Apple’s iOS 18 isn’t just another incremental update. it’s a significant leap forward, particularly with its groundbreaking AI integration and customizable features that genuinely enhance the user experience. This latest iteration transforms how you interact with your iPhone, making it more intuitive, personal, and powerful than ever before. From revamped Home Screen personalization to a smarter Siri and potent new privacy controls, iOS 18 aims to put more control directly into your hands while leveraging advanced on-device intelligence. It’s about making your iPhone work smarter for you, anticipating your needs, and streamlining daily tasks. This review will dissect the most impactful changes, assess their real-world utility, and help you determine if upgrading is the right move for your digital life.

Feature/Product	Primary Benefit	Compatibility	Price Range Approx.	Amazon Link
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max	Optimal iOS 18 experience, cutting-edge camera	iOS 18 compatible	$1,199 – $1,599	iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple Watch Ultra 2	Seamless integration with iOS 18 health features	watchOS 11 requires iOS 18	$799 – $899	Apple Watch Ultra 2
AirPods Pro 2nd Gen	Enhanced audio, adaptive listening, Find My features	iOS 18 compatible	$199 – $249	AirPods Pro 2nd Gen
MagSafe Charger	Convenient wireless charging for iOS devices	MagSafe compatible iPhones	$39 – $49	MagSafe Charger
Apple AirTag	Precision tracking for lost items, integrated with iOS 18	iOS 14.5 or later	$25 – $29 each	Apple AirTag
Smart Folio for iPad Pro	Protects and props up iPad, enhances productivity	Specific iPad Pro models	$79 – $129	Smart Folio for iPad Pro
Anker Portable Power Bank	Extended battery life for iOS devices on the go	Universal USB-C/Lightning	$30 – $70	Anker Portable Power Bank

Table of Contents

The Dawn of Apple Intelligence: A Deeper Dive into AI Features

IOS 18 truly ushers in the era of “Apple Intelligence,” Apple’s comprehensive AI suite designed to permeate nearly every aspect of the operating system. This isn’t just about a smarter Siri. it’s about on-device machine learning making your iPhone more proactive and personal. The key differentiator for Apple Intelligence is its emphasis on privacy and on-device processing, with a secure cloud component Private Cloud Compute for more complex tasks. This approach ensures that your personal data remains protected while still offering powerful AI capabilities.

System-Wide Writing Tools and Image Generation

One of the most immediately useful AI features is the system-wide writing tools. Imagine drafting an email and having your iPhone suggest rephrasing for clarity, expanding on a point, or even summarizing a lengthy conversation. This extends to Notes, Mail, Pages, and even third-party apps, making communication more efficient.

Rewrite: Instantly rephrase sentences or paragraphs to be more formal, concise, or friendly.
Proofread: Catch grammar errors, spelling mistakes, and stylistic inconsistencies across your text.
Summarize: Condense long articles, emails, or notes into digestible bullet points. This is a must for information overload.

Beyond text, iOS 18 introduces Image Playground, allowing users to generate images directly on their device using text prompts. While not as robust as dedicated AI art platforms, it’s perfect for quickly creating fun, unique images for messages, presentations, or social media.

Animation Styles: Choose from various artistic styles like “Sketch,” “Illustration,” or “Animation.”
Personalized Emojis Genmoji: Create custom emojis based on descriptions or even photos of people. This adds a truly personal touch to messaging.
Contextual Understanding: The AI can understand the context of your photos and suggest relevant image edits or enhancements.

Siri’s Evolution: More Natural and Context-Aware

Siri receives its most significant overhaul in years, becoming genuinely more intelligent and conversational.

The goal is to move beyond simple commands to understanding natural language and context.

Natural Language Processing: Siri can now better understand nuanced requests and follow-up questions, making conversations feel less robotic.
On-Screen Awareness: Siri can now interact with and understand what’s on your screen. For example, if you’re looking at an article about a restaurant, you can ask Siri, “What’s their phone number?” and it will contextually pull the information.
Cross-App Actions: Siri can perform complex tasks across multiple applications without you having to open them individually. “Show me all the photos of my dog from last summer” or “Find the email from John about the meeting next Tuesday.”
Privacy-Focused Design: Apple emphasizes that most Siri requests are processed on-device, enhancing both speed and privacy.

Redefining Personalization: Home Screen and Control Center Freedom

IOS 18 marks a pivotal shift in how users can customize their iPhone’s look and feel, finally offering flexibility that power users have craved for years. This isn’t just about moving icons.

It’s about truly making your Home Screen reflect your preferences and workflow.

Total Home Screen Customization

For the first time, users have unprecedented control over their Home Screen layout. This goes beyond static grids.

Icon Placement Freedom: You can now place app icons and widgets anywhere on the Home Screen grid, leaving gaps or creating custom layouts. This is huge for aesthetic preferences and accessibility.
Darkened Icons: A new option allows app icons to automatically adapt to your chosen wallpaper’s color tint, or you can opt for a darkened, uniform look for a cleaner aesthetic. This creates a cohesive visual experience.
Larger App Icons: For those who prefer a bolder, more direct visual, iOS 18 introduces the option to display app icons in a larger format, removing app names for a cleaner look.

The All-New Control Center

The Control Center gets a complete redesign, becoming modular and highly customizable.

It’s no longer a fixed set of toggles but a dynamic hub that you can tailor to your needs. Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite Wifi7 Ice Review

Modular Design: Control Center is now broken into multiple pages: standard controls, podcast playback, smart home controls, and connectivity. You can easily swipe between these sections.
Customizable Toggles: Users can add, remove, and rearrange controls within each module. Want quick access to your favorite smart light scenes or a specific app shortcut? You can now add it.
Third-Party Developer Access: A significant update allows third-party app developers to integrate their controls directly into the Control Center, vastly expanding its utility. Imagine a quick toggle for your favorite VPN, a specific camera mode, or a task in a productivity app.
Action Button Expansion: For iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users, the Action button gains more functionality. You can now assign multiple actions to it, cycling through them with a short press, or triggering specific actions based on the app you’re in.

Enhanced Privacy and Security: Your Data, Your Control

Apple has always championed privacy, and iOS 18 reinforces this commitment with several powerful new features that put even more control over your personal data directly into your hands.

In an age of increasing data breaches and surveillance, these updates are not just nice-to-haves. they’re essential.

Locking and Hiding Apps

This is a major privacy enhancement, allowing users to protect sensitive applications from prying eyes.

Lock an App: You can now lock individual apps using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. When an app is locked, its content will not appear in search results, notifications, or other system areas. This is perfect for apps containing sensitive financial, health, or personal information.
Hide an App: For ultimate discretion, you can move an app to a hidden folder, which is only accessible via Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode. This removes the app entirely from the Home Screen, App Library, and search results, making it virtually invisible.
Use Cases: Imagine hiding your banking app, health records app, or a messaging app with private conversations. Even if someone gains access to your unlocked phone, they won’t see or access these protected apps.

Granular Photo Library Permissions

Sharing photos is common, but giving an app access to your entire photo library can be a privacy nightmare. iOS 18 addresses this with more granular controls.

Select Photos: Instead of granting access to your entire library, you can now choose to share only specific photos or albums with an app. This significantly reduces the risk of accidental oversharing.
Improved Transparency: When an app requests photo access, the prompt is clearer, explicitly stating whether it’s asking for limited or full access, empowering you to make an informed decision.
Revoke Access Easily: You can easily review and revoke photo access permissions for any app in Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos.

Enhanced Accessory Pairing Security

Connecting to third-party accessories often involves sharing certain types of data. iOS 18 introduces more secure pairing processes.

Limited Network Access: When pairing certain accessories, you can now choose to limit their access to only essential local network services, preventing them from accessing your entire network unnecessarily.
Transparent Data Sharing: Apple will provide clearer explanations of what data an accessory will access before you grant permission, ensuring you understand the implications of pairing.
Notifications for Malicious Devices: The system can now alert you to suspicious or potentially malicious accessory connection attempts, adding another layer of security.

The Evolution of Messaging: Richer Communication in Messages

Messages in iOS 18 gets a refreshing overhaul, introducing features that make communication more expressive, organized, and personalized. These aren’t just cosmetic changes.

They enhance how you interact with friends, family, and colleagues.

Text Effects and Message Formatting

Expressing emotion and emphasis in text messages becomes much easier and more dynamic.

Text Effects: Apply fun animations to individual words, phrases, or entire messages. Imagine fireworks exploding behind “Happy Birthday” or a subtle ripple effect for a whispered secret.
Formatting Options: Finally, core text formatting comes to Messages. You can now use bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough for specific text segments. This is invaluable for emphasizing points, creating lists, or simply making your messages more readable.
Tapback Revamp: The beloved Tapbacks reactions like thumbs up, heart are expanded. You can now react with any emoji or sticker, not just the predefined few. This adds a huge layer of personality and nuance to reactions.

Message Scheduling and Satellite Messaging

Practical features that improve message management and connectivity in extreme situations.

Schedule Messages: You can now compose a message and schedule it to send at a specific date and time. Perfect for reminding yourself to send a birthday greeting, a timely work update, or a good morning text.
Messages via Satellite: Building on the emergency satellite features introduced with iPhone 14, iOS 18 extends this capability to standard text messages when you’re outside of cellular and Wi-Fi range. This is a potential lifesaver for adventurers, remote workers, or anyone in emergency situations.
Safety Net: This feature is not for daily use but acts as a critical safety net, allowing you to stay connected in extreme conditions.

RCS Support for Android Users

While not a flashy AI feature, the integration of RCS Rich Communication Services is a monumental step for cross-platform messaging. This finally bridges the long-standing gap between iPhone and Android users in terms of messaging experience. Acer Swift 14 Ai Amd Review

Enhanced Cross-Platform Messaging: Android users messaging iPhones will now see read receipts, typing indicators, higher-quality photos and videos, and improved group chat functionality like reacting to messages.
End of Green Bubble Stigma Almost: While the green bubbles will remain for Android users, the quality of the conversation will significantly improve, reducing the feeling of a second-class messaging experience.
Industry Standard: Apple’s adoption of RCS signals a move towards a more universal messaging standard, benefiting all users.

Wallet and Passwords: Streamlined Access and Enhanced Security

IOS 18 focuses on making digital payments and password management more seamless and secure, further integrating these essential tools into the core of your iPhone experience.

The goal is to reduce friction while simultaneously boosting protection.

Tap to Cash and Event Ticketing Enhancements

Beyond just paying, Wallet is becoming a hub for peer-to-peer transactions and event management.

Tap to Cash: This innovative feature allows users to send and receive cash simply by tapping two iPhones together. It’s a remarkably quick and intuitive way to split bills, pay friends, or exchange money without needing a third-party app or sharing personal details like phone numbers. This leverages NFC technology for secure, proximity-based transactions.
Enhanced Event Tickets: Event tickets in Wallet get a visual refresh and improved functionality. You’ll see more dynamic information, such as venue maps, weather updates for outdoor events, and even suggested food and beverage options, all integrated directly into your ticket. This transforms the ticket from a mere entry pass into a comprehensive event companion.
Loyalty and Rewards: Wallet continues to integrate loyalty cards and rewards programs, making it easier to earn and redeem points without fumbling through physical cards.

The Dedicated Passwords App

Previously tucked away in Settings, passwords now get their own standalone application, making credential management more accessible and robust.

Centralized Management: All your passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes are now housed in one dedicated, encrypted application. This simplifies organization and retrieval.
Cross-Platform Availability: The Passwords app will also be available on iPadOS, macOS, and even Windows via iCloud for Windows, ensuring your credentials are synchronized and accessible across all your devices, regardless of the operating system.
Security Health Check: The app provides security recommendations, alerting you to weak, reused, or compromised passwords, similar to the functionality previously found in Keychain. It encourages the use of passkeys for enhanced security.
Passkey Integration: Apple continues its push for passkeys, a more secure, phishing-resistant alternative to traditional passwords. The Passwords app makes it easier to create and manage passkeys for compatible websites and apps.

Photos App: A Smartly Organized and Enhanced Experience

The Photos app in iOS 18 receives its most substantial redesign in years, moving beyond simple chronological organization to intelligent, AI-powered curation.

The goal is to make finding and reliving your memories effortless and enjoyable.

Unified View and Smart Collections

The traditional “All Photos” view is now complemented by powerful new organizational tools.

Unified Photo Grid: The main “Photos” tab now combines your entire library into a single, scrollable grid, making it easier to browse all your content without switching views.
Carousel of Curated Memories: Above the grid, a dynamic carousel presents collections of your photos, automatically organized by themes like “Recent Days,” “Trips,” “People & Pets,” and “Memories.” This uses on-device AI to identify significant events and groupings.
Filter and Sort Options: New filter and sort options allow you to quickly narrow down your library by media type photos, videos, screenshots, favorites, or even specific people, making it easier to find what you’re looking for.

AI-Powered Collections and Search

The true power of the Photos app in iOS 18 lies in its intelligent organization and search capabilities.

Contextual Collections: The AI intelligently groups photos based on trips, events, time periods, and even detected activities. For example, it might create a “Hiking” collection from a series of photos taken on a trail, or a “Birthday Party” collection based on faces and dates.
Cross-Referencing Memories: The app can now cross-reference memories. If you frequently visit a specific location, it might group all photos from that location across different trips into a single “Place” collection.
Enhanced Search: Beyond basic keyword search, you can now search using natural language e.g., “photos of my dog at the beach last summer” and combine multiple criteria. The AI can even recognize specific objects or scenes within photos.
Cinematic Playbacks: Memories are automatically generated with cinematic podcast and transitions, offering a polished way to relive significant moments without any manual effort. These can be easily edited or shared.

Beyond the Obvious: Little Things That Make a Big Difference

While Apple Intelligence and personalization grab the headlines, iOS 18 is also packed with smaller, yet impactful, improvements across the system.

These “quality of life” enhancements often go unnoticed but collectively contribute to a smoother, more efficient iPhone experience. Vote for the next laptop we buy

Gaming Mode and Game Enhancements

For the growing number of mobile gamers, iOS 18 brings dedicated optimizations.

Game Mode: When you launch a game, Game Mode automatically minimizes background activity, reduces latency with AirPods and game controllers, and prioritizes CPU and GPU performance for the game. This ensures a smoother, more responsive gaming experience.
Improved Controller Support: Deeper integration for third-party game controllers, including haptic feedback and more precise input mapping.
Visual Enhancements: Some games may benefit from MetalFX Upscaling, rendering scenes at a lower resolution and then upscaling them with AI to maintain visual fidelity while improving performance.

Maps Offline and Hiking Trails

Apple Maps continues to evolve, adding practical features for navigation and outdoor activities.

Offline Maps with Elevation: You can now download entire map regions, including detailed topographic information and elevation data, for offline use. This is invaluable for areas with spotty cellular coverage or for saving data.
Hiking Trails and Custom Paths: Maps now includes thousands of curated hiking trails, complete with elevation profiles, difficulty ratings, and points of interest. You can also create custom paths and routes, useful for specific outdoor adventures or urban explorations.
Guidebooks: Integrated guidebooks from trusted sources for popular destinations, offering curated lists of restaurants, attractions, and activities.

Calculator App on iPad and Math Notes

A long-requested feature finally arrives, along with an innovative new twist.

Calculator for iPad: The Calculator app is now available on iPad, bringing full scientific and unit conversion capabilities to the larger screen.
Math Notes: This groundbreaking feature integrates computational power directly into the Notes app. You can write out mathematical expressions e.g., “5 + 7 =”, “x = 2y” and the system will automatically solve them or perform calculations in real-time. This is a must for students, engineers, or anyone who frequently juggles numbers and notes. You can even assign values to variables and watch as the results update dynamically.

Emergency SOS and Check In via Satellite

Building on critical safety features, iOS 18 further expands the reach of emergency services.

Check In via Satellite: In addition to Emergency SOS via Satellite, you can now send a “Check In” message to designated contacts via satellite when you’re off the grid. This allows you to reassure loved ones of your safety without needing to call emergency services.
Enhanced Satellite Performance: Improvements to the satellite communication system mean faster connection times and more reliable messaging in remote areas.
Visual Guides: Improved on-screen guides help you position your iPhone correctly to connect with a satellite, even in challenging environments.

Journal App Enhancements

The Journal app, introduced in iOS 17, gains new insights and organizational tools.

