Apple will soon allow the AirPods Pro 2 to serve as an over-the-counter hearing aid, and the company has now received FDA clearance for the feature.
As noted by TechCrunch, the FDA today announced that it has authorized Apple to add OTC hearing aid functionality to the AirPods Pro 2, and it marks the first product that the FDA has allowed to serve as an over-the-counter hearing aid software device.
An update coming to the AirPods Pro 2 will add the Hearing Aid functionality. Users will take a short Hearing Test using the AirPods and an iPhone, and if hearing loss is detected, a personalized sound profile is created that allows the AirPods Pro 2 to make dynamic sound adjustments to increase sound as needed.
Apple says that the clinical-grade hearing aid feature will help people better engage in conversation and stay connected to the people and environment around them.
Personalized hearing profiles are automatically applied to music, movies, games, and phone calls without the need to adjust any settings. For those with little to no hearing loss, the Hearing Test will also help with specific adjustments at individual frequencies.
Apple plans to roll out the Hearing Aid feature for AirPods Pro 2 this fall.
Apple this week unveiled the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. As always, there were many rumors leading up to the event that gave us an idea of what to expect from the devices, with some proving accurate and others not.
Below, we have recapped some of the bigger hits and misses from the iPhone 16 rumor mill.
Some of the leaked dimensions and weights for iPhone 16 Pro models were accurate, including the devices having the same thickness as iPhone 15 Pro models, but some of the figures were slightly off.
Apple officially releases iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 on Monday, September 16, bringing a host of new features to existing iPhones and iPads, such as new Home Screen customization options, an overhauled Control Center, a revamped Photos app, Mail improvements, and more.
This article covers some of the things you can do to prepare your iPhone or iPad for Apple's latest mobile operating system, including storage maintenance tips, backup advice, and a few other useful tidbits to consider before upgrading. First though, you'll need to make sure your device is compatible with the new software.
Note that iOS 18 will come pre-installed on new iPhone 16 models when they launch on Friday, September 20.
Reclaim Device Storage Space
Before you attempt to make the leap to iOS 18, you'll first want to make sure your device has adequate space to download and install the new operating system over the air.
With that in mind, it's worth looking at what apps you currently have installed on your devices and whether you really need them. Swipe through your home screen and check inside your folders to root out any long-forgotten apps that are taking up precious storage space.
You can delete apps by holding a finger on them and tapping the X that appears at the corner of their icon. Alternatively, go to Settings ➝ General ➝ iPhone/iPad Storage, tap any apps you don't use, and select Delete App. Note that this action can't be undone, but be ruthless – you can always re-install removed apps at a later date if you change your mind.
Check on the size of any social media or messaging apps you have installed, such as Facebook and WhatsApp. These apps can often balloon in size after long periods of activity because of chat history, media caching and the like, so you might want to delete and reinstall them to start afresh.
Also, be sure to heed any personal recommendations on the iPhone Storage screen, like keeping high-resolution photos in iCloud and smaller-size versions on your device, or letting iOS automatically offload any apps you don't use often.
Make an Archived Backup of Your Device on Mac
It's best practice to have a local backup of your device stored on your computer in case something goes awry, or the worst happens and installation of iOS 18 fails. If you need to downgrade shortly after installing a new iOS update, making an archived local backup beforehand is necessary, otherwise you won't be able to revert back to iOS 17/iPadOS 17 if things go wrong.
Plug your iPhone into your Mac using the supplied cable.
Allow the accessory to connect by clicking Allow in the dialog prompt.
Open a Finder window by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.
Click your iOS device's name in the sidebar.
If this is the first time connecting your device to your Mac, click Trust in the Finder window.
Tap Trust on your device when prompted, then enter your passcode to confirm.
In the General tab, click the circle next to where it says Back up all of the data on your iPad to this Mac.
If you want to encrypt the backup, check the box next to Encrypt local backup, then enter a password to protect your data.
If you don't want to create an encrypted backup, or you've already set up encrypted backups, click Back Up Now. When the backup is finished, you can find the date and time of the last backup in the General tab, just above the Manage Backups button.
Lastly, archive the backup: Select Manage Backups ➝ Select Backup, then right-click the backup and choose Archive. This protects it from being overwritten by the next local backup or automatically deleted if your Mac is low on storage space.
