

• WatchOS 11: September 16

• tvOS 18: Apple hasn’t introduced an official date for its newest tvOS software program replace. It is nonetheless in public beta testing at the moment, although it is near the ultimate levels, per MacRumors.

• visionOS 2: September 16

As for AirPods, Apple has reportedly pushed new firmware to AirPods Professional earbuds to prep for the added options coming to that system with iOS 18. (Simply notice that hearing aid functionality talked about above might not hit with the primary wave of updates. regardless of its latest FDA clearance.)

Replace, September 12, 3:28PM ET: Added particulars in regards to the FDA approving the listening to assist performance for AirPods Professional.

Replace, September 11, 12:13PM ET: New info added about new firmware pushed to AirPods Professional earbuds.

Replace, September 10, 9:54AM ET: Added launch dates for added Apple OS software program updates.

Replace, September 9, 5:00PM ET: Added particulars relating to the dearth of Apple Intelligence availability in EU nations.

Replace, September 9, 3:37PM ET: This story has been up to date with the introduced launch dates for iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence.