When Will iOS 18 Be Released?

Set to be announced at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 are Apple's next-generation operating systems for iPhone and iPad.

Apple's 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference will take place from June 10 to June 14, with a keynote event set to be held on Monday, June 10 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time to introduce the new software.

Shortly after the announcement, developers and beta testers will have several months to try out iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, and give Apple valuable feedback to help the company refine the software prior to public release.

iOS 18: What to Expect

According to rumors, iOS 18 promises a slew of enhancements and new features that could redefine how we use our iPhones. Indeed, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, some Apple software engineers believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history.

At the core of the upcoming update are new generative AI capabilities, which are set to revolutionize how users interact with Siri and other core applications such as Spotlight, Apple Music, Messages, Health, Numbers, Pages, Keynote, and more. These enhancements suggest that Apple is focusing heavily on integrating advanced AI to make these applications more intuitive and capable than ever before. While Apple is not expected to debut its own ChatGPT-like bot, it is reportedly exploring partnerships with major AI players, which could lead to significant AI integrations within iOS.

In terms of the iPhone user interface, a major revamp is on the horizon. The Home Screen is expected to become more customizable, allowing users to place icons anywhere on the grid, a feature Android users have long enjoyed. This change is part of a broader move by Apple to offer more personalization options throughout the system, making iOS more flexible and user-friendly.

Apple Maps is also receiving attention, with new features like custom routes and topographic maps in the works. These additions will enhance navigation by letting users select specific paths for travel and providing detailed geographic visuals, which will be particularly useful for hiking and other outdoor activities.

Messaging is another area set for improvements with the introduction of Rich Communication Services (RCS). This update will enhance text interactions between iPhones and Android devices by supporting high-resolution media, typing indicators, read receipts, and better group chat functionalities, including the ability to exit conversations — a feature previously limited to iMessage interactions.

Further rumored updates include a new hearing aid mode for AirPods Pro, enhanced accessibility features, and an updated Freeform app. Additionally, a rebranding of the Apple ID to "Apple Account" is anticipated, reflecting a broader shift in how users will manage their interaction with Apple services.

Overall, iOS 18 could well shape up to be a transformative update that will not only enhance existing features but also introduce new capabilities that could set new standards for mobile interactivity.

iOS 18 Release Date

Beta versions of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will be released shortly after Apple's WWDC Keynote on June 10, and will be available to anyone who has registered through Apple's developer portal (you don't have to be a developer, nor do you need to become a member of Apple's Developer Program, which costs $99 a year).

Apple is likely to announce that iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will be officially released to the public in "the fall" of 2024, without specifying a precise date, but the timeline of previous releases can give us a ballpark idea of when that might be.

For example, last year, when Apple announced the iPhone 15 series on September 12, the company revealed that iOS 17 would be released six days later on September 18.

New iPhones always come with the next new operating system pre-installed, so if recent years are anything to go by, ‌iOS 18‌ and ‌iPadOS 18‌ will likely appear shortly after the iPhone 16 series is announced in the first half of September.

Device Compatibility

iOS 18 will be compatible with the iPhone XR, and therefore also the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models with the same A12 Bionic chip, according to a source with a proven track record of sharing details about upcoming iOS updates.

If the rumor is accurate, iOS 18 would be compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17:

The same source expects iPadOS 18 to drop support for iPad models with the A10X Fusion chip. If accurate, iPadOS 18 would be compatible with the following iPad models:

For a detailed rundown of everything we expect in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup by clicking the tag at the bottom of this article.