visionOS is the operating system for Apple's first spatial computer, Vision Pro, which was unveiled during the WWDC 2023 keynote. While it was first rumored to be called xrOSit was even named that way internallyApple decided on this other brand, probably for marketing purposes. Here's everything you need to know about it.BGR has a guide highlighting all the rumored features coming to visionOS 3 during the WWDC 2025 keynotevisionOS 1 featuresAs a first-generation operating system and device for mobile computing, it's hard to distinguish between features as visionOS builds the ground for Apple's first spatial computer and its future updates. Here are its top features, as Apple announced.Apps live in "your space," and there's a new App StoreVision Pro offers familiar apps such as Apple TV, Music, Mindfulness, Freeform, Safari, Photos, Mail, Messages, and Keynote. They are always synced with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac via iCloud.These immersive apps can expand fully into your space, like during a Mindfulness session, where you can create a private moment of calm. With Environments, you can transform your surroundings with landscapes, letting apps grow beyond the dimensions of your room and create the perfect place to focus.visionOS has a dedicated App Store featuring apps built for this new operating system, as well as compatible iPad and iPhone apps.Immersive way to experience entertainmentOne of the biggest selling points of Apple Vision Pro is an immersive way to experience entertainment. With Cinema Environment, you can enjoy shows and movies at the frame rate and aspect ratio the filmmaker intended with immersive Spatial Audio. It's possible to create a screen that feels 100 feet wide to watch Apple TV Plus, other streaming services, or even play 100 Apple Arcade games.Apple Immersive Videos, for example, will offer 180-degree 3D 8K recordings captured with Spatial Audio. Apple says new experiences are coming to Apple Vision Pro users.Spatial Videos and PhotosImage source: Apple Inc.visionOS also brings a new way to visualize captured photos and videos. With the Apple Vision Pro, you can take spatial videos and photos, which offer content with impressive depth, just like if you could jump into the moment. You can find them on the Photos app and increase the size for a more immersive experience.Starting with iOS 17.2, iPhone 15 Pro owners can shoot spatial videos to watch on Apple Vision Pro. You can learn more about iOS 17 here.FaceTime, Personas, and collaborationFaceTime videos are life-size, and as new people join, the call simply expands in your room with visionOS. Within FaceTime, you can use apps to collaborate with colleagues on the same documents simultaneously.For those wearing the Apple Vision Pro, the device creates a digital Persona that allows others to see you while you're wearing Apple's gadget in a "dynamic, natural representation of your face and hand movements." Users can even take advantage of SharePlay, so you continue to see everyone in large video tiles while sharing an app.With visionOS 1.1, Apple introduced Spatial Personas, which provide a seamless experience when talking with other friends using an Apple Vision Pro. Up to four people can join this spatial conversation while enjoying SharePlay experiences.Mac integration with visionOSA Vision Pro user interacting with multiple apps. Image source: Apple Inc.The Mac will play an important role with visionOS and the Apple Vision Pro. These are two ways Mac computers will integrate with the new operating system:Bring your Mac wirelessly into Vision Pro with Mac Virtual Display. You can place it anywhere in space and use Vision Pro as an enormous, private, portable 4K displayYou can use the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad as Bluetooth accessories of the Vision Pro.First third-party apps to show visionOS potentialImage source: Flighty AppThese are some of the Apple Vision Pro apps you should take a look at:The Task app: Developer Mustafa Yusuf said on Twitter he felt like a god, as the first version of the Task App for Vision Pro got no errors as he built the first version for Vision Pro.Flighty: As the name implies, Flighy lets you track flights on iPhone and iPad. The developers have already created a version of Vision Pro you can check it here.Planny: Writing about Planny, developer Kevin Reutter said a lot of work is still needed. But this is the first version of the app for visionOS.Mercury: If you want to see what a weather app would look like on the Vision Pro, the Mercury devs are here to help. Unlike the previous visionOS app screenshots, we have a video this time. It shows the Vision Pro apps are more than iPad/iPhone apps layered on top of the real world.BGR's Chris Smith compiled a few other developers' apps for Apple Vision Pro, although he also believes eight other apps should be available with this platform.Apple Vision Pro app strategyAppletakes three approaches with visionOS apps:Unaltered iPhone and iPad apps, which will run on Apple Vision Pro. This already works with iOS apps running on macOS with Apple Silicon. That said, developers and even Apple can release iPhone and iPad apps for this operating system without tweaking how they look;Developers can choose to convert their iPad apps to run as native visionOS apps, requiring them to tweak the users interface and bring a mixed-reality experience;Finally, they can build their own apps from the ground up to work on Apple Vision Pro. While this is very beneficial for the final user, it takes a lot for developers to create applications that will be controlled using eyes and hands.visionOS 1.1 featuresDigital Persona on Apple Vision Pro Image source: Apple Inc.On March 7, 2024, Apple released visionOS 1.1, its first major update after Apple Vision Pro launched in the US. Here are its top features:Mobile Device Management: Enables account-driven device and user enrollment using Managed Apple ID, support for device configuration, deploying apps, and remote eraseMessages: Adds support for iMessage Contact Key VerificationAccessibility: Closed captions can be anchored to the playback control while viewing Apple Immersive VideoPersona and EyeSight: Adds an option to enroll your Persona hands-free improve hair and makeup appearance, neck and mouth representation, and rendering of the eyes for EyeSightVirtual Keyboard: Cusros positioning for text input is now more accurate, resolves some issues with virtual keyboard placement obscuring the text input field, and more.Mac Virtual Display: Improves the reliability of discovering and connecting to a Mac, fixes an issue with universal Control, and addresses a connectivity bug that occurs when a previously paired Bluetooth device cannot be foundCaptive Network Support: Ability to set up your device while using a captive Wi-Fi network such as those found at hotels, cafes, and airports.visionOS 1.2 featuresImage source: Apple Inc.On June 10, 2024, Apple released visionOS 1.2. These are the top features:Mobile Device Management: Enables account-driven device and user enrollment using Managed Apple IDs, support for device configuration (Wi-Fi, VPN, email accounts, single sign-on, and more), and support for remote erase via MDM and device inventory data;Messages: Adds support for iMessage Contact Key VerificationAccessibility: Closed captions can be anchored to the playback control while viewing Apple Immersive VideoPersona (beta) and EyeSight: Adds an option to enroll your Persona hand-free, improves hair and makeup appearance, neck and mouth representation, and rendering of the eyes for EyeSightVirtual Keyboard: Cursor positioning for text input is more accurateMac Virtual Display: Improves reliability to discover and connect to a Mac using Mac Virtual DisplayCaptive Network Support: Ability to set up your device while using a captive W-iFi network such as those found at hotels, cafes, and airportsvisionOS 1.3 featuresOn July 29, 2024, Apple released visionOS 1.3. However, as it prepares its upcoming 2.0 update, no new features are available for this version.Apple says it brings bug fixes and security improvements.visionOS 2.0 featuresImage source: Apple Inc.During the WWDC 2024 keynote, Apple previewed visionOS 2.0. These features have been available since September 16:Spatial photos: With visionOS 2, users can revisit past memories by creating spatial photos directly from their library in the Photos app.New hand gestures: visionOS 2 makes navigating Apple Vision Pro faster and easier for users to access key functions with new hand gestures to get to frequently used features like Home View and Control Center. New gestures allow users to see important information at a glance, like the current time and battery level, and perform actions like adjusting the volume.Home View: Users can now personalize their Home View by rearranging apps and placing them wherever they want, including their compatible iPhone and iPad appsTravel Mode for Trains: Travelerscan experience their favorite apps on the go, even on trainsGuest user: For those moments when a user wants to share their Vision Pro, a family member or colleague can be added as a Guest User and have their eye and hand data saved for 30 days.TheApple TVapp brings support for multiview to Apple Vision Pro for the ultimate sports-viewing experience. Later this year, fans will be able to watch up to five simultaneous streams so they can keep track of all their favorite sports and teams.To help users achieve calm and focus, theMindfulnessapp includes a new capability called Follow Your Breathing that presents dynamic visual animations and sounds that respond to the users breathing patterns.visionOS 2.1 featuresOn October 28, Apple released visionOS 2.1. This software update only offers security patches and bug fixes. According to the company, visionOS 2.1 fixe these issues:Apple Music songs and music videos may fail to playAny project that utilizes Swift Charts fails to build when targeting iOS, macOS, or visionOSIn StoreKit Testing in Xcode, the offer identifier in the subscription renewal info might be reported incorrectly for offer codes.Users are unable to rename a voice memo while recording.visionOS 2.2 featuresImage source: Apple Inc.On December 11, Apple released visionOS 2.2. This is what you should know about it:Mac Virtual Display: It will feature a higher resolution and larger size, creating an ultra-wide display equivalent to two 4K monitors side by side; here's how it worksvisionOS 2.3 featuresApple released visionOS 2.3 on January 27, 2025. However, besides bug fixes and security improvements, there are no new features.visionOS 2.4 featuresImage source: Apple inc.On March 31, 2025, Apple released visionOS 2.4. This is one of the most packed updates for visionOS as it brings Apple Intelligence support for Apple Vision Pro.These are some of the features available with visionOS 2.4:Writing Tools:Users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps;Image Playground:Users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. This app is built right into apps like Messages and is also available in a dedicated app;Memories in Photos:Users can create stories they want to see just by typing a description. Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc;Clean Up tool:This Photos app feature can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo without accidentally altering the subject;Siri:Users type to Siri and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment.ChatGPT integration:When you feel Apple Intelligence isnt enough, you can allow ChatGPT to access Writing Tools and other features for a better response.In addition to Apple Intelligence, visionOS 2.4 introduces Spatial Gallery, an app that features spatial photos, videos, and panoramas curated by Apple for Vision Pro. Theres also a new Apple Vision Pro app for iPhone that users can take advantage of to queue apps and games to download, discover new content, and more. Guest User has also been revamped so Apple Vision Pro owners can customize everything from their iPhone or iPad.visionOS 2.5 beta featuresApple is working to release visionOS 2.5 by mid-May. However, it seems this will be another light on features update.visionOS 2.0 confirmed features before WWDC 2024Image source: Apple Inc.Before WWDC 2024 takes place, Apple confirmed a few upcoming visionOS 2.0 features, including:Live Captions to help everyone including users who are deaf or hard of hearing follow along with spoken dialogue in live conversations and in audio from apps. With Live Captions for FaceTime in visionOS, more users can easily enjoy the unique experience of connecting and collaborating using their Persona. Apple Vision Pro will add the capability to move captions using the window bar during Apple Immersive Video, as well as support for additional Made for iPhone hearing devices and cochlear hearing processors. Updates for vision accessibility will include the addition of Reduce Transparency, Smart Invert, and Dim Flashing Lights for users with low vision or those who want to avoid bright lights and frequent flashing.How to download the visionOS beta? Image source: Jonathan S. GellerOn June 21, 2023, Apple released the first beta of visionOS. On its developer page, the company offers the SDK of this platform alongside some tips on how to create apps for Vision Pro. As expected, visionOS relies on SwiftUI, RealityKit, ARKit, and Accessibility. Developers must use Xcode, Reality Composer Pro, and Unity to bring new apps to life.With the visionOS 2 beta available for developers since mid-June 2024, Apple tells users that it won't offer a public beta of this upcoming software update and that they need to wait until the official version is released later this fall.Release datevisionOS is available alongside Apple Vision Pro. Although Apple never released a 1.0 version of this system, the company offered 1.0.1 to reviewers of this device. Currently, the most recent operating system update for this product is visionOS 2.2.visionOS 2 was released on September 16, following the announcement of the iPhone 16 event.visionOS compatibilityvisionOS is compatible with the Apple Vision Pro, the company's first spatial computer. BGR will update the list as Apple announces new products over the years.Don't Miss: Apple Vision Pro: Price, release date, review, features, accessories, and moreThe post visionOS: Features, 2.0, release date, Vision Pro, Apple Intelligence appeared first on BGR.Today's Top DealsTodays deals: $349 MacBook Air, 45% off TP-Link WiFi 7 mesh, $299 Vitamix Explorian blender, moreBest Fire TV Stick deals for May 2025Best Apple deals for May 2025Todays deals: 20% off gift cards on Amazon, $849 M4 MacBook Air, $500 off Omni S1 Pro, more

visionOS 3 is Apples upcoming operating system for Apple Vision Pro. Its expected to be announced during the WWDC 2025 keynote ahead of a public release in September 2025. Apple is believed to be preparing to expandApple Intelligence featuresto its spatial computer while offering many other new features. In this guide, well cover everything you need to know about the upcoming visionOS 3 operating system update.When will Apple announce visionOS 3?Image source: Apple Inc.If Apple follows the trend, it should announce visionOS 3 during the WWDC 2025 keynote. The Worldwide Developers Conferencewill take place from June 9 to June 13. While it was previously held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California, Apple turned WWDC into a pre-recorded keynote when the pandemic started. The company still invites the media and developers to watch WWDC from the Apple Park campus in Cupertino.As of now,Apple has already begun work on visionOS 3.Release datevisionOS 3 is expected to be released in September 2025. Apple usually says the new system update will be available in the fall. However, the company has released major software updates in the second half of September for the past few years.Rumored visionOS 3 featuresImage source: Apple Inc.According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, visionOS 3 will be a loaded update. After a boring visionOS 2 update, it seems Apple will put much effort into this upcoming release. However, the journalist didn't reveal which features it might add. Here's what he said:All signs are pointing to the companys Vision Products Group shifting its resources to other form factors.But Apple cant just let the Vision Pro die out. It has invested too much andneeds to keep churning outthe devices visionOS updates (the third edition will be a pretty feature-packed release, Im told).More Apple Intelligence featuresWith visionOS 2.4, Apple added the first batch of Apple Intelligence features to Apple Vision Pro. While it's unclear what the company is planning for this next cycle, Mark Gurman suggests a "Siri GPT" could be coming in the first half of 2026.According tothe journalist, Apples new version ofSiriwill employmore advanced large language models (LLMs)to allow users to have long back-and-forth conversations with the virtual assistant. Sources also claim that LLM Siri, as Apple employees have dubbed it, will be capable of handling more sophisticated requests even faster.Apple Intelligence unveiled at WWDC 2024. Image source: Apple Inc.Apple is currently testing the upgraded Siri oniPhones, iPads, and Macs as a standalone app, but the goal is to eventually replace Siri with the new version.As was the case with Apple Intelligence this fall, the new Siri reportedly wont launch alongside the new hardware in 2025. Rather, Apple will announce it next year and start rolling out the upgraded Siri as early as spring 2026.The revamped Siri will rely on new Apple AI models to interact more like a human and handle tasks in a way thats closer to ChatGPT and Googles Gemini, Gurman explains in his report. It will also make expanded use of App Intents, which allow for more precise control of third-party apps. And the software will be able to tap into features from Apple Intelligence, such as the ability to write and summarize text.Official visionOS 3 downloadvisionOS 3 hasnt been officially announced. Therefore, you cannot test it or download its official version.How to download the visionOS beta?Image source: Jonathan S. GellerOn June 21, 2023, Apple released the first beta of visionOS. On itsdeveloper page, the company offered theSDK of this platformalongside some tips on how to create apps for Vision Pro. As expected, visionOS relies on SwiftUI, RealityKit, ARKit, and Accessibility. Developers must use Xcode, Reality Composer Pro, and Unity to make the new apps come to life.With the visionOS 2 beta, Apple said it wouldn't offer a public beta to users. It's unclear if visionOS 3 might also lack a public beta. visionOS compatibilityvisionOS is compatible with the Apple Vision Pro. There are rumors that Apple is planning to launch an Apple Vision Air soon.Don't Miss: Apple Vision Pro: Price, release date, review, features, accessories, and moreThe post visionOS 3: Rumored features, release date, supported devices, more appeared first on BGR.Today's Top DealsTodays deals: $349 MacBook Air, 45% off TP-Link WiFi 7 mesh, $299 Vitamix Explorian blender, moreTodays deals: $399 iPad mini 7th-Gen, $395 75-inch smart TV, $400 eufy Omni C20, Energizer batteries, moreBest Apple deals for May 2025Best Fire TV Stick deals for May 2025

watchOS 12 is Apples upcoming operating system for Apple Watch models. Its expected to be announced during the WWDC 2025 keynote ahead of a public release in September 2025. Apple is believed to finally be bringingApple Intelligence features to the Apple Watch with this release. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about the upcoming watchOS 12 operating system update.When will Apple announce watchOS 12?If Apple follows the trend, it should announce watchOS 12 during the WWDC 2025 keynote. The Worldwide Developers Conferencewill take place from June 9 to June 13. While it was previously held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California, Apple changed how it promoted WWDC to a pre-recorded keynote when the pandemic started. Still, the company invites the media and developers to watch it from the Apple Park campus in Cupertino.As of now,Apple has already begun work on watchOS 12.Release datewatchOS 12 is expected to be released in September 2025. Apple usually says the new system update will be available in the fall. However, the company has released it later in September for the past few years.Rumored watchOS 12 featuresApple Watch Ultra 2 in Black Titanium. Image source: Jos Adorno for BGRSo far, the main rumored features are related to a redesign and the expansion ofApple Intelligence. Heres what we know:A visionOS-like inspired redesign is comingTwo reports suggest Apple plans to revamp the design of watchOS 12. According to Mark Gurman, the Apple Watch is designated to get some of the new interface elements here and there, but without a major overhaul. That said, the Apple Watch already feels like hardware closer to the visionOS design language.These tweaks will likely be minimal, reflecting changes in icons and so on.Still, Apple is expected to give iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 a major redesign. Gurman writes that iOS 19 will fundamentally change the look of the operating systems and make Apples various software platforms more consistent. According to the journalist, Apple will unify the look of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS to deliver a more straightforward experience through the platform.watchOS 12 powered by Apple IntelligenceApple Intelligence unveiled at WWDC 2024. Image source: Apple Inc.With watchOS 11, Apple already offered Apple Intelligence features:Reduce interruptions:An all-new Focus Mode understands the content of your notifications and shows you the ones that might need immediate attention, like a text about picking up your child from daycare later today.Summarization:Apple Intelligence can summarize all your notifications.Genmoji: Apple Watch users can interact with Genmoji figures.However, these features require an iPhone to work. With watchOS 12, some leakers suggest Apple is going to expand these functions. Here's what Gurman has written: "The watch doesnt currently have Apple Intelligence, and that isnt exactly changing with the upcoming watchOS 12 software. But the company is branding a new set of features as powered by Apple Intelligence (even though the device isnt actually running the AI models directly).That said, it's unclear what features will be "powered by Apple Intelligence." In addition, we don't expect a superpowered Apple Watch capable of running Apple Intelligence without an iPhone.New emojiNew emoji coming to iOS 18. Image source: Unicode/Jos Adorno for BGR Image source: Unicode/Jos Adorno for BGRApple always adds new emojis during every watchOS cycle. Even though they dont come with the first major update, the company unveils them during the life cycle of the newest operating system.Official watchOS 12 downloadwatchOS 12 hasnt been officially announced. Therefore, you cannot test it or download its official version.watchOS 12 beta downloadImage source: Jonathan S. GellerwatchOS 12 hasnt been announced yet. That said, you cant download its beta version. Once its available, make sure you have your developer account enrolled on your device, or youre part of theApple Beta Software Program. After that, follow the steps below:On your iPhone, open the Watch appTap on General and Software UpdateTap on Beta Updates and enable watchOS 12 Developer or Public BetaHowever, be aware that watchOS beta doesnt allow downgrading, so youll be stuck with this beta until another testing version or the official build is released, as you cant downgrade to any older versions.Compatible Apple Watch modelsApple Watch Ultra 2 colors. Image source: Jos Adorno for BGRWith watchOS 11, Apple removed support for three Apple Watch models. It's unclear if Apple is removing new models. That said, these are the wearables that canrun watchOS 11:Apple Watch Series 6 (2020)Apple Watch Series 7 (2021)Apple Watch SE (2022)Apple Watch Series 8 (2022)Apple Watch Ultra (2022)Apple Watch Series 9 (2023)Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023)Apple Watch Series 10 (2024)In addition to one of the smartwatches above, you must have an iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or newer runningiOS 18to fully enjoy an Apple Watch.Don't Miss: Apple Watch Series 10: Release date, price, colors, review, features, and moreThe post watchOS 12: Rumored features, release date, supported devices, more appeared first on BGR.Today's Top DealsTodays deals: $4 iPhone chargers, 51% off Beats Studio Pro ANC headphones, $80 Roku Ultra, moreTodays deals: $399 iPad mini 7th-Gen, $395 75-inch smart TV, $400 eufy Omni C20, Energizer batteries, moreBest Apple deals for May 2025Todays deals: $99 AirPods 4, $350 off eufy X10 Pro Omni, $25 Fire TV Stick 4K, $250 KitchenAid mixer, more

macOS 16 is Apple's upcoming operating system for Mac computers. It should be announced at the WWDC 2025 keynote ahead of a public release this fall. Apple is expected to expand itsApple Intelligence features, as it still needs to catch up with Google, OpenAI, and other top rivals. Heres everything you need to know about the upcoming macOS 16 operating system update.When will Apple announce macOS 16?If Apple follows the trend, it should announce macOS 16 during the WWDC 2025 keynote. The Worldwide Developers Conferencewill take place from June 9 to June 13. While it was previously held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California, WWDC changed to a pre-recorded video presentation when the pandemic started. Now, the company also invites the media and developers to watch it from the Apple Park campus in Cupertino.As of now,Apple has already begun work on macOS 16.What will Apple call macOS 16?Rumors previously suggested Apple was teeing up macOS Mammoth, as the Cupertino company asked for a trademark extension of this name in 2021.Mammoth was rumored for 2021 when Apple unveiled Monterey and again rumored in 2022. For 2025, it's unclear what Apple will call macOS 16. Internally, the software is known as Cheer.Release datemacOS 16 is expected to be released in September 2025. Apple usually says the new system update will be available in the fall. However, the company has released it later in September for the past few years.Some rumors say Applewont make every major macOS 16 feature available all at once due to delays in Apple Intelligence.In fact, the most impressive features might not arrive until the first half of 2026.Rumored macOS 16 featuresSo far, the main rumored features are related to the expansion ofApple Intelligence and a major redesign. Heres what we know:A major redesign is comingBloombergs Mark Gurman reportsthat macOS 16 will fundamentally change the look of the operating systems and make Apples various software platforms more consistent. According to the journalist, Apple will unify the look of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS to deliver a more straightforward experience through the platform.With that, Apple will adjust the look of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons. This is said to be the most significant redesign for the iPhone since iOS 7 and for the Mac since Big Sur. The primary goal behind these design overhauls is to bring more cohesion to Apples disparate operating systems.Besides that, in January,Front Page Techsuggested iOS 19 might get a redesign inspired byvisionOS, especially the Camera app, which several users find more confusing than ever. With several layers of interaction, some have suggested Apple might need to make the Camera app simple again, and redesigning it with the visionOS UI might be a possibility.Then, in April, John Prosseroffered yet look at what he thinks will be Apples iOS 19 redesign, afterBloombergs Mark Gurman said the leaked images were based on either very old builds or vague descriptions.Front Page Techhost Jon Prosser claims that Gurmans post actually prompted him to go back and take a closer look at the leaked iOS 19 build. When he did, he noticed that tapping on icons changed their shape. The icons suddenly became more rounded, similar to the look of the apps on visionOS, but not quite a perfect circle.Potential leak of iOS 19 redesign. Image source:Front Page Tech Image source: Front Page TechOther changes in iOS 19 uncovered this time around included on-screen elements shimmering when the phone moves, rounder brightness, and volume sliders in Control Center, new animated tabs at the bottom of Apples first-party apps, the search field at the bottom of the Messages app, and subtle visual changes to the Settings app.Still, Gurman only reshared his old post on X, saying the images dont represent what Apple is actually working on.Other rumors suggest Apple could bring a redesign to the iPhone as the new Apple Invites and Apple Sports app could be hinting at a redesign. However, it would be interesting if the company made the design language of its major systems similar.Apple Intelligence has a long way to goApple doesnt have new Apple Intelligence features to introduce during themacOS Sequoia cycle. That said, the more advanced features will come in later 2025 or 2026 with macOS 16.According toBloombergs Mark Gurman, the first version of Apple Intelligence only offers domestic changes. However, a ChatGPT-like model is coming at a later date:These upcoming upgrades will make Siri easier to use on a day-to-day basis, but its not the brain transplant that the service really needs. Siri is still based on an outdated infrastructure AI models that have been overtaken by the technology used by ChatGPT and Googles Gemini. Siri hasnt yet been rebuilt for the generative AI age, even if Apple is trying to create the impression that it has.Its not just the LLM Siri chatbot that wont be released in 2026. Gurman says that a larger-than-usual number of features scheduled for macOS 16 (beyond the new Siri) are already postponed until spring 2026 (when macOS 16.4 debuts).In March, Apple announced that thelong-awaited personalized Siri experience in Apple Intelligence would be available in the coming year as the company delays the most important AI feature to date.Siri GPTAccording toBloombergsMark Gurman, Apples new version ofSiriwill employmore advanced large language models (LLMs)to allow users to have long back-and-forth conversations with the virtual assistant. Sources also claim that LLM Siri, as Apple employees have dubbed it, will be capable of handling more sophisticated requests even faster.Apple is currently testing the upgraded Siri oniPhones, iPads, and Macs as a standalone app, but the goal is to eventually replace Siri with the new version. Apple plans to introduce LLM Siri next year as part of iOS 19 and macOS 16 (codenamed Luck and Cheer).As was the case with Apple Intelligence this fall, the new Siri reportedly wont launch alongside the new hardware in 2025. Rather, Apple will announce it next year and start rolling out the upgraded Siri as early as spring 2026.The revamped Siri will rely on new Apple AI models to interact more like a human and handle tasks in a way thats closer to ChatGPT and Googles Gemini, Gurman explains in his report. It also will make expanded use of App Intents, which allow for more precise control of third-party apps. And the software will be able to tap into features from Apple Intelligence, such as the ability to write and summarize text.New emojiNew emoji coming to iOS 18. Image source: Unicode/Jos Adorno for BGR Image source: Unicode/Jos Adorno for BGRApple always adds new emojis during every macOS cycle. Even though they dont come with the first major update, the company unveils them during the life cycle of the newest operating system.Official macOS 16 downloadmacOS 16 hasn't been officially announced. Therefore, you cannot test it or download its official version yet.macOS 16 beta downloadmacOS 16 hasnt been announced yet. That said, you cant download its beta version. Once its available, make sure you have your developer account enrolled on your device, or youre part of theApple Beta Software Program. After that, follow the steps below:On your Mac, open the Settings appTap on General and Software UpdateTap on Beta Updates and enable macOS 16 BetaSupported devicesImage source: Christian de Looper for BGRApple keeps ditching older Macs with the latest macOS updates. While we expect the company to soon drop support to all Intel Macs, these are all the computers that can run the latest macOS Sequoia version:2019 iMac and later2017 iMac Pro2020 MacBook Air and later2018 MacBook Pro and later2019 Mac Pro and later2018 Mac mini and later2022 Mac Studio and laterWrap upBGRwill keep updating the macOS 16 guide as we learn more about rumored features, its release date, and more.Don't Miss: iOS 19: Rumors, features, release date, supported devices, moreThe post macOS 16: Rumors, features, release date, supported devices, more appeared first on BGR.Today's Top DealsTodays deals: $99 AirPods 4, $350 off eufy X10 Pro Omni, $25 Fire TV Stick 4K, $250 KitchenAid mixer, moreTodays deals: $720 Apple Watch Ultra 2, $6.50 Anker fast chargers, $35 2K camera drone, Fitbit sale, moreTodays deals: $299 iPad 11th-Gen, $249 Bose ANC headphones, $378 smart toilet, ASUS gaming laptops, moreTodays deals: $399 iPad mini 7th-Gen, $395 75-inch smart TV, $400 eufy Omni C20, Energizer batteries, more

iPadOS 19 is Apple's upcoming new operating system for iPad tablets. It will be announced during the WWDC 2025 keynote ahead of a public release in September 2025. Apple is expected to expand itsApple Intelligence features, as it still needs to catch up with Google, OpenAI, and other big AI rivals. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming iPadOS 19 operating system update.When will Apple announce iPadOS 19?If Apple follows the trend, it should announce iPadOS 19 alongside iOS 19 during the WWDC 2025 keynote. The Worldwide Developers Conferencewill take place from June 9 to June 13. While it was previously held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California, Apple changed how it promoted WWDC to a pre-recorded keynote when the pandemic started. Still, the company invites the media and developers to watch it from the Apple Park campus in Cupertino.Apple will likely announce its plans during WWDC 2025 in April. As of now,Apple has already begun work on iPadOS 19, which is codenamed Luck.Release dateiPadOS 19 is expected to be released in September 2025. Apple usually says the new system update will be available "in the fall." However, the company has released it later in September for the past few years.Still, some rumors say Applewon't make all major iPadOS 19 features available all at once.As a matter of fact, the most impressive functions might arrive in the first half of 2026.Rumored iPadOS 19 featuresM4 iPad Pro OLED display. Image source: Jos Adorno for BGRSo far, rumors have been circulating that the iPhone will undergo a major redesign and include new Apple Intelligence features. Here's everything we know.A major redesign is comingBloomberg's Mark Gurman reportsiPadOS 19 "will fundamentally change the look of the operating systems and make Apple's various software platforms more consistent." According to the journalist, Apple will unify the look of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS to deliver a more straightforward experience through the platform.With that, Apple will adjust the look of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons. This is said to be the most significant redesign for the iPhone/iPad since iOS 7 and for the Mac since Big Sur. The primary goal behind these design overhauls is to bring more cohesion to Apple's disparate operating systems.Besides that, in January,Front Page Techsuggested iPadOS 19 might get a redesign inspired byvisionOS, especially the Camera app, which several users find more confusing than ever. With several layers of interaction, some have suggested Apple might need to make the Camera app simple again, and redesigning it with the visionOS UI might be a possibility.Then, in April, John Prosseroffered yet look at what he thinks will be Apples iOS 19 redesign, afterBloombergs Mark Gurman said the leaked images were based on either very old builds or vague descriptions.Front Page Techhost Jon Prosser claims that Gurmans post actually prompted him to go back and take a closer look at the leaked iOS 19 build. When he did, he noticed that tapping on icons changed their shape. The icons suddenly became more rounded, similar to the look of the apps on visionOS, but not quite a perfect circle.Potential leak of iOS 19 redesign. Image source:Front Page Tech Image source: Front Page TechOther changes in iOS 19 uncovered this time around included on-screen elements shimmering when the phone moves, rounder brightness, and volume sliders in Control Center, new animated tabs at the bottom of Apples first-party apps, the search field at the bottom of the Messages app, and subtle visual changes to the Settings app.Still, Gurman only reshared his old post on X, saying the images dont represent what Apple is actually working on.Finally, some Apple users thinkthe new Apple Invites and Apple Sports app could hint at a redesign of iOS coming in June.Apple Intelligence will grow, but it might take a lot longerApple Intelligence running on M4 iPad Pro. Image source: Jos Adorno for BGRApple doesnt have new Apple Intelligence features to introduce during theiPadOS 18 cycle. That said, the more advanced features will come in later 2025 or 2026 with iPadOS 19.According toBloombergs Mark Gurman, the first version of Apple Intelligence only offers domestic changes. However, a ChatGPT-like model is coming at a later date:These upcoming upgrades will make Siri easier to use on a day-to-day basis, but its not the brain transplant that the service really needs. Siri is still based on an outdated infrastructure AI models that have been overtaken by the technology used by ChatGPT and Googles Gemini. Siri hasnt yet been rebuilt for the generative AI age, even if Apple is trying to create the impression that it has.Its not just the LLM Siri chatbot that wont be released in 2026. Gurman says that a larger-than-usual number of features scheduled for iOS 19 (beyond the new Siri) are already postponed until spring 2026 (when iOS 19.4 debuts).In March, Apple announced that thelong-awaited personalized Siri experience in Apple Intelligencewill be available in the coming year as the company delays the most important AI feature to date.Siri GPTAccording toBloomberg'sMark Gurman, Apple's new version ofSiriwill employmore advanced large language models (LLMs)to allow users to have long back-and-forth conversations with the virtual assistant. Sources also claim that "LLM Siri," as Apple employees have dubbed it, can handle more sophisticated requests even faster.Apple is currently testing the upgraded Siri oniPhones, iPads, and Macs as a standalone app, but the goal is to replace Siri with the new version eventually. Apple plans to introduce LLM Siri next year as part of iOS 19 and macOS 16 (codenamed Luck and Cheer).As was the case with Apple Intelligence this fall, the new Siri reportedly won't launch alongside the new hardware in 2025. Rather, Apple will announce it next year and start rolling out the upgraded Siri as early as spring 2026."The revamped Siri will rely on new Apple AI models to interact more like a human and handle tasks in a way that's closer to ChatGPT and Google's Gemini," Gurman explains in his report. "It also will make expanded use of App Intents, which allow for more precise control of third-party apps. And the software will be able to tap into features from Apple Intelligence, such as the ability to write and summarize text."Revamped Health appIn January 2025,Bloomberg's Mark Gurmansaid Apple plans to revamp the Health app with the new Apple Watch lineup. While it's unclear what could be changed, Cupertino has focused a lot more on the Health app due to its focus on the well-being of Apple hardware and software.New emojiNew emoji coming to iOS 18. Image source: Unicode/Jos Adorno for BGR Image source: Unicode/Jos Adorno for BGRApple always adds new emojis during every iPadOS cycle. Even though they don't come with the first major update, the company unveils them during the life cycle of the newest operating system.Official iPadOS 19 downloadiPadOS 19 hasn't been officially announced. Therefore, you cannot test it or download its official version.iPadOS 19 beta downloadiPadOS 19 hasn't been announced yet. That said, you can't download its beta version. Once it's available, ensure you have your developer account enrolled on your device or are part of theApple Beta Software Program. After that, follow the steps below:On your iPad, open the Settings appTap on General and Software UpdateTap on Beta Updates and enable iPadOS 19 BetaSupported devicesImage source: Christian de Looper for BGRiPadOS 18 removed support for some old-generation iPad models. A leak suggests iPadOS 19 will continue to remove some tablets from this upcoming release. These are the iPads that might support this future software update:iPad mini 5 or neweriPad 8 or neweriPad Air (2019) or neweriPad Pro (2018) or newerWrap upBGRwill keep updating the iPadOS 19 guide as we learn more about rumored features, its release date, and more. Below is a guide highlighting all the possible new features coming toiPhone 17.Don't Miss: iPhone 17: Release date, rumors, features, A19, price, and Slim modelThe post iPadOS 19: Rumors, new features, release date, more appeared first on BGR.Today's Top Deals67 best cheap Apple deals under $100Todays deals: $299 iPad 11th-Gen, $249 Bose ANC headphones, $378 smart toilet, ASUS gaming laptops, moreTodays deals: $99 AirPods 4, $350 off eufy X10 Pro Omni, $25 Fire TV Stick 4K, $250 KitchenAid mixer, moreTodays deals: $720 Apple Watch Ultra 2, $6.50 Anker fast chargers, $35 2K camera drone, Fitbit sale, more