Remember that this backup will not be overwritten when you manually or automatically back up your iPhone in the future, so you can restore it at any time by using the Restore Backup... option in the same Finder screen.
Make an Archived Backup of Your Device on Windows
The iTunes app is still the main tool for managing a connected iPhone on Windows.
Plug the iPhone into your Windows PC.
In iTunes, click the iPhone button at the top left.
Click Summary.
If you want to encrypt the data, select the Encrypt local backup option and set a password.
Click Back Up Now.
Click Manage Backups.
Right-click the backup you created and choose Archive. This extra step prevents the backup from being overwritten by the next local backup or automatically deleted if the computer runs low on storage space.
Installing iOS 18
When iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 becomes available (likely around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time/1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the official release day, based on past releases) as an over-the-air update, make sure your device is fully charged before you start the process over Wi-Fi, as it may take some time to complete.
To check that the update is available, 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 iOS 18 to be delivered to your iPhone when you next plug it into your computer.
Note that the first release versions of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 don't include Apple Intelligence features, with Apple set to introduce the first Apple Intelligence capabilities in an update coming next month.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max are set to begin on Friday, September 13 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with the new devices set to become available in multiple countries around the world simultaneously.
We've compiled pre-order times for various countries to help MacRumors readers be among the first to order. This list isn't exhaustive, so please verify the exact time for your specific location.
Australia West - 8:00 p.m. AWST
Australia East - 10:00 p.m. AEST
Austria - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Belgium - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Canada West - 5:00 a.m. PDT
Canada East - 8:00 a.m. EDT
China - 8:00 p.m. CST
Denmark - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Finland - 3:00 p.m. EEST
France - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Germany - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Guernsey - 1:00 p.m. BST
Hong Kong - 8:00 p.m. HKT
Ireland - 1:00 p.m. IST
Isle of Man - 1:00 p.m. BST
Italy - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Japan - 9:00 p.m. JST
Jersey - 1:00 p.m. BST
Luxembourg - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Netherlands - 2:00 p.m. CEST
New Zealand - midnight NZST next day
Norway - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Portugal - 1:00 p.m. WEST
Puerto Rico - 8:00 a.m. AST
Saudi Arabia - 3:00 p.m. AST
Singapore - 8:00 p.m. SGT
South Korea – 9:00 p.m. KST
Spain - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Sweden - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Switzerland - 2:00 p.m. CEST
Taiwan - 8:00 p.m. CST
UAE - 4:00 p.m GST
United Kingdom - 1:00 p.m. BST
United States West - 5:00 a.m. PDT
United States Mountain - 6:00 a.m. MDT
United States Central - 7:00 a.m. CDT
United States East - 8:00 a.m. EDT
US Virgin Islands - 8:00 a.m. AST
U.S. customers can prepare for the iPhone 16 launch using the "Get Ready" pre-order setup. This process allows you to select your iPhone model, confirm your carrier, and enter payment and shipping details in advance.
For those wanting a device on launch day, immediate pre-ordering is recommended. Supply availability is uncertain, and popular models or colors may sell out within minutes or hours.
The iPhone 16 starts at $799, while the iPhone 16 Pro begins at $999, matching the iPhone 15 series pricing when they debuted last September. U.S. carriers are offering various discounts. Apple also provides the iPhone Upgrade Program and trade-in options to reduce costs.
Pre-orders open on September 13. The first iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro orders will be delivered to customers on Friday, September 20.
As part of its longstanding efforts to encourage users to repair their electronic devices and other items, iFixit is announcing FixHub, a USB-C soldering iron and portable power station designed to allow all types of users to handle soldering work wherever they may be.
The Portable Power Station serves as the command and power center for FixHub, including a 55-watt-hour battery to support over eight hours of continuous soldering on a single charge. The power supply delivers up to 100 watts to a pair of USB-C ports, allowing it to run two soldering irons simultaneously, and the fact that it's simply a USB-C power output device means you can also use it to power or recharge an array of devices like phones.
The solidly built power station includes a handy display to show the status of your soldering iron, along with a convenient dial for adjusting the power being delivered to the iron, supporting temperatures up to 400ºC (750ºF). A flip-up bracket raises the front of the power station a bit to make the display easier to see while in use, while attachment points on the left and right side allow you to clip on the soldering iron's cap for convenient access as a stand.
