Skip to Content

Hands-On With Apple's New iOS 12 Update

by

Apple yesterday introduced the newest version of iOS, iOS 12, which is currently available to developers as part of a beta test.

We thought we'd take a closer look at iOS 12 to give MacRumors readers who aren't yet able to download the beta an idea of what to expect from the new software.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

iOS 12 has some enticing new features that iOS users have been wanting for several years. Grouped notifications, for example, cleans up your notifications list, while new Do Not Disturb features give you more granular control over when it turns on and when it turns off.

Screen Time, a new feature, lets you know how much time you're spending on your iOS device with detailed statistics, including how much time you spend using each app and how many times you pick up your iPhone during the day.

Group FaceTime is here and supports calls with up to 32 people, and on the iPhone X, there are new Animoji and customizable Memoji. You can also use fun new camera effects in both Messages and FaceTime, and those aforementioned Animoji are also available in Messages and FaceTime on iPhone X.

Siri is much smarter in iOS 12 thanks to a new feature called Shortcuts, which has been built on the Workflow app. Shortcuts let you build automations with first and third-party apps that can be activated with Siri commands.

ARKit 2.0 brings improvements to augmented reality that include persistence, so AR environments will stay the same across multiple sessions, and multiplayer support, so two or more people can interact with the same augmented reality environment on separate devices.

Apple has also focused heavily on performance, working from top to bottom to make iPhones faster and more responsive, including older iPhones. Apple has introduced optimizations for all devices, and iOS 12 will work on all iPhones and iPads that are able to run iOS 11.

For more detail on iOS 12, make sure to check out our iOS 12 roundup, which is in development. We'll also be sharing additional videos covering iOS 12 features, so make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Related Forum: iOS 12

Popular Stories

macbook air blue

What's Coming in the M5 MacBook Air

Thursday February 26, 2026 3:57 pm PST by
Along with the low-cost MacBook, Apple could introduce a refreshed version of the MacBook Air next week. Most of the focus will be on the new machine, but the MacBook Air is expected to get some useful internal updates. M5 Chip The next-generation MacBook Air will adopt the M5 chip, which Apple already introduced in the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models that came out last year. Apple's M5...
Read Full Article • 124 comments
imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils Two New Products

Monday March 2, 2026 7:49 am PST by
Apple today introduced two new devices, including the iPhone 17e and an updated iPad Air. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's A19 chip, MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories, Apple's second-generation C1X modem for faster 5G, and a doubled 256GB of base storage. In the U.S., the iPhone 17e starts at $599, just like the ...
Read Full Article
Apple Announces Special Event in New York Feature 1

Apple Teases 'A Big Week Ahead' With Announcements Starting Monday

Thursday February 26, 2026 6:06 am PST by
Apple CEO Tim Cook today teased "a big week ahead," with announcements starting Monday. His post included an #AppleLaunch hashtag with a colorful Apple logo, along with a short video that ultimately shows an Apple logo on the lid of a Mac. Apple is reportedly planning a three-day stretch of product announcements from Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 4, with up to five new products...
Read Full Article • 139 comments

Top Rated Comments

WannaGoMac Avatar
WannaGoMac
101 months ago
iOS 12 already? Can they fix all the issues of 11 first! What a mess.
They have, it's called iOS 12.

This is the first beta I am thinking of installing...
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JohnnyW2K1 Avatar
JohnnyW2K1
101 months ago
That’s great, but this release is really the opportunity to reduce some technical debt: More stable, solid, reliable code, with an overall better, smoother, faster user experience. That’s what’s important. I could care less about new features at this stage. I have everything I need, just tweak it so it’s a joy to use.

What’s considered the best version of OSX? It’s always Snow Leopard that tops the list. I’m sure people moaned about the lack of “new features” back then, too...

Apple should give us what we need, not what the vocal want. Finally with this round of updates they’re doing it. Praise be!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
sykeward
101 months ago
I've been running the dev preview since late yesterday on an iPhone X, and I'm very impressed. Surprisingly stable, and Face ID is much faster (it genuinely feels close to twice as fast) and they will interrupt the spinning face animation if it authenticates me before it's done, which really helps. I haven't had any system-level instability, and the only app that's crashed is Safari which became unresponsive once. Good deal as far as I'm concerned.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0
0947347
101 months ago
"... and iOS 12 will work on all iPhones and iPads that are able to run iOS 11." Is this true? I thought iOS 11 would be the end of the line for 5s and 5c.
I am surprised how fast the 5s feels now, really nice

5c is not supported
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
-BigMac- Avatar
-BigMac-
101 months ago
"... and iOS 12 will work on all iPhones and iPads that are able to run iOS 11." Is this true? I thought iOS 11 would be the end of the line for 5s and 5c.
?

Apple said it during the Keynote so yes its true..
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
jmarttu24
101 months ago
Did they finally fix the volume from taking over the whole screen?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments