The final version of iOS 18 is just around the corner. As Apple gears up for its September 9th keynote—where it’s expected to unveil the new iPhone 16 lineup—the latest iteration of its operating system is also nearing completion. Since the public beta was released in mid-July, iOS 18 has been giving us glimpses of what’s to come. Here are some of the key features and enhancements you can look forward to.
A More Personalized Home Screen
One of the standout features of iOS 18 is the ability to personalize your home screen like never before. You’ll now be able to tweak the appearance of your icons, making them larger and even changing their overall look. Options include light, dark, auto, and a new, intriguing “tinted” mode. This last one lets you choose from an infinite color spectrum, allowing you to completely customize the color scheme of your home screen to match your personal style.
And that’s not all. You’ll also be able to add widgets directly to your home screen, such as your calendar, music player, or even a news feed that displays live headlines. It’s a small but welcome change that adds a bit more functionality to your everyday experience.
Locking and Hiding Apps for Extra Privacy
Ever hand your phone to someone and hope they don’t accidentally (or intentionally) open certain apps? With iOS 18, you can now lock individual apps behind Face ID. This is perfect for keeping your financial or more personal apps away from prying eyes.
Additionally, you can hide apps completely, placing them in a secret folder within your app library. If you choose this option, the app will not appear anywhere on your home screen or library unless you unlock it with Face ID. This feature extends to your photos as well—hidden images are now stored in a dedicated album that also requires Face ID to access.
A Smarter Way to Organize Photos and Videos
Let’s face it: managing thousands of photos and videos can be overwhelming. iOS 18 offers a refreshed interface that organizes your images by year or month in a more visually appealing way. This block-style layout makes it easier to find those important moments at a glance.
But the improvements don’t stop there. iOS 18 introduces a new “search” button, enhanced with AI, that acts as your personal photo archaeologist. Type in keywords like “beach day” or “concert,” and the AI will sift through your entire photo library to find matching images—even if they’re not neatly organized in folders. It can even recognize text in photos, picking out things like street signs or posters in the background. This will make finding that one elusive picture far less of a headache.
Livelier Messages with Instant Translation
Tired of the same old text messages? iOS 18 spices things up with new text effects that allow you to emphasize specific words or phrases. You can make them bounce, wiggle, or appear larger or smaller—eight different effects in total to play with. While these are more fun than functional, they can certainly add a little flair to your messages.
On the more practical side, iOS 18 brings instant message translation to the table, supporting up to 20 languages, including English, Spanish, and Chinese. Both text and voice messages can be translated, making cross-language communication smoother than ever.
Other Features Coming with iOS 18
There’s a lot more to discover in iOS 18. For instance, Apple is rolling out a feature that lets you schedule text messages ahead of time—perfect for those moments when you remember something late at night but don’t want to send a message until the morning. Unfortunately, this feature will only be available in the U.S. at launch.
While many features will be available globally, Apple has confirmed that some aspects of its highly anticipated Apple Intelligence won’t make it to Europe just yet due to regulatory concerns. This includes Apple Mirroring (which lets you display your iPhone screen on your Mac) and an updated version of Siri that promises to offer more hands-free functionality.
The Countdown Begins
As we wait for the big announcements on September 9th, it’s clear that iOS 18 will bring a host of new features that enhance both functionality and personalization. Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 are expected to open on September 13th, with the official launch slated for September 20th. In the meantime, the final release candidate for iOS 18 will likely drop around September 10th, giving us one last preview before it rolls out to everyone.
My name is Noah and I’m a dedicated member of the “Jason Deegan” team. With my passion for technology, I strive to bring you the latest and most exciting news in the world of high-tech.