A USB-C port on the rear of the power station allows for up to 45 watts of input to recharge the station, and iFixit says it is safe to leave continuously connected to power so it's ready whenever you need it.
The soldering iron itself is designed with ergonomics in mind, with a comfort pencil-like grip with a short Bevel 1.5 tip for precise heat control. Additional tips will be sold separately, including Cone, Wedge 1.5, Point, Bevel 2.6, Knife 2.5, and Knife 1.4, with more potentially being added in the future depending on demand. Once turned on, the iron is ready to begin soldering in under five seconds.
Safety features are key to the FixHub experience, with a configurable automatic sleep mode, a heat-resistant protective cap for the iron that snaps on magnetically, and gyroscope-powered fall detection that automatically turns off the iron if it is dropped or knocked off a table. An LED status light ring on the iron itself makes it obvious when the iron is hot, shining blue when below 40ºC (100ºF) and safe to touch, purple when actively heating or cooling and not safe to touch, or orange when at the set temperature and ready to solder.
While pairing the soldering iron with iFixit's power station is the preferred setup, you can use the soldering iron on its own with any sufficiently powerful USB-C power source. The set temperature for the iron can be adjusted by plugging into the USB-C port on a computer and accessing the iron's settings via a browser (Chrome, Edge, or Brave required).
iFixit is of course known for more than just hardware, and it has hundreds of free soldering guides on its website, ranging from the basics of soldering to specific repair projects.
It also wouldn't be an iFixit product without repairability being front of mind, so the FixHub system is designed to allow for easy repairs and iFixit will be releasing a number of guides to help users replace batteries, repair parts, and more.
Supplementing the FixHub is an optional Portable Soldering Toolkit, which provides an extensive set of tools and consumables to get you going on soldering projects.
Flush Cutter: Perfect for trimming leads and cutting electrical wires and plastic materials.
Wire Stripper: Features multiple holes for different wire sizes and a spring-assisted mechanism for easy use.
Fixite Spudger: An improvement on our much-loved universal pry tool, made of Fixite, an iFixit-developed material blend specially formulated with improved heat resistance for handling soldering materials.
Precision Angled Tweezers: Fine-tip tweezers for manipulating wire and components in tight spaces.
Silicone Work Mat: A heat-resistant mat that protects your work surface.
Chemical Dispensing Pen: Ideal for dispensing isopropyl alcohol for cleaning flux residues.
No-Clean Flux: Improves soldering by removing oxides and promoting better solder flow.
Silicon Electrical Tape: Perfect for insulating wires without the need for additional tools.
Safety Glasses: Essential eye protection while soldering.
Lead-Free Solder: Environmentally friendly solder in a convenient tube.
Desoldering Wick: Easily removes unwanted solder with a copper mesh.
Soldering Splint: A magnetic, hands-free tool to hold wires and components securely in place.
Soldering Tip Cleaner: Keeps your soldering tip in optimal condition with brass wool.
The Portable Soldering Station with the soldering iron and battery pack is priced at $249.95 / €269.95, while the full toolkit included the iron, battery pack, pliers, and other tools is $299.95 / €329.95.
The USB Smart Soldering Iron can also be purchased on its own for $79.95 / €84.95 if you need an additional one or want to use one without the iFixit power supply. Shipping begins on October 15 in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe.
Apple has shared its first "real-world example" of Image Playground, the upcoming Apple Intelligence feature that generates cartoon-like illustrations based on a text prompt. The picture was apparently made by Apple's senior VP of software engineering Craig Federighi for his wife, in honor of his dog Bailey's recent birthday.
The picture shows a cute dog wearing a party hat and smiling behind a birthday cake. Apple shared the picture with Wired, which includes a watermark on all AI-generated images that appear in its publications as a matter of policy. Pictures made with Image Playground include EXIF metadata in the file that also indicates it was made with AI, similar to images edited with Apple's new Clean Up tool in the Photos app in iOS 18.1.
Apple describes Image Playground as a "fun" feature that can produce original images in seconds right within apps. Users can create an entirely new image based on a description, suggested concepts, or a person from their Photos library. From there, users can adjust the style and make changes to match a Messages thread, a Freeform board, or a slide in Keynote, for example.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to make the Image Playground feature for generating images and the Genmoji feature for generating custom emoji available in iOS 18.2, which will likely be released in December.