Apple Intelligence is the name of Apple's effort for Artificial Intelligence. The company says it "draws on your personal context while setting a brand-new standard for privacy in AI." It was introduced during the WWDC 2024 keynote, and its a central part of Apple's iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices, starting with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. Apple Vision Pro also supports this platform with visionOS 2.4.Release dateApple Intelligence has been available for Apple devices since October 28, 2024, with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1. Apple Vision Pro users have had access to Apple Intelligence since March 31, 2025. So far, the company is limiting these features to beta. During the iPhone 16 event, Apple teased more functions coming at a later date. FeaturesApple Intelligence feature summary. Image source: Apple Inc.These are some of the Apple Intelligence features previewed during the WWDC 2024 keynote for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro that are now available to users:Writing Tools:Users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps;Image Playground:Users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. This app is built right into apps like Messages and is also available in a dedicated app;Memories in Photos:Users can create stories they want to see just by typing a description. Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc;Clean Up tool:This Photos app feature can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo without accidentally altering the subject;Siri:Users type to Siri and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment.ChatGPT integration:When you feel Apple Intelligence isnt enough, you can allow ChatGPT to access Writing Tools and other features for a better response.iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 start Apple Intelligence revolutionImage source: Jos Adorno for BGRIn July 2024, Apple released the first beta of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. Exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and M1 (or newer) devices, Apple released these operating system updates by the end of October with these functions:Writing Tools:Proofread your text, rewrite different versions until the tone and wording are right, and summarize the selected text with a tap.Improved Siri:With a new design, Siri can maintain context between requests. Even if you stumble over words or shift what youre saying mid-sentence, Siri can understand what you actually want.Priority notifications appear at the top of the stack, letting you know what to pay attention to at a glance. Notifications are summarized so you can scan them faster.Priority messages in Mail:Elevate time-sensitive messages to the top of your inbox, like an invitation that has a deadline today or a check-in reminder for your flight this afternoon.Record and transcribe calls in the Notes app:Just hit record in the Notes or Phone apps to capture audio recordings and transcripts. Apple Intelligence generates summaries of your transcripts, so you can get to the most important information at a glance.Reduce interruptions:An all-new Focus Mode understands the content of your notifications and shows you the ones that might need immediate attention, like a text about picking up your child from daycare later today.Smart Reply in Mail:Quickly draft an email response with all the right details. Apple Intelligence can identify the question you were asked in an email and offer relevant selections to include in your response.Clean Up:This Photos app feature can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo without accidentally altering the subject.Summarization:Apple Intelligence summarizes more than just Messages and Mail notifications.iOS 18.2 featuresImage source: Jos Adorno for BGRiOS 18.2 was released in December 2024. These are some of the Apple Intelligence features:Genmoji support:Create custom emojis by combining two figures; users can type a prompt like monkey with pink hat to make an entirely new emoji heres how to use Genmoji on your iPhoneImage Playground:Users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. This app is built right into apps like Messages and is also available in a dedicated appChatGPT integration:When you feel Apple Intelligence isnt enough, you can allow ChatGPT to access Writing Tools and other features for a better responseVisual Intelligence: It helps users learn about objects and places faster than ever. Users can click and hold Camera Control to pull up the hours or ratings for a restaurant they pass, add an event from a flyer to their calendar, quickly identify a dog by breed, and moreImage Wand:Rough sketches can be turned into delightful images, and users can even select empty space to create an image using context from the surrounding area in the Notes appCreate Images expansion:Another Apple Intelligence feature available with iOS 18.2 beta 2 is the ability to create an image when you highlight text in the Notes app.iOS 18.3 featuresiOS 18.3 was released in January 2025. This software tweaks the Notification Summaries feature:Easily manage settings for notification summaries from the Lock ScreenUpdated style for summarized notifications better distinguishes them from other notifications by using italicized text as well as the glyphNotification summaries for News & Entertainment apps are temporarily unavailable, and users who opt-in will see them again when the feature becomes availableiOS 18.4 featuresImage source: Jos Adorno for BGRiOS 18.4 was released on March 2025. These are some of the Apple intelligence features available:New languages:Apple adds Chinese, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and localized English for Singapore and India.Image Playground:The long-awaited Sketch style is now available alongside the Animation and Illustration options.Genmoji:Apple tweaked the Genmoji icon on the keyboard, as it now reads Genmoji.Mail Categorization:Apple added Mail Categorization to iPad users with iPadOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4.Apple Vision Pro support: visionOS 2.4 adds the AI platform to Vision Pro users.Visual Intelligence:Apple expanded the Visual Intelligence feature to the Action Button so iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16e users could take advantage of it.Here's how to use Apple Intelligence.Apple Intelligence scheduleAfter important updates, this is when you can expect new Apple Intelligence features:At this moment, it's unclear if Apple is adding more AI features with iOS 18.5 or during the iOS 18 cycle. For iOS 19, Apple will keep improving Apple Intelligence features. However, the most impressive functions might take longer to launch:As Mark Gurman explains in hisPower Onnewsletter, the first version of Apple Intelligence made cosmetic changes with a new user interface and support for typing questions to Siri instead of speaking them.The more interesting Siri abilities, which will let the personal assistant access user data for contextual information about them and control third-party apps via the new App Intents software, have been delayed indefinitely. They're now expected to land in the first half of 2026.In addition, Gurman points out that a SiriGPT-like feature won't be available before iOS 20.These upcoming upgrades will make Siri easier to use on a day-to-day basis, but its not the brain transplant that the service really needs. Siri is still based on an outdated infrastructure AI models that have been overtaken by the technology used by ChatGPT and Googles Gemini. Siri hasnt yet been rebuilt for the generative AI age, even if Apple is trying to create the impression that it has.Visual Intelligence comes to all AI-powered iPhonesUsing the Camera Control button to find out information about a restaurant with Visual Intelligence. Image source: Apple Inc.During the iPhone 16 event, Apple revealed the new Camera Control feature. It would unlock visual intelligence to help users learn about objects and places faster than ever before. Users could click and hold the Camera Control to pull up the hours or ratings for a restaurant they pass, add an event from a flyer to their calendar, quickly identify a dog by breed, and more.Camera Control also serves as a gateway into third-party tools with specific domain expertise, such as when users want to search Google to find where they can buy an item or to benefit from ChatGPTs problem-solving skills. However, with the iPhone 16e announcement, Apple revealed visual intelligence would be available on the Action Button, and that it would also make its way to iPhone 15 Pro.How to use iPhone 16s Visual Intelligence featureiPhone 16e and 15 Pro finally got the one Apple AI feature worth usingApple Intelligence is available in 10 languagesImage source: Apple Inc.During the iPhone 16 event, Apple announced it would expand Apple Intelligence to more languages in 2025. In addition to English and its variations for Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and the US, it's also available in the following languages: ChineseFrenchGermanItalianJapaneseKoreanPortuguese (Brazil)SpanishVietnameseApple hasn't revealed when it's going to expand Apple Intelligence to other languages. Most likely, the company will address that during the WWDC 2025 keynote.Apple Intelligence in ChinaApple's Deirdre O' Brien followed the iPhone 15 release in China Image source: Apple Inc.Following reports that Apple planned to launch Apple Intelligence in China, we now know how the platform will work in the country.According to Bloomberg, several teams in China and the US are working to adapt the Apple Intelligence platform for the region, with Alibaba powering this experience. With a launch date expected as soon as May, this means a proper update will come a little after Apple starts offering Chinese support for itsAI features with iOS 18.4.Bloombergexplains that Alibaba will censor and filter AI output to comply with requirements from the Chinese government. Additionally, Baidu will handle other AI features, such as Visual Intelligence and searches. While previous reports said Baidu wouldnt be involved with Apple Intelligence, the publication says the Chinese company will also have a role in this launch.Since Apple Intelligence has three main types of AI (on-device features, server-side functions, and OpenAI capabilities), Apple will use the same on-device AI models as it does in the rest of the world, even though Alibaba will serve as a layer on top that can censor material that the government objects to, for server-side features, the company might rely on its GBCD iCloud partner. Baidu will be responsible for the Visuall Intelligence part.Tim Cook explains Apple and OpenAI's ChatGPT partnershipImage source: YouTube/MKBHDRumors were true, and Apple has partnered with OpenAI. According to the company, these two projects work seamlessly, but they have core features that separate them.With Apple AI, the company ensures that all data is private through Private Cloud Compute, while OpenAIs ChatGPT usually collects user data. In an interview withYouTuber Marques Brownlee, Apples CEO Tim Cook explained the core difference between Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT partnership.Theres Private Cloud Computing, and theres the arrangement with OpenAI, says Tim Cook. These two things are different. So, if you look at Private Cloud Compute, were utilizing the same basic architecture as the silicon thats in the iPhone 15. Were using the same software, and so we believe that weve done it in such a way that its as safe and secure and private in the Private Cloud Compute as in the device.That means Apple wont collect users data, wont make a profile of the user, or take this data to sell