AI-Powered Insights: The app can now provide more personalized journaling suggestions based on your photos, workouts, and podcast listening, helping you reflect on your daily activities.
Filtering and Search: New filtering options allow you to quickly find specific entries by date, location, or content type.
Rich Media Support: Easier embedding of photos, videos, and voice memos directly into your journal entries, making them more vibrant and expressive.

Final Thoughts: Is iOS 18 Worth the Upgrade?

Absolutely. iOS 18 isn’t just a minor iteration. it’s a transformative update that significantly enhances the iPhone experience across the board. The standout feature is undoubtedly Apple Intelligence, which permeates the system, making your device smarter, more proactive, and more personal. The privacy-first approach to AI is particularly commendable, addressing common concerns about data security.

The Home Screen customization and revamped Control Center finally give users the flexibility they’ve desired for years, allowing for a truly personalized aesthetic and workflow. The Messages app improvements, especially the RCS support, bridge a crucial gap in cross-platform communication, benefiting millions of users. Enhanced privacy features like app locking and hidden apps provide peace of mind in an increasingly data-conscious world.

While some of the more advanced AI features like full Siri on-screen awareness might see a gradual rollout and refinement, the core enhancements available from day one are compelling.

From the subtle nudges of Apple Intelligence in writing to the intuitive new photo organization, iOS 18 streamlines daily tasks, offers greater control, and pushes the boundaries of what a smartphone can do.

For most users with a compatible iPhone, upgrading to iOS 18 is a no-brainer. It makes your device more capable, more private, and frankly, more enjoyable to use. It sets the stage for a new era of intelligent, context-aware computing that feels both cutting-edge and distinctly Apple. It’s an update that makes your iPhone truly your iPhone, in ways that weren’t possible before. Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions

Question

What is the biggest new feature in iOS 18?
Answer…
The biggest new feature in iOS 18 is Apple Intelligence, Apple’s suite of generative AI capabilities designed to enhance various aspects of the operating system, including writing tools, image generation, and a much smarter, more context-aware Siri.

Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 18?
iOS 18 is compatible with iPhone XS and later models. This includes the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 series, iPhone SE 2nd generation and later, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone 14 series, and iPhone 15 series.

Can I customize my Home Screen icons in iOS 18?
Yes, iOS 18 offers unprecedented Home Screen customization. You can now place app icons and widgets anywhere on the grid, leave gaps, tint app icons to match your wallpaper, or make them larger without app names.

How does Apple Intelligence protect my privacy?
Apple Intelligence emphasizes on-device processing for most tasks, meaning your data stays on your iPhone. For more complex requests requiring cloud processing, Apple uses Private Cloud Compute, which is designed to prevent Apple from accessing or storing your data.

What are the new features in Siri for iOS 18?
Siri in iOS 18 is significantly smarter with more natural language understanding, on-screen awareness it can understand content on your display, cross-app actions, and a more personalized experience, all powered by Apple Intelligence.

Does iOS 18 support RCS messaging for Android users?
Yes, iOS 18 finally introduces RCS Rich Communication Services support for messages exchanged with Android users. This brings features like read receipts, typing indicators, and higher-quality media sharing to cross-platform conversations.

Can I lock individual apps in iOS 18?
Yes, iOS 18 allows you to lock individual apps using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. This prevents unauthorized access to the app’s content and hides its information from search results and notifications.

Is there a way to hide apps completely in iOS 18?
Yes, in addition to locking, you can hide apps by moving them to a hidden folder in the App Library. These apps are completely removed from the Home Screen, App Library, and search, requiring authentication to access.

What’s new in the Photos app in iOS 18?
The Photos app in iOS 18 gets a major redesign with a unified photo grid, a dynamic carousel of curated memories based on AI, and enhanced search capabilities using natural language and smart collections.

Can I schedule messages to be sent later in iOS 18?
Yes, iOS 18 introduces the ability to schedule messages to be sent at a specific date and time in the Messages app. Lenovo Yoga 6 13 (2023)

What is “Tap to Cash” in iOS 18?
“Tap to Cash” is a new feature in iOS 18 that allows users to send and receive cash by simply tapping two iPhones together, leveraging NFC technology for secure, proximity-based transactions in the Wallet app.

Does iOS 18 have a dedicated Passwords app?
Yes, iOS 18 includes a new, dedicated Passwords app to centralize and manage all your passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes, with cross-platform synchronization.

Will iOS 18 improve gaming performance?
Yes, iOS 18 introduces a Game Mode that automatically optimizes your iPhone’s performance for gaming by minimizing background activity, reducing latency with accessories, and prioritizing CPU/GPU for the game.

Can I use the Calculator app on my iPad with iOS 18?
Yes, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 finally brings the Calculator app to the iPad, complete with scientific functions and unit conversions.

What is Math Notes in the Notes app?
Math Notes is a new feature in the Notes app on iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 that allows you to write mathematical expressions directly in your notes and have the system automatically solve them or perform calculations in real-time.

Are there new safety features in iOS 18?
Yes, iOS 18 expands on emergency features with Check In via Satellite, allowing you to send non-emergency check-in messages to contacts when off the grid, in addition to Emergency SOS via Satellite.

Can I download maps for offline use in Apple Maps with iOS 18?
Yes, Apple Maps in iOS 18 allows you to download entire map regions for offline use, including detailed topographic information and elevation data, useful for areas with poor cellular coverage.

What improvements are there for Apple Watch users with iOS 18?
While not directly iOS 18 features, watchOS 11 works seamlessly with iOS 18, offering new smart stack features, Vitals app for health monitoring, and improved cycling workouts, all benefiting from the underlying iOS updates.

Will iOS 18 drain my battery faster due to AI features?
Apple designs its software, including AI features, with power efficiency in mind. Many Apple Intelligence features are processed on-device to minimize battery impact. Actual battery performance will vary based on usage.

Can I revert to iOS 17 after upgrading to iOS 18?
Generally, once you upgrade to a major iOS version like iOS 18, downgrading back to the previous version iOS 17 is only possible for a limited time after the new version’s release, typically only while Apple is still “signing” the older firmware. This window usually closes quickly. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (2022)

Do I need a new iPhone to get the full Apple Intelligence features?
Many core iOS 18 features will work on compatible iPhones XS and later. However, the full suite of Apple Intelligence features often requires the latest A17 Pro chip found in iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max or newer, due to the demanding on-device processing.

Can third-party developers integrate with the new Control Center in iOS 18?
Yes, a significant update allows third-party app developers to integrate their controls directly into the customizable Control Center in iOS 18, vastly expanding its utility beyond Apple’s native toggles.

What kind of image generation is possible with Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence’s Image Playground allows users to generate images from text prompts in various styles Sketch, Illustration, Animation and create personalized emojis Genmoji directly on their device.

Are there new accessibility features in iOS 18?
Yes, iOS 18 includes several new accessibility features, such as Eye Tracking to control iPhone with your eyes, Podcast Haptics haptic feedback for podcast, and Vocal Shortcuts custom sounds to launch shortcuts.

Will iOS 18 make my older iPhone faster?

While major updates often bring performance improvements and optimizations, the primary focus of iOS 18 is on new features and AI.

Older iPhones compatible with iOS 18 may not experience a significant speed boost compared to iOS 17, but should remain performant.

How do I get iOS 18?
Once officially released, you can get iOS 18 by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your compatible iPhone. It will be available as a free over-the-air update.

Can I use iOS 18’s new writing tools in third-party apps?
Yes, the system-wide writing tools powered by Apple Intelligence, such as Rewrite and Proofread, are designed to be available across the system, including in many third-party applications.

What are “Vitals” in watchOS 11, and how does it relate to iOS 18? HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15 (2021)

“Vitals” in watchOS 11 monitors key health metrics during sleep and can alert you to potential changes.

It works in conjunction with iOS 18 and the Health app on your iPhone, providing a comprehensive view of your health data.

Will my existing apps work with iOS 18?
Most existing apps are designed to be compatible with new iOS versions. However, developers typically release updates to ensure full compatibility and optimize for new features. It’s advisable to update your apps after upgrading to iOS 18.

Is there a new feature for Notes in iOS 18 besides Math Notes?
Yes, the Notes app in iOS 18 also gains the ability to record and transcribe audio directly within a note, which can then be summarized by Apple Intelligence.

Apple Ios 18 Review