Apple iOS 18 set for release next week; list of iPhones eligible for latest update

It should be noted that the Apple Intelligence features will be made available with iOS 18.1 update later in the year. It will initially launched in select regions including the US in December.

Last night, Apple pulled the wraps off the new iPhone 16, 16 Pro series models with incremental upgrades over the predecessors. The new mobiles will come with the latest iOS 18 out-of-the-box.

The company has announced to roll out the iOS 18 with new features to select older iPhones next week on September 16.

The upcoming iOS 18 is touted to be biggest update for iPhones to date. Besides the new generative Artificial Intelligence (gen AI) feature-- Apple Intelligence, it comes with a lot of customisation options, productivity tools and more.

Once updated to the new iOS 18, iPhone owners can pick and drop apps and widgets in any open space on the home screen and lock screen. The users can even move them right above the dock for easy access or perfectly arrange them around the wallpaper’s edge so that there is no obstruction on subjects such as pet dogs or children at the centre of home screen. Users can also bring darker and tinted effects to app icons and widgets.

The most notable improvement coming with the iOS 18 is the Apple Intelligence.

With the new iOS 18 update, the iPhones will get all-new Siri. It will be powered by Apple Intelligence. It will have refreshing new launch animation that makes the display at the edge of the front panel glow as Siri speaks to the user. Its voice will be more human-like with emotions and tone.

Apple Intelligence also supports Image Playground feature. It will be able to churn out synthetic photos on iPhones with just text prompts. It can be used to create personlised stickers and GIFs and more. It will be baked in to iMessages app, Notes, Mail, Pages, Keynotes and other native iPhone apps.

With writing tools, it can help user refine their email/messages and even proof-reading before he/she can press the send button to the colleagues or friends.

Apple Intelligence-powered Image Playground and Image Wand features.

Also, Apple Intelligence will be integrated with native camera app. It will offer the new Clean Up tool, that can can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.

Apple has announced to offer enhanced gen AI features with ChatGPT integration. Initially, it will be free, but users will have subscribe to premium service offered by OpenAI.

However, it should be noted that the Apple Intelligence features will be made available little later in the year. It will initially launched in select regions including the US in December, and later, it will rolled out other markets including India, most probably in early 2025.

Here's the list of iPhones eligible for iOS 18 update:

List of iPhone models eligible for iOS 18 update

iPhone 15

iPhone 15 Plus

iPhone 15 Pro

iPhone 15 Pro Max

iPhone 14

iPhone 14 Plus

iPhone 14 Pro

iPhone 14 Pro Max

iPhone 13

iPhone 13 mini

iPhone 13 Pro

iPhone 13 Pro Max

iPhone 12

iPhone 12 mini

iPhone 12 Pro

iPhone 12 Pro Max

iPhone 11

iPhone 11 Pro

iPhone 11 Pro Max

iPhone XS

iPhone XS Max

iPhone XR

iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)

And, it should be noted that the Apple Intelligence is compatible with two older models-- iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max-- and the new iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.

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