it elsewhere. Cupertino aimed to extend the iPhones on-device processing to the next level with a level of security that people are used to with their iPhones.Tim Cook continues: So we really, we really worked on this on a lot and put a lot of work behind that arrow to be sure that if youre working on something that requires world knowledge, so youre out of the domain of personal context and so forth, then you may want to go and use one of the large language models that are on the market, and we will be selected what we feel is the best one with OpenAI and ChatGPT.That said, all personal requests related to Apples built-in apps, such as Messages, Mail, Calendar, and more, will use the companys intelligence. In contrast, world knowledge can be requested for OpenAI ChatGPT and later for other large language models.New LLMs can join the party laterWhile Apple first integrated with OpenAI, the company plans to work with other LLMs as well. For example, Cupertino is in talks with Google to license Gemini. Its unclear when Gemini support is coming, but Aaron Perris posted a screenshot on X that shows Google showing up in a backend update that came withthe iOS 18.4 beta.Apple Intelligence compatible devicesImage source: Jos Adorno for BGRDuring the WWDC 2024 keynote, Apple announced which devices will be compatible with its Intelligence:iPhone 15 Pro models or newerM1 iPad models or newer (such as the M4 iPad Pro) and the new iPad mini (A17 Pro)Apple Silicon Macs running macOS SequoiaApple Vision ProApple papers suggest where its AI efforts are atImage source: PixelmatorAI model for instruction-based image editingIn February, Apple released a revolutionary AI model for instruction-based image editing. According to apaperpublished by Apple researchers, instruction-based image editing improves the controllability and flexibility of image manipulation via natural commands without elaborate descriptions or regional masks.The study shows promising capabilities in cross-modal understanding and visual-aware response generation via LM as they investigated how MLLMs facilitate edit instructions and MLLM-guided image editing.This image editing AI model made by Apple can produce concise and clear instructions for the editing process, create Photoshop-style modifications, optimize photo quality, and edit specific elements of a picture, such as faces, eyes, hair, clothes, and accessories.MM1: Apple's AI modelIn March,Apple researchers published a paper highlighting how theyre training a new large language model (LLM).CalledMM1, this LLM can integrate text and visual information simultaneously. The paper offers an interesting look at the importance of various architectural components and data choices. The researchers say they were able to demonstrate that for large-scale multimodal pre-training using a careful mix of image-caption, interleaved image-text, and text-only data is crucial for achieving state-of-the-art (SOTA) few-shot results across multiple benchmarks, compared to other published pre-training results.In addition, they showed that the image encoder together with image resolution and the image token count has a substantial impact, while the vision-language connector design is of comparatively negligible importance.Apples MM1 AI model uses a family of multimodal models with up to 30 billion parameters, consisting of both dense models and mixture-of-experts (MoE) variants, that are state-of-the-art in pre-training metrics and achieve competitive performance after supervised fine-tuning on a range of established multimodal benchmarks.ReALM could be better than OpenAI's GPT-4iOS 18.1 Apple Intelligence on iPhone 15 Pro: The all-new Siri design Image source: Jos Adorno for BGRApple researchers have published a paper about a new AI model. According to the company, ReALM is a language model that can understand and successfully handle contexts of different kinds. With that, users can ask about something on the screen or run in the background, and the language model can still understand the context and give the proper answer.This is the third paper regardingAI that Applehas publishedin the past few months. These studies only tease the upcoming AI features ofiOS 18,macOS 15, and Apples newest operating systems. In the paper, Apple researchers say, Reference resolution is an important problem, one that is essential to understand and successfully handle context of different kinds.One example is a user asking for pharmacies near them. After a list is presented, something Siri could do, the user could ask, Call the one on Rainbow Rd., Call the bottom one, or Call this number (present onscreen). Siri cant perform this second part, but with ReALM, this language model could understand the context by analyzing on-device data and completing the query.Ferret LLMThis paper explains how a multimodal large language model can understand user interfaces of mobile displays. The researchers say they have advanced in MLLM usage but still "fall short in their ability to comprehend and interact effectively with user interface (UI) screens."This assistive assistant is still far from being released. But once Apple masters it, it could be integrated alongside ReALM model.BGR will update this guide as we learn more about Apple's AI efforts.Don't Miss: iOS 18: Features, release date, beta, download, Apple IntelligenceThe post Apple Intelligence: AI, features, research delays, and supported devices appeared first on BGR.Today's Top DealsTodays deals: $99 AirPods 4, $350 off eufy X10 Pro Omni, $25 Fire TV Stick 4K, $250 KitchenAid mixer, moreTodays deals: $169 AirPods Pro 2, $490 75-inch smart TV, $12 Crest 3D whitening toothpaste, more67 best cheap Apple deals under $100Todays deals: $349 MacBook Air, 45% off TP-Link WiFi 7 mesh, $299 Vitamix Explorian blender, more

A year after the iPhone 15 was released, Apple revealed the iPhone 16 lineup at its It's Glowtime event. Available in four options, Cupertino revamped the standard models while taking the Pro iPhone models to the next level. A few months later, in February 2025, Apple launched a new addition to the lineup with the iPhone 16e.If you want, you can learn about the latest iPhone 17 rumors here.Release dateThe iPhone 16 lineup was revealed on September 9, 2024. Pre-orders started on September 13 and went on sale on September 20.Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e started on February 21, 2025, and it went on sale on February 28, 2025. These are the most popular iPhone models everyone's buying right now.iPhone 16e is Apple's Galaxy FE-like phoneImage source: Apple Inc.On February 19, Apple announced the iPhone 16e. While rumors expected Cupertino to launch an iPhone SE 4, the company unveiled the iPhone 16e. This new phone has an iPhone 14-like design with an Action Button. It has a less capable A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, a single 48MP camera, Apple's proprietary 5G chip, the C1, no MagSafe capabilities, and a USB-C port.Available in black and white, it's 40% more expensive than the latest iPhone SE 3. Even though it has a few similarities with the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16e lacks several features available with its siblings.Revamped designed, bigger Pro iPhone modelsImage source: Apple Inc.At first, iPhone 16 models might look the same as its predecessor as they keep the Dynamic Island cutout, have the same maximum brightness of 2,000 nits, and maintain the ProMotion and Always-On display technology exclusive to the Pro models.However, while the base iPhone 16 still features 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, the iPhone 16 Pro now has 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screens. In addition, Apple made the Pro's bezels thinner, giving it a more immersive look.Apple says the regular models offer back glass strengthened with an optimized dual-ion exchange process. The glass is then polished with nanocrystalline particles and etched to create a textured matte finish. A new contoured edge on the aerospace-grade aluminum enclosure also aims to make this iPhone feel nicer in users hands. In addition, the camera on the back of the regular iPhone models is in vertical mode instead of diagonal.Image source: Apple Inc.By adding a titanium design to the Pro models, which are the same as those used in spacecraft, Apple says it offers one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios of any metal, making this the companys lightest Pro lineup ever.Both models feature a new brush texture and contoured edges. The Pro lineup combines the strength of titanium with the toughest back glass in a smartphone and the industry-leading Ceramic Shield on the front. Using an industry-first thermo-mechanical process, the titanium bands encase a new substructure made from 100 percent recycled aluminum, bonding these two metals with strength through solid-state fusion. Did you know someone built a transparent iPhone 16 Pro? Here it is.Best iPhone 16 cases from 7 third-party accessory makers6 tiny bumps make the magic that lets the iPhone 16 camera button work with Apples casesAction Button and Camera Control come to (almost) all phonesImage source: Joe Wituschek for BGRFollowing the exclusive release of the iPhone 15 Pro's Action Button, Apple added it to all four iPhone 16 models. This button replaces the single-function mute switch. Users can now activateseveral new functionswith the Action Button, such as:Accessibility:Users can access selected accessibility features with one tap;Camera:Launch the Camera app;Flashlight:Turn on or off the flashlight;Focus:Activate or deactivate a Focus Mode;Magnifier:Activate the Magnifier app to use the iPhones camera as a magnifying glass to zoom in on small texts;Shortcuts:Pressing the Action button lets users run any shortcut they have created. The same already happens with the Apple Watch Ultra;Shazam: Long press to identify a song playing on your display or in your surroundingsSilent Mode:Long press to turn silent mode on or off;Translate:Launches the Translate app and starts a conversation or the text translation with a single tapVoice Memos:Start or stop recording a voice memo with the Voice Memos app.Visual Intelligence: Since the iPhone 16e doesn't feature Camera Control, Apple added this AI feature to the Action ButtonIf an icon is driving you crazy after you update to the newest iPhones, you should know there's a way to remove it.iPhone 16 profile shows the new Camera Control button. Image source: Apple Inc.Now, the long-rumored Capture Button has been revealed as Camera Control. You can use it on the Camera app or for AI features:Take photosLight press gives quick access to zoomLight pressing twice gives you several settings accessThird-party apps will also be able to offer new features through the Camera ControlAI features for the Camera Control:Click and hold to do a visual searchAdd flyer information to your calendarTake a photo of something you see on the streets and find it online to buyStill, it seems Apple's biggest hardware change on the iPhone 16 is a huge disappointment to users. Really.iPhone 16 official colorsiPhone 16 and 16 Plus color options. Image source: Apple Inc.Apple that color is infused throughout the back glass, creating five colors for the iPhone 16 models. These are theoptions available:BlackWhitePinkTealUltramarineImage source: Apple Inc.For the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max models, Apple has ditched the blue option in favor of a gold one:Black TitaniumWhite TitaniumNatural TitaniumDesert TitaniumWe still don't know if Apple will release a new iPhone 16 color this spring. However, it seems more and more unlikely after the company unveiled new spring cases.A18 family powers this new generationApple is following the same strategy as the Mac for the new iPhone lineup: adding a base chip to the regular phones and using a more powerful processor for the Pro iPhones.A18 specsImage source: Apple Inc.The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus offer the new A18 chip. Built on second-generation 3-nanometer technology to further accelerate Apple Intelligence, it features an upgraded 16-core Neural Ent is optimized for large generative models and runs ML models up to 2x faster than the A16 Bionic chip.The 6-core CPU is 30 percent faster than the A16 Bionic chip and faster than all the competition (disclaimer: the iPhone 16e has a 5-core CPU). It is also more power efficient and can run the same workload with 30 percent less power than the A16 Bionic.The 5-core GPU is up to 40 percent faster and 35 percent more efficient than A16 Bionic. Now, with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, games on iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus more accurately represent the behavior of light with up to 5x higher frame rates than with software-based ray tracing. The efficiency of A18 and the devices rearchitected internal design deliver up to 30 percent higher sustained performance for gaming while ensuring Apple Intelligence runs efficiently on iPhone.A18 Pro specsImage source: Apple Inc.Built with second-generation 3-nanometer technology and featuring a new architecture with smaller, faster transistors, the A18 Pro delivers better efficiency than ever. The new 16-core Neural Engine is faster and more efficient than the previous generation, powering on-device performance for Apple Intelligence. A 17 percent increase in total system memory bandwidth the highest ever in iPhone