Apple is set to roll out iPadOS 18 on Monday, September 16, and it's packed with an array of new features and enhancements for iPads going back several generations. It's a highly anticipated software update that is shaping up to be Apple's most significant of the year.
Below, we've outlined 20 of the most notable additions that should enhance your iPad experience, once the over-the-air update becomes available for you to download and install on your device. To check if the update is rolling out, go to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update, and wait a moment for your device to contact Apple's servers. If you're in no rush, you can wait for iPadOS 18 to be delivered to your iPad when you next plug it into your Mac or PC.
- Calculator App: iPad finally gets its own Calculator app, designed specifically for the larger screen and supporting handwritten math with Apple Pencil. The app includes advanced functions and the ability to keep a running history of your calculations.
- Handwriting Refinement: Your handwritten notes are automatically refined in real time, making them smoother and more legible while maintaining your personal style. This feature also improves the searchability of your handwritten notes.
- Customizable Home Screen: Place app icons and widgets anywhere on the Home Screen, including along the bottom or sides, for a more personalized layout. This flexibility allows you to create unique setups for different tasks or moods.
- Redesigned Control Center: The new Control Center features customizable groups of controls and support for third-party app controls. You can now access your most-used settings and actions more efficiently, tailoring the Control Center to your specific needs.
- Improved Photos App: A major design update brings automatically organized collections and new viewing options to make browsing your photos easier. New AI-powered features help you discover forgotten memories and create engaging slideshows.
- Text Effects in Messages: Add dynamic, animated effects to words or phrases in iMessage conversations to bring your chats to life. These effects, like "explode" or "ripple," add a new layer of expressiveness to your digital communications.
- Advanced Mail Categories: The Mail app now organizes your emails into categories like Transactions, Updates, and Promotions for easier management. This intelligent sorting helps you focus on important messages and reduces inbox clutter.
- Safari Highlights: Get summaries, location information, and other helpful details about web pages you're viewing directly in Safari. This feature helps you quickly grasp the main points of an article or get key information about places mentioned on a webpage.
- New Passwords App: A dedicated app centralizes management of your passwords, passkeys, and Wi-Fi credentials across all your devices. It also suggests strong passwords and alerts you to potentially compromised credentials.
- Enhanced Maps for Hiking: Apple Maps now includes topographic maps, hiking trails, and the ability to create custom walking routes. You can download trails for offline use and get turn-by-turn navigation even when you're off the grid.
- Game Mode: A new mode optimizes iPad performance for a more immersive gaming experience with improved responsiveness. It prioritizes system resources for games and enhances compatibility with game controllers.
- Audio Recording in Notes: Record audio directly within notes and get live transcriptions, making it easier to capture and review information. You can also mark important moments during the recording for quick reference later.
- Freeform Improvements: Create scenes to organize sections of a board, and use new diagramming tools for better collaboration and ideation. The app now supports more file types and offers improved export options.
- Eye Tracking Navigation: Navigate your iPad using just your eyes, without additional hardware, enhancing accessibility. This feature works across the entire iPadOS interface and can be customized to suit individual needs.
- Redesigned App Interfaces: Many built-in apps feature redesigned tab bars and refined animations for a more fluid user experience. These updates make it easier to navigate complex apps and multitask efficiently.
- Calendar and Reminders Integration: View and edit your scheduled reminders directly in the Calendar app alongside your events. This integration provides a more comprehensive view of your daily schedule and tasks.
- New Keyboard Features: Enjoy a unified emoji and sticker picker, and take advantage of improved multilingual typing support. The keyboard now also offers more intelligent text predictions and corrections based on context.
- Locked and Hidden Apps: Protect sensitive apps by locking or hiding them, adding an extra layer of privacy to your device. You can use Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode to secure these apps.
- Enhanced AirPods Integration: Respond to Siri with head gestures and experience improved audio quality for gaming with compatible AirPods. The spatial audio experience has also been refined for a more immersive sound environment.
- Improved Multitasking: New gestures and controls make it easier to manage multiple apps and windows simultaneously. You can now create custom workspaces with specific app combinations for different tasks or projects.
Apple Intelligence Features
While iPadOS 18 brings numerous improvements at launch, Apple has also announced several AI-powered features under the banner of Apple Intelligence, which will be released in future updates.
Among these upcoming additions is an AI-powered writing assistant that can help you rewrite text in different styles, proofread your writing, and generate summaries of longer content. A new Image Playground app will allow you to create and edit AI-generated images based on text descriptions or existing photos.
Siri is set to receive a significant upgrade, gaining the ability to understand personal context from your emails, messages, and photos, providing more accurate and personalized responses. Additionally, Apple plans to introduce AI-powered features in the Photos app, including a "Clean Up" tool to remove unwanted elements from your pictures.
The first set of these Apple Intelligence features, while not available in the initial version of iPadOS 18, should arrive when iPadOS 18.1 is released in October, with a roll out continuing in iPadOS 18.2 in December, and beyond.
