Six changes in iOS 18 that are not related to AI

Next week during WWDC, Apple will present the iOS 18 operating system, which will contain a number of new features. Some of them will be based on artificial intelligence tools, which you can read about here. However, iOS 18 also includes other changes, which we present below.

Icons anywhere on the screen

According to news reports, for the first time Apple will allow users to place app icons and widgets anywhere on the home screen, as is the case with Android. The iPad currently allows users to place widgets (but not app icons) wherever they want on the screen.

App icon themes

iOS 18 will bring another big change to the home screen: it's about the ability to choose app icon colors. According to Bloomberg, this new feature will allow users to "change the color of app icons" system-wide for the first time.

It's not entirely clear yet how exactly this will work. An example suggested by Bloomberg suggests that it is possible to "make all social media icons blue or finance-related icons green".

Apple Maps update

iOS 18 will add support for a new custom route creation feature in the Apple Maps app. This will allow iPhone users to design their own custom routes for a trip, rather than relying on one of the routes suggested by Apple Maps. Currently, Apple Maps offers multiple routes to a user-specified destination, but with this feature in iOS 18, users will have full control.

Control Center improvement

According to Bloomberg, iOS 18 will feature an updated Control Center, with a new design that will include an updated music widget, as well as improvements to HomeKit integration. Note that iOS currently "intelligently" selects up to six accessories to display in the main section of Control Center. This layout, however, is managed automatically and is not always ideal in terms of what is displayed on this page.

Text effects in Messages

Last week, a press release suggested that the Messages app would also get text effect support as part of iOS 18. According to MacRumors, the feature will allow users to "add animations to individual words in a message."

New Settings app

iOS 18 will include a new version of the Settings app for iPhone users. It is supposed to have an improved interface where everything will be better organized and it will be easier to find the setting the user is looking for.