enables faster experiences when using Writing Tools and Image Playground and helps deliver amazing graphics. The bandwidth increase also benefits the 6-core GPU, which is up to 20 percent faster than the previous generation, driving graphics rendering for Apple Intelligence and prettier visuals for gaming. Hardware-accelerated ray tracing gets up to 2x faster for even more realistic light sources and reflections. A new 6-core CPU is the fastest in a smartphone, with two performance cores and four efficiency cores that can run the same workload as the previous generation 15 percent faster while using 20 percent less power. Next-generation ML accelerators are optimized for Apple Intelligence and save power by handling high-efficiency, high-throughput, and low-latency computations on the CPU without engaging the Neural Engine.iPhone 16 storage capacity revealedThese are the storage capacities for all five new models:Regular iPhones128GB256GB512GBiPhone 16e128GB256GB512GBiPhone 16 Pro models128GB (exclusive to the smaller Pro)256GB512GB1 TBCameras: From iPhone 16 to iPhone 16 Pro MaxImage source: Apple Inc.The regular iPhone 16 models have a new 48MP Fusion camera that enables a 2x optical-quality Telephoto option, so users can get closer to the subject to easily frame a photo. In addition to wide-angle shots, the new 12MP Ultra Wide camera with autofocus enables macro photography. The Ultra Wide camera also gathers up to 2.6x more light for higher image quality.The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max have a second-generation quad-pixel sensor that enables s 4K120 fps video recording in Dolby Vision. Additional advancements include a new 48MP Ultra Wide camera for higher-resolution photography, including macro; a 5x Telephoto camera on both Pro models; and studio-quality mics to record more true-to-life audio.Camera features that all iPhone models haveAll 2024 iPhone 16 models offer some similar camera capabilities, these features don't apply to to the iPhone 16e. Here they are:Smart HDR 5:New Smart HDR captures subjects and the background with more true-to-life renderings of skin tones while ensuring photos have brighter highlights, richer midtones, and deeper shadows when viewed in the Photos app. This advanced HDR rendering is also available to third-party apps, so images can look even better when shared online.Next-generation Photographic Styles: It helps users express their creativity and customize their photos by locally adjusting color, highlights, and shadows in real-time. Styles also have a deeper understanding of skin undertones, so users can personalize how they appear in photos. Unlike filters, which often use a one-size-fits-all approach by adding a color to an entire scene, adjustments are applied to specific colors of a selected style. A wider set of styles offers more creative options for editing a photos aesthetic, and styles can be rendered during live preview, applied after a photo is taken, or even reversed later. Here's how iPhone 16 Photographic Styles are making everyone a good photographer.Image source: Jos Adorno for BGRVideos in Spatial Audio: Video can now be captured in Spatial Audio for immersive listening with AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, or a surround sound system. Both iPhone models introduce new ways to edit video sound with Audio Mix allowing users to adjust their sound after capture to focus on the voice of the person on camera, make it sound like the video was recorded inside a professional studio, or position vocal tracks in the front and environmental noises in surround sound. Wind noise reduction: All new iPhone models feature wind noise reduction, which uses powerful machine learning (ML) algorithms to reduce unwanted noise for better audio quality.These new models have some exclusive camera features users can only get by upgrading to these new phones.Spatial Photos and Spatial Videos come to everyoneImage source: Apple Inc.After Apple announced itsVision Pro spatial computer,BGRwrote that it would be possible for a newiPhone to feature Spatial Video. This function lets you record 3D videos, which will be perfect to watch on the Vision Pro headset.While the iPhone 15 Pro already offered Spatial Video, all new iPhone 16 models now have this feature. For the first time, Spatial Photos can also be taken with these new phones, so you can relive memories with depth on Apple Vision Pro.USB-C ports are unchangedAll four iPhone 16 models maintain the USB-C port. While the regular models get USB-C 2.0, the Pro versions get USB-C 3.0 standards, which give transfer speeds up to 10 gigabits per second, up to 20x faster than before. That said, users must buy a new cable, not the braided one available in this iPhone's box, to get these transfer speeds.Everything you can connect to your iPhone 16 with the USB-C portUnlike the Lightning port on previous iPhones, Apple has been pretty generous with the new USB-C port, meaning you can connect basicallyany peripheral to this device. With it, you can:Charge other devices:You can use your iPhone to charge your AirPods, Apple Watch, or another small device that supports USB Power Delivery at up to 4.5 watts or to charge a device that has a Lightning connector, connect it to your iPhoneusing anApple USB-Cto Lightning cable.Play audio:If you need to play audio through the USB-Cconnector to other speakers or headphones, you can connect using theApple USB-Cto 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter or the Apple USB-Cto Lightning Adapter.Connect to display and monitors:You can connect your iPhone to external displays using the USB-Cconnector so that you can watch video, see photos, and more on a larger screen. Depending on the display that youre connecting to, you might need an adapter. iPhone uses the DisplayPort protocol to support connections to USB-Cdisplaysat up to 4K resolution and 60Hz. In addition, you can connect youriPhone to an HDMI display or TV with a USB-Cto an HDMI adapter or cable. Adapters and cables that support HDMI 2.0can output video fromyour iPhone at 4K resolution and 60Hz.You can also connect your iPhone 16 with:CarPlay compatible carsExternal storage devicesMonitors and external displaysMicrophonesExternal battery packsUSB to Ethernet adaptersSD cards using SD card adaptersBig battery for iPhone 16Image source: Apple Inc.Apple says it improved the battery for all iPhone models. In addition to improvements on the A18 chips and the thermal design, the battery is bigger we have the battery capacities difference from each phone here. Apple also revealed the improvements in video playback:iPhone 16Up to 22 hours of video playbackUp to 18 hours of video playback streamedUp to 80 hours of audio playbackiPhone 16 ProUp to 27 hours of video playbackUp to 22 hours of video playback streamedUp to 85 hours of audio playbackiPhone 16 PlusUp to 27 hours of video playbackUp to 24 hours of video playback streamedUp to 100 hours of audio playbackiPhone 16 Pro MaxUp to 33 hours of video playbackUp to 29 hours of video playback streamedUp to 105 hours of audio playbackiPhone 16 Pro Max beats Galaxy S24 Ultra in real-life battery life testiOS 18 and Apple Intelligence power this deviceSiri on the Vision Pro headset. Image source: Apple Inc.The operating system of the iPhone 16 is iOS 18. Unveiled during the WWDC 2024 keynote, Apple has several changes available for the iPhone Home Screen and Lock Screen.With iOS 18, users can lock and hide apps with Face ID, but the most important features come with Apple Intelligence. These are some of the upcoming features:Writing Tools:Users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps;Image Playground:Users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. This app is built right into apps like Messages and is also available in a dedicated app;Genmoji:With this function, iPhone users will use AI to generate new emoji characters based on text input, such as T-rex wearing a tutu on a surfboard.Learn more about it here;Memories in Photos:Users can create stories they want to see just by typing a description. Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc;Clean Up tool:This Photos app feature can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo without accidentally altering the subject;Siri:Users type to Siri and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment.ChatGPT integration:When you feel Apple Intelligence isnt enough, you can allow ChatGPT to access Writing Tools and other features for a better response.Here's how to get Apple Intelligence on your iPhone 16 from day one.iOS 18.1 featuresiOS 18.1 Apple Intelligence on iPhone 15 Pro: The all-new Siri design Image source: Jos Adorno for BGRiOS 18.1 was released by the end of October. These are its top features:Record and transcribe calls in the Notes app:Just hit record in the Notes or Phone apps to capture audio recordings and transcripts. Apple Intelligence generates summaries of your transcripts, so you can get to the most important information at a glance.Smart Reply in Mail:Quickly draft an email response with all the right details. Apple Intelligence can identify the question you were asked in an email and offer relevant selections to include in your response.Record calls:iOS 18.1 allows you to record calls. While transcribing and summarizing are exclusive to Apple Intelligence-compatible devices, everyone can record calls.Sleep Apnea Detection:iOS 18.1 and watchOS 11.1 include sleep apnea detection. This feature requires an Apple Watch Series 9 or newer.Control Center tweaks:After revamping the Control Center withiOS 18, Apple is adding even more new features with iOS 18.1. For example, all the connectivity toggles are now available standalone, so you can ditch Apples built-in option for your own solution. There are also new widgets for Apples own apps.RCS support expansion:While the final list remains unclear, Apple has once again expanded RCS support to more carriers worldwide.iPhone Mirroring Drag and Drop:With iOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1, Apple adds the ability to drag and drop items from the Mac to the iPhone and vice versa while using iPhone Mirroring. This feature was delayed from the original software launches.iOS 18.2 featuresImage source: Jos Adorno for BGRiOS 18.2 was released on December 12. The main features regard Apple Intelligence. These are the highlights:Genmoji support:Create custom emojis by combining two figures; users can type a prompt like monkey with pink hat to make an entirely new emoji heres how to use Genmoji on your iPhoneImage Playground:Users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. This app is built right into apps like Messages and is also available in a dedicated app hereshow to request access to Image Playground so you can use GenmojiChatGPT integration:When you feel Apple Intelligence isnt enough, you can allow ChatGPT to access Writing Tools and other features for a better response how to stop Apple Intelligence from making you confirm every ChatGPT requestVisual Intelligence: It helps users learn about objects and places faster than ever. Users can click and hold Camera Control to pull up the hours or ratings for a restaurant they pass, add an event from a flyer to their calendar, quickly identify a dog by breed, and moreImage Wand:Rough sketches can be turned into delightful images, and users can even select empty space to create an image using context from the surrounding area in the Notes appThere are other functions available with this update:All-new Mail app:Mail is introducing new ways for users to manage their inboxes. On-device categorization organizes and sorts incoming emails into Primary for personal and time-sensitive emails, Transactions for confirmations and receipts, Updates for news and social notifications, and Promotions for marketing emails and coupons. Mail also features a new digest view that pulls together all of the relevant emails from a business, allowing users to quickly scan for whats important at the momentChange default apps:iOS 18.2 lets iPhone users change the Messages and Phone default appsVolume Limit:The Settings app now has a new Volume Limit control. This lets you limit how loud your iPhone speakers can play mediaVoice Memos:During the iPhone 16 event, Apple announced the iPhone 16 Pro would get a Voice Memos upgrade. With iOS 18.2, users can layer multiple tracks on top of each other.iOS 18.3 featuresImage source: Apple Inc.iOS 18.3 was released on January 27. The main features regard Apple Intelligence. These are the highlights:Notification summaries (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max)Easily manage settings for notification summaries from the Lock ScreenUpdated style for summarized notifications better distinguishes them from other notifications by using italicized text as well as the glyphNotification summaries for News & Entertainment apps are temporarily unavailable, and users who opt-in will see them again when the feature becomes availableThis update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:Calculator repeats the last mathematical operation when you tap the equals sign againFixes an issue where the keyboard might disappear when initiating a typed Siri requestResolves an issue where audio playback continues until the song ends even after closing Apple MusicYoull also find these changes in this version:Camera Control icons:Apple has updated the Camera Control icons to the new Dark Mode. This