Apple plans to introduce the first Apple Intelligence features with the release of iOS 18.1, which is expected to launch in October. Among the new capabilities are writing tools for generating and summarizing text, as well as a feature that provides concise summaries of notifications. The Messages app will gain the ability to suggest replies, while a new function will allow users to record and transcribe phone calls. Lastly, the Photos app will benefit from the aforementioned "Clean Up" tool, which is designed to swiftly remove unwanted objects from images.
Apple's latest iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are delivering significantly faster 5G speeds compared to their predecessors, according to new data from SpeedSmart. The speed boost comes courtesy of the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 modem integrated into the Pro models.
SpeedSmart's testing revealed an average 23.7% increase in 5G download speeds for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max across the three major U.S. carriers. Verizon customers saw the most substantial improvement, with a 26.4% speed increase, followed by AT&T and T-Mobile.
The data shows impressive performance for both T-Mobile and Verizon, with average download speeds exceeding 400 Mbps on the new iPhones. T-Mobile led the pack at 447.50 Mbps, while Verizon clocked in at 409.88 Mbps. AT&T users experienced a respectable 269.48 Mbps, marking a 25.7% improvement over the previous generation.
Upload speeds also saw a significant bump, with an average increase of 22.1% across all three networks. Users can now expect upload speeds to comfortably achieve over 30 Mbps, an often overlooked but crucial metric for mobile performance.
The Snapdragon X75 modem brings several enhancements beyond raw speed. It also supports 5G Advanced technology, offers lower power consumption, and comes with improved 5G carrier aggregation for those aforementioned upload speeds.
While the iPhone 16 Pro models benefit from the X75, the standard iPhone 16 models are believed to use the older Snapdragon X70 modem, although that has not yet been officially confirmed.
In addition to cellular improvements, all iPhone 16 models now support Wi-Fi 7. This latest Wi-Fi standard promises greater leaps in performance, with theoretical speeds of up to 46 Gbps and significantly reduced latency.
Despite these advancements, Apple continues to work on developing its own 5G modem technology. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests Apple's in-house modems could debut in select iPhone models as early as 2025, perhaps first in the upcoming iPhone SE 4, potentially reducing the company's reliance on Qualcomm.
Apple will open pre-orders for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models starting Friday, September 13. Initial shipments and in-store availability begin on Friday, September 20.
The Netlix app is set to end support for iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, requiring all users to be running iOS 17 or later or iPadOS 17 or later in order to receive new updates, features, and bug fixes.
That means iOS 16 users – who will mainly be iPhone X owners as well as those still holding onto iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus models – will not be able to update to the version of the app that introduces the change.
The same goes for owners of the iPad Pro (1st generation) and the iPad (5th generation), who will still be running versions of iPadOS 16, since iPadOS 17 dropped support for these models.
Owners of these devices will still be able to use their current version of the Netflix app until it is deprecated, but again, there will be no more features or bug fixes forthcoming. Owners of these older models will of course continue to be able to access Netflix through a browser.
In summary, the iPhone and iPad models set to lose support for the Netflix app are as follows:
iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone X
iPad Pro (1st generation)
iPad (5th generation)
The code strings referring to the impending change were found in the Netflix app by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. It is not known which update will end support for the above Apple devices, but given that the code strings are present in the latest version, the update is likely to be released fairly soon.
All iPhone 16 models support up to 45W of wired fast charging via the USB-C port, up from 29W on the iPhone 15, according to a new certification shared by leaker ShrimpApplePro.
Details submitted to the China Quality Certification Center (CQC) and posted to Weibo confirm that all iPhone 16 models tested at 5-15V and 3 amps, which indicates an ability to charge at up to 45 watts.
Before Apple's iPhone 16 announcements, there was a recurring rumor that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will support 40W wired fast charging, but it was not previously thought that this would apply to the standard iPhone 16 models, too.
Earlier this week, Apple revealed that the new iPhone 16 models also support upgraded MagSafe charging, but it didn't mention changes to wired fast charging. With a 30W charger, the new iPhones can charge at up to 25W via MagSafe, which is an improvement over the prior 15W limit.
The new iPhone 16 models will be available for pre-order starting on Friday, September 13, with a launch to follow on Friday, September 20.
