iOS 18 anticipated to debut at WWDC 2024, with Generative AI playing a significant role. iPhone 11 and newer models likely to be included in the iOS 18 supported devices list.
Next-gen iOS 18 is anticipated as Apple’s major update next year, promising excitement. Despite being over seven months away, rumors and expected features are surfacing. Unlike recent updates, iOS 18 is speculated to be a significant release. This article compiles the latest rumors and expected features, promising regular updates as the rumor mill evolves. Stay tuned for the latest on iOS 18.
Rumored iOS 18 Features
A significant overhaul with fewer bugs
Sources indicate Apple is gearing up for a significant iOS update. While iOS 17 introduced notable features like NameDrop and Contact Posters, it was more about polishing existing features and introducing new capabilities. In contrast, iOS 18 is expected to break away from this trend. Mark Gurman suggests that the iOS 18 update might be “even more critical than usual,” emphasizing Apple’s extra attention to detail in the 2024 iOS update.
Gurman notes the iPhone 16 lineup might not surpass the noteworthy features of the iPhone 15 series, which introduced a 48MP primary camera to the vanilla models and featured a new titanium frame along with a powerful A17 Pro chipset in the Pro models.
“The iOS update also needs to be extra impressive because the iPhone 16’s hardware won’t have any major advances next year. So Apple is banking on the software to sell people on the new models”
Mark Gurman
iOS 18 is anticipated to feature fewer bugs and flaws. Mark Gurman reported that Apple uncommonly paused 2024 software development to eliminate potential glitches and bugs, highlighting Apple’s exceptional caution in this regard. This move suggests a more polished and less buggy software update in the coming year.
Smarter Siri
While it’s early for iOS 18 features, initial reports indicate a significant role for Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to Mark Gurman, iOS 18 will incorporate generative AI technology, popularized by OpenAI’s ChatGPT release last year.
Google and Microsoft unveiled similar chatbots this year, expanding the trend. The introduction of generative AI in iOS 18 is expected to enhance how Siri and the Messages app handle questions and auto-complete sentences. This anticipated feature is set to debut with a software upgrade next year.
The Information reported Apple’s plan to integrate large language models into Siri for enhanced integration with the Shortcuts app, enabling users to automate complex tasks. Analyst Jeff Pu aligns with Mark Gurman, emphasizing the significant role of generative AI in iOS 18. Notably, Apple’s team believes that its most advanced language model, Ajax GPT, could potentially surpass OpenAI’s GPT-3.5.
Support for RCS Messaging
Apple’s recent confirmation of iPhones supporting RCS Messaging from next year suggests it could be a featured addition in iOS 18. RCS Messaging aims to enhance communication between iPhone and Android users, coexisting with iMessage on iPhones for a seamless experience. While iMessage will still handle communication between iPhone users.
RCS is expected to bring improvements to the current messaging standard, including:
- Higher-resolution photo/video
- Audio messages
- Read receipts
- Typing indicators
- Enhanced encryption
- Location sharing
- Wi-Fi messaging
- Improved group chats, to green bubbles.
iOS 18 Release Date
Considering Apple’s historical pattern, predicting the iOS 18 release date is straightforward. Typically, major software updates are previewed at the annual World Wide Developer Conference in early June. The Developer Beta is followed by a few weeks of Public Beta, and the polished version is released in September alongside new iPhones.
Therefore, iOS 18 is expected to be announced at WWDC 2024 in June, with the stable release likely in September, coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 16 series. Despite a brief pause in iOS 18 development, lasting only a week, it’s unlikely to impact Apple’s regular release schedules, ensuring no delay in the iOS 18 release.
Which iPhones Will Get iOS 18?
Currently, there’s no official statement on iOS 18 supported devices. Examining iOS 17, Apple discontinued support for the iPhone 8 models from 2017, aligning with its practice of offering about five years of software updates for iPhones. If Apple adheres to this five-year window, iOS 18 is expected to support every iPhone released in 2019 and later. Consequently, iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max might be excluded from the list, reaching the five-year mark in 2024.
Hence, the iPhone SE (2nd & 3rd gen) and all models from iPhone 11 to iPhone 15 series are likely to be included in the iOS 18 compatible devices list. The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to come with iOS 18 pre-installed. However, certainty awaits an official statement from Apple, which is anticipated around June next year.
That covers all the details available on iOS 18 for now. Any concrete information that emerges will be promptly added to keep you updated on the latest iOS 18 developments. Share your thoughts on the features you’d like to see in iOS 18 in the comments section below.