change has been spotted byX user Aaron Perris. In addition, the Camera Control has renamed the AF/EF toggle to Lock Focus and Exposure.Visual Intelligence improvement:iOS 18.3 adds Visual Intelligence support for adding events to the Calendar app. So when viewing a poster or flyer, Apple will give you an option to add an event to the Calendar app.Plants and animals on Visual Intelligence:Similar to Visual Look Up, the Visual Intelligence feature enabled by the Camera Control can identify plants and animals in real time.Black Unity wallpapers:As usual,Apple released new Black Unity wallpaperswith iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. This time, Apple was inspired by the rhythm of humanity to create this collection.iOS 18.4 featuresImage source: Jos Adorno for BGRiOS 18.4 was released on March 31. These are some of the features available with this software update:New languages:Apple adds Chinese, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and localized English for Singapore and India.Image Playground:The long-awaited Sketch style is now available alongside the Animation and Illustration options.Genmoji:Apple tweaked the Genmoji icon on the keyboard, as it now reads Genmoji.Apple News+ Food:This update will bring a new Food section to Apple News. Subscribers can access recipes, tips for healthy eating, restaurants, and more.Vision Pro app:With iOS 18.4, Apple Vision Pro will get its own iPhone app. It will help you download apps, visionOS content, tips, and information and even set up Guest Mode.Apple Maps change:You can now set a Preferred Language to get directions instead of the one you use on your iPhone.Ambient music:iOS 18.4 adds new Control Center toggles for Ambient Music, including Chill, Productivity, Sleep, and Wellbeing.CarPlay update:Cars with bigger screens now get three rows of apps displayed.PriceiPhone 16e128GB: $599256GB: $699512GB: $899iPhone 16128GB: $799256GB: $899512GB: $1,099iPhone 16 Plus128GB: $899256GB: $999512GB: $1,199iPhone 16 Pro128GB: $999256GB: $1,099512GB: $1,2991 TB: $1,499iPhone 16 Pro Max256GB: $1,199512GB: $1,3991 TB: $1,599ReviewiPhone 16 Plus USB-C port. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGRBGR has reviewed the iPhone 16, 16 Pro, and 16e:In our iPhone 16 review, we praise how "pro" this device has become:With or withoutApple Intelligence, the base iPhones get a pretty big upgrade this year. They perform excellently well, get the programmable Action Button they should have had last year, and get a fun new Camera Control that, while imperfect, is kind of fun.In our iPhone 16 Pro review, it seems this device isn't a bit upgrade if you're coming from last year's phone. However, it's still Apple's best phone to date:Its a weird year for the iPhone. TheiPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plushave gotten pretty impressive upgrades through features that were previously reserved for Pro model devices. The Pro models, on the other hand, keep those features and really only add one major change in the form of the camera control. Sure, there are other bits and pieces that are improved too, like the new A18 Pro chip. But given the fact that the iPhone series always performs excellently well, its hard for the improved performance to really feel like an upgrade.Finally, in our iPhone 16e review, we believe this is a good iPhone, but it's weird Apple says it's part of the iPhone 16 family:Some of the trade-offs you make for the cheaper iPhone make sense compared to the iPhone 16. It makes sense to lose a camera and the Camera Control. It makes sense to have a slightly older display. And, it makes sense to have a slightly older design with a notch. Other changes, like the lack of MagSafe, make no sense to me. Apple is all about that ecosystem and not including MagSafe represents a jarring break in the ecosystem that limits the accessories people can actually use with their phones.But, despite that, its far from a bad phone. Actually, its a great phone. This is the phone to buy if you want the cheapest phone that will last the longest amount of time. With an A18 chip, itll support new versions of iOS for years to come, plus it still delivers on all the basics, like a solid camera and nice display.Wrap upThis is everything you need to know about the iPhone 16. For more information about these new phones, keep checking our guides.Eight tips and tricks to tackle your iPhone 16 experience to the next level6 biggest iPhone 16 problems that people are complaining about5 iPhone 16 Plus features I started missing as soon as I returned itDon't Miss: 6 biggest iPhone 16 problems that people are complaining aboutThe post iPhone 16: Release date, features, review, price, AI, and more appeared first on BGR.Today's Top DealsBest Fire TV Stick deals for May 2025Todays deals: $720 Apple Watch Ultra 2, $6.50 Anker fast chargers, $35 2K camera drone, Fitbit sale, moreTodays deals: $4 iPhone chargers, 51% off Beats Studio Pro ANC headphones, $80 Roku Ultra, moreAmazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $400+ free

iOS 18 is Apple's current operating system for iPhone models, including the new iPhone 16. Previewed during the WWDC 2024 keynote, this software update offers a Home Screen redesign, more privacy features, and Apple Intelligence.Release DateiOS 18 has been available since September 16, 2024. Its first beta was released on June 10, with a public beta made available the following month.FeaturesiOS 18 is full of new features for iPhone users. BGR has compiled the most important ones here for you.Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center revampiOS 18: Big home screen redesign Image source: Apple Inc.In previous iOS updates, Apple has tweaked the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center. This time, the company has finally taken customization to a new level. Now, apps can be organized in any way, which means they can be placed anywhere.App icons and widgets can take on a new look with a dark or tinted effect, and users can make apps appear larger to create the perfect experience. In the Lock Screen, it's possible to choose new widgets instead of the Flashlight and Camera options. Here's how to customize the iPhone's Home Screen in iOS 18.Image source: Jos Adorno for BGRFinally, the Control Center has been redesigned. Users can create new groups of widgets for Home controls, connectivity, and music listening and reorganize the widgets' locations. The new controls gallery displays the full set of available options, and users can customize how the controls are laid out, including adjusting them to the ideal size and creating entirely new groups. Here's how to customize the iPhone's Control Center in iOS 18.There's even an over-the-top new interactive flashlight widget. However, with all of these changes, adding a new wallpaper seems more confusing than ever.Photos app gets the biggest update to dateImage source: Apple Inc.Apple has an ambitious plan for iOS 18's Photos app. With its redesign, Apple wants to make it easier for users to find and relive special moments. With a single-view display, it offers new collections to help users browse by themes without having to organize content into albums.Collections can be pinned to keep favorites easily accessible. While there was a new carousel view, Apple removed it during the beta test in favor of a more simplified experience. Apple says that auto-playing content throughout the app brings libraries to life "so past moments can be enjoyed while browsing."With iOS 18.2, Apple improved the app with these changes:Albums in the Photos app can now be sorted alphabetically, by date created, or manually.The Favorites album now appears in the Utilities collection in addition to Pinned Collections.Improvements when viewing videos include the ability to scrub frame-by-frame and a setting to turn off auto-looping video playback.Improvements when navigating Collections views, including the ability to swipe right to go back to the previous view.Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history can now be cleared, and more.Still, months after iOS 18 was released, many iPhone users have continued to complain about the "Indexing Your Library" issue.If you disliked the new look, there's a way to almost bring back the old design. Here's how to fix the iOS 18 Photos app.Messages get powerful new featuresImage source: Apple Inc.With iOS 18, Apple is adding even more features to Messages. These are the top new functions:All-new text effects: You can amplify any letter, word, phrase, or emoji with dynamic, animated appearancesPersonalize messages: Users can better express tone by adding formatting like bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough;Tapbacks: Includes any emoji or sticker;Schedule messages: Over the iMessage menu, you can schedule a message to send later;Messages via satellite: When cellular and Wi-Fi connections aren't available, you can send and receive texts, emojis, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS.Passwords App and new ways to stay safeImage source: Apple Inc.Building on the foundation of Keychain, the new Passwords app makes it easy for users to access their passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes.In addition, Apple has released new features that let users lock and hide apps. When an app is locked or hidden, content like messages or emails inside the app is hidden from search, notifications, and other places across the system. Users can only unlock it with Face ID and Touch ID. BGR teaches you how to hide and lock iPhone apps in iOS 18.CarPlay featuresiOS 18 also brings new features for CarPlay users. Here they are:Announced Notifications support:Announce Notifications can read aloud your notification summaries when using AirPods or CarPlay.Spatial Audio:Drivers can now listen to Spatial Audio songs and albums available in Apple Music and third-party apps while connected to CarPlay. Vehicles with multichannel audio capabilities can enable an immersive sound experience. Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos can also be implemented in compatible vehicles.Accessibility:Color Filters, Bold Text, Voice Control, and Sound Recognition accessibility settings are now available in CarPlay in IOS 18, providing a consistent experience between the iPhone and the vehicle.Everything new with Apple Music in iOS 18Image source: Jos Adorno for BGREvent Tickets with Apple Wallet:The new Tickets in Wallet feature improves event information with venue and parking details, in-seat food delivery, and even recommended playlists from Apple Music. It all depends on the promoter.Music Haptics:Apple Music has a breakthrough feature coming with iOS 18, but its likely not for you. With Music Haptics, Apple brings a new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to experience music on iPhone. The company explains: With this feature enabled, the Taptic Engine in iPhone plays taps, textures, and refined vibrations to the audio of the music.UI tweaks:Apple has tweaked the Shuffle, Repeat, and Autoplay icons with bigger buttons.You can learn more about Apple Music features in iOS 18 here.RCS is hereImage source: Jos Adorno for BGRLast year, Apple announced that RCS messaging support would come in 2024. With iOS 18 now available, Cupertino brings RCS-supported texts, better integration on group messages, high-quality photos and videos, and more between iPhone and Android. However, if you don't see RCS support on your device, you must wait for an update from your carrier.Still, features like memoji, stickers, edit, and unsend messages will continue to be iMessage-exclusive. You can have a first look at RCS texting here.Additional iOS 18 featuresThere's even more Apple available with iOS 18, including:InApple Maps, users can browse thousands of hikes across national parks in the United States and easily create their own custom walking routes, which they can access offline;Game Modeenhances the gaming experience with more consistent frame rates, especially during long play sessions;SharePlaywithApple Musicallowseven more users to share control of music playing from HomePod, Apple TV, or any Bluetooth-enabled speaker, making listening together more fun and engaging;iPhone Mirror: You can control your iPhone on a Mac running macOS Sequoia; it's possible to follow notifications and even drag and drop content;In theNotes app, formulas and equations entered while typing are solved instantly with Math Notes; you can learn more about the new Notes app here;InJournal, an all-new insights view helps users keep track of their journaling goals, and the ability to search and sort entries makes it easy to enjoy past memories. You can learn more about the new Journal app here;Calendarbecomes even more helpful by showing both events and tasks fromReminders;iPhone Contacts app gets a security layer, and Apple now asks if you want to share only a few contacts or all your agenda with an app.Here are 13 hidden features that you should be using every day on your iPhone.iOS 18 Apple Intelligence's major featuresApple Intelligence running on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Image source: Apple Inc.Exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, Apple offers Apple Intelligence, which is an AI platform built-in with "privacy from the ground up." These are the main features:Writing Tools: Users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps;Image Playground: Users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. This app is built right into apps like Messages and is also available in a dedicated app;Genmoji: With this function, iPhone users will use AI to generate new emoji characters based on text input, such as T-rex wearing a tutu on a surfboard. Learn more about it here;Memories in Photos: Users can create stories they want to see just by typing a description. Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc;Clean Up tool: This Photos app feature can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo without accidentally altering the subject;Siri: Users type to Siri and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment.ChatGPT integration: When you feel Apple Intelligence isn't enough, you can allow ChatGPT to access Writing Tools and other features for a better response.Here, you can learn everything iPhone users can test so far.Delayed iOS 18 featuresApple has two iOS 18 delayed features that it won't deliver:Next-gen CarPlay: Expected to be available at the end of 2024, Apple says it's not ready to share when this experience will be available to cars that haven't yet been announced.On-screen Siri awareness: Promised during the WWDC 2024 keynote, this Apple Intelligence feature would be available alongside iOS 18.4. However, Apple has indefinitely postponed this function until it becomes usable.Major software updatesWith iOS 18 now available, Apple is currently testing iOS 18.2.BGR will let you know of all major updates for iOS 18:iOS 18iOS 18.0.1iOS 18.1iOS 18.1.1iOS 18.2iOS 18.2.1iOS 18.3iOS 18.3.1iOS 18.4iOS 18.1 featuresImage source: Jos Adorno for BGRiOS 18.1 was released on October 28. The main features regard Apple Intelligence. These are the highlights:Writing Tools:Proofread your text, rewrite different versions until the tone and wording are right, and summarize the selected text with a tap.Improved Siri:With a new design, Siri can maintain context between requests. Even if you stumble over words or shift what youre saying mid-sentence, Siri can understand what you actually want.Priority notifications:They appear at the top of the stack, letting you know what to pay attention to at a glance. Notifications are summarized, so you can scan them faster.Priority messages in Mail:Elevate time-sensitive messages to the top of your inbox, like an invitation that has a deadline today or a check-in reminder for your flight this afternoon.Clean Up:This Photos app feature can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo without accidentally altering the subject.Summarization:Apple Intelligence can now summarize more than just Messages and Mail notifications.Record and transcribe calls in the Notes app:Just hit record in the Notes or Phone apps to capture audio recordings and transcripts. Apple Intelligence generates summaries of your transcripts, so you can get to the most important information at a glance.Reduce interruptions:An all-new Focus Mode understands the content of your notifications and shows you the ones that might need immediate attention, like a text about picking up your child from daycare later today.Smart Reply in Mail:Quickly draft an email response with all the right details. Apple Intelligence can identify the question you were asked in an email and offer relevant selections to include in your response.You can learn more about this software update here. It also includes security patches and bug fixes with it.Apple privacy claims questioned over AI that analyzes personal photos without opt-in starting with iOS 18.1iOS 18.2 featuresImage source: Jos Adorno for BGRiOS 18.2 was released on December 12. The main features regard Apple Intelligence. These are the highlights:Apple is expanding Apple Intelligence features:Genmoji support:Create custom emojis by combining two figures; users can type a prompt like monkey with pink hat to make an entirely new emoji heres how to use Genmoji on your iPhone Image Playground:Users can create playful images in seconds, choosing from Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. This app is built right into apps like Messages and is also available in a dedicated app here's how to request access to Image Playground so you can use GenmojiChatGPT integration:When you feel Apple Intelligence isnt enough, you can allow ChatGPT to access Writing Tools and other features for a better response how to stop Apple Intelligence from making you confirm every ChatGPT requestVisual Intelligence: It helps users learn about objects and places faster than ever. Users can click and hold Camera Control to pull up the hours or ratings for a restaurant they pass, add an event from a flyer to their calendar, quickly identify a dog by breed, and moreImage Wand:Rough sketches can be turned into delightful images, and users can even select empty space to create an image using context from the surrounding area in the Notes appThere are other functions available with this update:All-new Mail app:Mail is introducing new ways for users to manage their inboxes. On-device categorization organizes and sorts incoming emails into Primary for personal and time-sensitive emails, Transactions for confirmations and receipts, Updates for news and social notifications, and Promotions for marketing emails and coupons. Mail also features a new digest view that pulls together all of the relevant emails from a business, allowing users to quickly scan for whats important at the momentChange default apps:iOS 18.2 lets iPhone users change the Messages and Phone default appsVolume Limit:The Settings app now has a new Volume Limit control. This lets you limit how loud your iPhone speakers can play mediaVoice Memos:During the iPhone 16 event, Apple announced the iPhone 16 Pro would get a Voice Memos upgrade. With iOS 18.2, users can layer multiple tracks on top of each other.iPhone users complained about several iOS 18.2 bugs, including an iPhone camera issue and battery life drain.iOS 18.3 featuresImage source: Apple Inc.iOS 18.3 was released on January 27. The main features regard Apple Intelligence. These are the highlights:Notification summaries (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max)Easily manage settings for notification summaries from the Lock ScreenUpdated style for summarized notifications better distinguishes them from other notifications by using italicized text as well as the glyphNotification summaries for News & Entertainment apps are temporarily unavailable, and users who opt-in will see them again when the feature becomes availableThis update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:Calculator repeats the last mathematical operation when you tap the equals sign againFixes an issue where the keyboard might disappear when initiating a typed Siri requestResolves an issue where audio playback continues until the song ends even after closing Apple MusicYou'll also find these changes in this version:Camera Control icons:Apple has updated the Camera Control icons to the new Dark Mode. This change has been spotted byX user Aaron Perris. In addition, the Camera Control has renamed the AF/EF toggle to Lock Focus and Exposure.Visual Intelligence improvement:iOS 18.3 adds Visual Intelligence support for adding events to the Calendar app. So when viewing a poster or flyer, Apple will give you an option to add an event to the Calendar app.Plants and animals on Visual Intelligence:Similar to Visual Look Up, the Visual Intelligence feature enabled by the Camera Control can identify plants and animals in real time.Black Unity wallpapers:As usual,Apple released new Black Unity wallpaperswith iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. This time, Apple was inspired by the rhythm of humanity to create this collection.iOS 18.4 featuresImage source: Jos Adorno for BGRiOS 18.4 was released on March 31. The main features regard Apple Intelligence. These are the highlights:New languages:Apple adds Chinese, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and localized English for Singapore and India.Image Playground:The long-awaited Sketch style is now available alongside the Animation and Illustration options.Genmoji:Apple tweaked the Genmoji icon on the keyboard, as it now reads Genmoji.Apple News+ Food:This update will bring a new Food section to Apple News. Subscribers can access recipes, tips for healthy eating, restaurants, and more.Vision Pro app:With iOS 18.4, Apple Vision Pro will get its own iPhone app. It will help you download apps, visionOS content, tips, and information and even set up Guest Mode.Apple Maps change:You can now set a Preferred Language to get directions instead of the one you use on your iPhone.Ambient music:iOS 18.4 adds new Control Center toggles for Ambient Music, including Chill, Productivity, Sleep, and Wellbeing.CarPlay update:Cars with bigger screens now get three rows of apps displayed.AirPods Max with Lossless: The USB-C headphones now support lossless audio.Apple reveals iOS 18 accessibility features before WWDC 2024Image source: Apple Inc.Before WWDC 2024 kicked off, Apple announced several accessibility features coming to the iPhone. Here are some of them:Music Haptics:Music Haptics is a new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to experience music on the iPhone. With this accessibility feature turned on, the iPhones Taptic Engine plays taps, textures, and refined vibrations to the musics audio. Music Haptics works across millions of songs in the Apple Music catalog and will be available as an API for developers to make music more accessible in their apps.Wide Range of Speech:With Vocal Shortcuts, iPhone and iPad users can assign custom utterances that Siri can understand to launch shortcuts and complete complex tasks. Listen for Atypical Speech, another new feature, gives users an option for enhancing speech recognition for a wider range of speech.Vehicle Motion Cues:Vehicle Motion Cues is a new experience for iPhone and iPad that can help reduce motion sickness for passengers in moving vehicles. With Vehicle Motion Cues, animated dots on the edges of the screen represent changes in vehicle motion to help reduce sensory conflict without interfering with the main content.CarPlay gets Voice Control:Accessibility features coming to CarPlay include Voice Control, Color Filters, and Sound Recognition. With Voice Control, users can navigate CarPlay and control apps with just their voice. With Sound Recognition, drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing can turn on alerts to be notified of car horns and sirens. For users who are colorblind, Color Filters make the CarPlay interface visually easier to use, with additional visual accessibility features including Bold Text and Large Text.Official iOS 18 downloadiOS 18, codenamed Crystal, has been announced on June 10. The official download has been available since September 16, 2024.How to download iOS 18Image source: Jos Adorno for BGRHere's how to download iOS 18:On your iPhone, open the Settings appTap on General and Software UpdateHow to download iOS 18 beta and public betaiOS 18 beta has been available since June 10, and the public beta since July 15, 2024. After enrolling in the Apple Beta Software Program, follow the steps below:On your iPhone, open the Settings appTap on General and Software UpdateTap on Beta Updates and enable iOS 18 Public BetaHere we detail nine reasons to install the newest beta. Or, if you need to, here's how to uninstall the iOS 18 beta. So far, using beta gives you early access to Apple Intelligence features.Supported devicesiPhone 15 Pro Max camera system. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGRWith iOS 17, Apple ditched the iPhone 8 and iPhone X models from its lineup. With iOS 18, Apple continues to offer support for the same iPhones. However, Apple Intelligence features will be exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro models. That said, these are the iPhone models that can run this new system:iPhone XR, XS, and XS MaxiPhone 11iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro MaxiPhone SE (2nd gen)iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro MaxiPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro MaxiPhone SE (3rd gen)iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 PlusiPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro MaxiPhone 15 and iPhone 15 PlusiPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro MaxiPhone 16 and iPhone 16 PlusiPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro MaxiPhone 16eReviewIn our iOS 18 review, BGR praises the redesign available with this software update. However, the most important features aren't here yet.iOS 18 has several quality-of-life improvements, and even if you cant enjoy Apple Intelligence, Cupertino has lots of features that will almost make you feel like youre using a new device. This is the beginning of a new era, even if we cant enjoy it just yet.Don't Miss: iPhone 16: Release date, features, review, price, AI, and moreThe post iOS 18: Features, release date, beta, download, Apple Intelligence appeared first on BGR.Today's Top DealsTodays deals: $4 iPhone chargers, 51% off Beats Studio Pro ANC headphones, $80 Roku Ultra, moreTodays deals: $720 Apple Watch Ultra 2, $6.50 Anker fast chargers, $35 2K camera drone, Fitbit sale, moreTodays deals: $349 MacBook Air, 45% off TP-Link WiFi 7 mesh, $299 Vitamix Explorian blender, moreTodays deals: $399 iPad mini 7th-Gen, $395 75-inch smart TV, $400 eufy Omni C20, Energizer batteries, more