iOS 18 is a considerable replace over earlier variations. In addition to the standout additions like Dwelling Display screen customization, Messages through satellite tv for pc, RCS assist, Management Middle overhaul, and extra, it additionally packs some hidden options. Listed here are a few of my favorites.
1
Conceal Distracting Gadgets on Web sites in Safari
I spend a big a part of the day on numerous web sites. This additionally means I spend a great jiffy every day closing out the annoying cookie consent pop-ups, adverts, and different distracting gadgets on these web sites to focus higher on the primary content material.
iOS 18’s Distraction Management function saves me this problem, and it is one of many the reason why I’ve began utilizing Safari over Firefox to browse and skim content material on-line on my iPhone. With it, I can simply take away any gadgets I discover distracting on an internet site. One of the best half is that any merchandise I cover stays hidden even when I exit and revisit that web site.
To cover an merchandise, faucet the Web page Menu icon on the left facet of the handle bar and choose Conceal Distracting Gadgets. Then, faucet the merchandise you need to cover and faucet the Conceal button that seems on it. Hit Finished to avoid wasting.
I take advantage of each an iPhone and an Android telephone on daily basis. And one of many Android options I’ve missed on my iPhone for the longest time is T9 dialing. Nonetheless, that modified with iOS 18, as Apple lastly introduced the function to its native Cellphone app.
Because of T9 dialing, I can simply search for contacts by their title immediately from the keypad. I merely faucet the numbers similar to the letters within the contact particular person’s title, and it offers me all of the matching outcomes. Not solely is that this method extra intuitive, however it additionally saves me the trouble of going to the Contacts tab to search for a contact.
3
Pause a Video Recording
As a lot as I like my iPhone for its video high quality, I’ve hated it for not having the choice to pause recordings, as this meant I needed to shoot clips individually after which edit and merge them later.
Fortunately, Apple realized how inconvenient that is and launched the pausing functionality with iOS 18. Now, every time I begin a video recording, the Digicam app exhibits a pause button on the display screen. I can faucet it to pause an ongoing recording. Then, faucet it once more to renew.
4
Swap Lock Display screen Controls
My different favourite Android function that lastly arrived on iOS is swappable Lock Display screen controls. Whereas I discover the Flashlight management fairly useful, the Digicam management all the time felt redundant since I also can entry the Digicam app by swiping left on the Lock Display screen.
As such, I’ve changed it with a shortcut I created to open the Leica LUX app on my iPhone since I take advantage of it to seize portrait pictures continuously. This fashion, I can launch both app as required.
To swap a Lock Display screen management, unlock your iPhone, faucet and maintain on the Lock Display screen, and hit Customise. Faucet the minus (-) button on the high of the management you need to take away. Lastly, faucet the plus (+) button and select your most well-liked management on the next display screen.
5
Lock and Conceal Apps
I used to use the Shortcuts app to lock apps on my iPhone. Nonetheless, it was erratic and felt gradual. Fortunately, I now not should depend on it, as iOS 18 lets me lock apps on my iPhone natively. In comparison with the Shortcut technique, it not solely feels pure but in addition works extra reliably.
Locking and hiding apps in iOS 18 is easy. Once you lock an app, it is locked behind Face ID or Contact ID, which limits its entry considerably. However in order for you extra privateness, you may also cover the app. This can cover it from all over the place besides the Settings app, and you will not get any notifications, both.
6
Transcribe Voice Memos
I take advantage of the Voice Memos app on my iPhone very often to report random ideas or seize story concepts. However till now, reviewing a memo concerned taking part in it and capturing noteworthy factors, which felt like a tedious act.
Nonetheless, after updating to iOS 18, I can now use the transcription function in Voice Memos. I discover it extremely helpful, as I can copy the transcriptions to Simplenote, the place I can work on them later to arrange pitches. What’s additionally good is that the transcriptions are searchable, so I can shortly search for a particular portion.
After recording a memo, I merely faucet the wave icon below every recording, then hit the caption icon within the bottom-left nook, and it will transcribe your entire factor. I can then seek for something within the memo, translate it to a different language, or copy and paste it into one other app.
7
Modify the Flashlight Beam
Apple has lengthy supplied the flexibility to regulate the depth of the flashlight beam on iPhones. Nonetheless, beginning with iOS 18, you may regulate its width and make the beam huge or slim as per your requirement.
Whereas it’d sound gimmicky, I really discovered it fairly useful in a few situations. One such situation was once I was making an attempt to establish ports behind a wall-mounted TV. Narrowing the flashlight beam allowed me to search out the proper port shortly.
To regulate the width of your flashlight’s beam, activate it, then swipe your finger horizontally on the beam in the Dynamic Island. You may see the beam get wider or narrower as you do that. After all, identical to earlier than, you may nonetheless slide your finger vertically to regulate the beam’s depth.
Sadly, this function is not accessible on the usual iPhone 14 and older fashions with the notch.
8
Convert Items within the Calculator App
I changed Apple’s Calculator app on my iPhone with Uno Calculator a number of years in the past, owing to the dearth of options. However after making an attempt the Calculator app on iOS 18, I’ve switched to it once more because it lastly will get a number of the lacking capabilities.
My favourite is unit conversion, which lets me convert a number of models, together with currencies. Plus, not like Uno Calculator, it permits me to swap values between models, making switching models fairly handy.
Changing models in Calculator is simple: Faucet the calculator icon within the bottom-left nook and toggle on the Convert button to carry up the converter. Then, choose the models and kind within the worth you need to convert; you will get its equal within the different unit.
9
Customise Collections within the Pictures App
The Pictures app has gotten a major redesign in iOS 18. In contrast to earlier than, it now not has tabs on the backside. As a substitute, it exhibits a unified library with all of your images, movies, and collections (albums, folks, and so on.) on a single web page by default.
Whereas it is aimed toward lowering muddle, I am not a fan of seeing all collections on one web page. As such, I take advantage of the Customise & Reorder choice on the backside of the primary web page to customise my view. I merely deselect the radio buttons subsequent to the collections I do not need to see, and the app hides them for me. I may even change the order during which the collections seem within the app.
10
Search Name Historical past
As somebody who makes use of each iOS and Android, I all the time wished I may search my name historical past on my iPhone as simply as I may on my Android telephone. iOS 18 fulfilled that want by introducing the searchable name historical past function.
I can now shortly and simply search my name historical past within the Cellphone app to search for my earlier calls with somebody. I can do that by both typing somebody’s title or quantity. As well as, I also can kind the month, adopted by a reputation or quantity, to search out the decision historical past with that contact in a particular month.
These are a number of the hidden options I found and located actually helpful after utilizing iOS 18 for the reason that public rollout. However that is not all; there are numerous extra little additions this time round. So update your iPhone if you have not already, and take your time to discover iOS 18.
