Apple presented an avalanche of new features for iOS 18 at the last WWDC 24: as always there was clarity and transparency on what these functions actually do, but on the other hand there is a bit of confusion on which of these functions they will be available on iPhones of different generations.
Considering that iOS 18 will be supported by iPhones starting from 2017, therefore practically from iPhone XR onwards, one wonders how many, and which, functions will be operational on older iPhones. We summarize everything in this article.
Apple Intelligence
First of all, let’s clear the field of the most substantial innovations: Apple Intelligence requires, for correct operation, an iPhone 15 or 15 Pro Max. All functions linked to Apple Intelligence will therefore only run on the current iPhone Pro and, probably, on all four iPhone 16s due out in September.
Priority notifications
The new priority notifications feature it can automatically highlight important notifications and, even more usefully, summarize them. This feature helps you quickly retrieve unread and relevant notifications in apps like Mail and Messages.
Additionally, a new Focus mode called “Reduce Interruptions” has been introduced that uses artificial intelligence to identify and display only notifications that require immediate attention.
However, because Priority Notifications are part of Apple Intelligence, this feature will not be available to users who do not own an iPhone 15 Pro or, possibly, an iPhone 16 when it becomes available..
Genmoji and Image Playground
Image Playground in iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia will allow you to create images generated by artificial intelligence with a few simple suggestions and with three different graphic styles.
With Genmoji, starting from a written text, you can create a personalized emoji, using AI. Plus, you can select an image from the Photos app and turn it into a custom emoji to share with friends and family. Again, since the feature uses Apple Intelligence, it will require at least an iPhone 15 Pro.
Siri
The new Siri experience in iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia will be powered by artificial intelligence. Thanks to this innovation, the voice assistant will be much more intelligent, conversational and capable of better understanding requests. Additionally, it will have contextual awareness of the screen and can perform actions between different apps. However, in order to take full advantage of the new Siri experience, it will You must have an iPhone 15 Pro, an iPad M1 or later, or a Mac with an Apple Silicon chip.
Since older iPhones and iPads will not support Apple Intelligence, integration with ChatGPT will also be missing. As a result, Siri will not be able to forward queries to ChatGPT for more complex requests. On Macs not equipped with the M1 you will lose ChatGPT integration in Writing Tools.
Messages via satellite
An important innovation regarding communications in iOS 18 is that it allows you to send messages even in the absence of cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. This is thanks to Satellite Messages. Everything, however, will only work if you have at least an iPhone 14. This is not a surprise, given that the SOS Via Satellite Emergency function was presented with the release of the iPhone 14. Since SMS via Satellite originates from SOS Via Satellite, it was easy to expect that the two services would require similar hardware.
Audio transcription in Notes
With iOS 18, the Notes app will have a built-in feature that will allow you to insert recordings. This feature should be compatible with all iPhones capable of running iOS 18, but only those with an iPhone 12 or later will be able to benefit from the text transcription of audio notes.
It should be noted, however, that this functionality, in addition to having hardware restrictions, may initially be limited only to some geographical regions. At the moment, in fact, Apple indicates that audio transcriptions will only be supported in English for users in Australia, Canada, Ireland , New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Improve Dialogues
With tvOS 18, Apple has optimized the “Enhance Speech” feature, using machine learning and computational audio to make voices clearer than music, action scenes and background noise on Apple TV 4K. In addition to HomePod, this feature can be used with the TV’s built-in or HDMI-connected speakers, with AirPods and other Bluetooth devices, and even when watching compatible content on iPhone and iPad.
You will need an iPhone 11, or later, to enjoy the improved dialogue in the TV app.
I control iPhone with my eyes
One of the most important accessibility features in iOS 18 will be the one that allows you to control iPhone with your gaze. Called Eye Tracking, this feature will require an iPhone 12 or later model. Note that Eye Tracking will also be compatible with iPhone SE 2022.
Likewise, the Music Haptics feature, which allows deaf or hard-of-hearing people to “sense” music through the iPhone’s Taptic Engine, will only work on iPhone 12 or later.
Smart locks
With iOS 18, the Home app is enriched with new features. Among these, a new function allows you to Instantly open a compatible lock without using your hands when you are two meters from the door, making entry into the house even more convenient.
However, this feature depends on Ultra Wideband technology, so you will need an iPhone 11 or later to use it. As a result, owners of iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone.
Geographical restrictions
In addition to the hardware restrictions, dictated by the iPhone model in use, there are other features of iOS 18 which, regardless of the smartphone in use, are currently limited to certain geographical areas or languages.
Call transcription
The phone app on iPhone will get with iOS 18 the ability to record calls and then transcribe the recordings. These transcriptions, however, will initially be available in English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese and Portuguese. For Italy we have to wait.
Topographic maps
Maps on iPhone in iOS 18 will include topographic maps with trails and hikes, plus maps of all 63 U.S. national parks. However, these features will initially only be available in the United States and Japan.
Safari
In iOS 18 the web browser will be able to recall specific information, for example directions to a company you searched for using Safari. Initially, however, this feature will only be available in the United States.
Email Categories
A significant innovation in the app Mail is the categorization of messages directly on your device. Incoming messages will be sorted into different inboxes, such as Main, Promotions, Transactions, and Updates. This feature will initially be limited to English in Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Tap To Cash
Apple Cash services, including Tap To Cash to exchange money between iPhones, are provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC, and are only available in the United States. To send and receive money with an Apple Cash account, you must be 18 years of age and a resident of the United States or, if under 18, part of an Apple Cash Family account. Several Apple financial instruments are not yet available in Europe and Italy because they require more checks and certifications.
After the release in the launch areas and languages, in the following months the new functions of iOS 18 and Apple intelligence will be expanded to other countries, including Italy, but we will have to wait.