Apple added a "Repair Assistant" feature in iOS 18 that is designed to allow iPhone users to configure replacement parts after a repair. The Repair Assistant works with genuine Apple components, and it makes sure that an iPhone is functional and working as intended if it's been repaired with an Apple part.
A replacement display, for example, can be configured with the Repair Assistant to make sure that True Tone, auto brightness options, and other features are accessible. For the battery, the configuration process ensures Battery Health reporting works properly.
The feature is able to be used to configure parts that were installed prior to iOS 18's release. Users who have had a third-party battery replacement that used an Apple battery, for example, can configure it as a genuine Apple component.
After installing iOS 18, if you have a part that is able to be configured, it will show up under Parts and Service in the About section of the Settings app. Users who have not had a repair will not see this section.
Apple says that Repair Assistant is able to be used with iPhone 12 and later models. Batteries, cameras, displays, and more can be configured using the tool.
Repair Assistant was first highlighted by Apple back in April. At the time, Apple said that it would be introduced in the fall, and would provide a way for used genuine Apple parts to be employed for fully functional repairs.
As part of this change, Apple is extending Activation Lock to iPhone parts to deter stolen iPhones from being disassembled for components.
For iCloud Mail users, there are several features coming in iOS 18 that make email management easier. Apple outlined the new functionality in its recently released iOS 18 features list, which covers more than 250 additions to the operating system update.
iCloud Mail Cleanup
There are new cleanup tools that can be accessed for iCloud Mail from the Mail app, iCloud.com, and iCloud Mail settings.
Manage Old Emails
Time-based rules can be added for removing emails that are no longer needed to save storage. The rules use the Mail categories that will be coming in a later iOS 18 update for cleanup actions like automatically deleting or archiving promotional emails that are unread and over a year old.
Unsubscribe and Delete
iCloud Mail can help you unsubscribe from senders in bulk, sending future emails from those senders to Trash.
iOS 18 is set to be released on Monday, September 16, but the iCloud Mail functionality may not be added until a later iOS 18 update.
With the iOS 18 update, Apple added new features to almost all of its built-in apps, including the Camera app. The iOS 18 Camera app includes a few small but useful improvements for timed photos, portraits, and more.
Timers
Along with the existing 3-second and 10-second timers, there's now an added 5-second timer that provides more flexibility.
Flash Settings
Flash settings can be adjusted by touching and holding on the flash button in the Camera app. It brings up Auto, On, and Off options.
These settings could be accessed in the flash options when tapping on the carrot to get to different photo controls, but a long press is quicker. A tap still turns flash off and on.
Music When Taking Photos and Videos
When you're taking a video music playing on your iPhone will no longer be paused and will continue playing. In the Settings app, there's an "Allow Audio Playback" toggle that you can turn on that ensures music will continue playing on the iPhone's speaker when a video is recording.
In prior versions of iOS, using the Camera app to capture video automatically paused any audio playing.
Apple also says that music will continue to play via Bluetooth connections when capturing a photo or video.
Next-Generation Portrait Enhancements
On the iPhone 15 and later models, iOS 18 adds Portrait Lighting controls and support for Night mode portraits when in Photos mode.
For context, Apple last year added next-generation Portraits functionality that automatically captures portrait information when using the standard photo taking mode. Previously, you needed to use the specific Portrait mode to get a Portrait shot, but that's no longer the case.
The new feature lets you take a photo without changing modes, and then choose to add depth of field Portrait effects afterward.
With the fourth-generation AirPods, Apple has eliminated the Setup Button located on the back of the Charging Case in other AirPods models. Rather than using a physical button, Apple has instead opted for a hidden capacitive button.
The hidden button for pairing and resetting the AirPods 4 is located at the front of the Charging Case, according to Gear Patrol. To initiate pairing mode, the AirPods 4 Charging Case can be opened up and then double tapped at the front where the hidden control is located. This hidden button is also used for factory resetting, and Gear Patrol said that either a triple tap or long press and hold gesture initiates a reset.
The status light on the AirPods 4 Charging Case is also more discreet. There is no obvious LED dot when the case is not charging or closed, and the light simply appears under the white plastic when the case is opened up or placed on a charger.
There are two versions of the AirPods 4, one with ANC and one without. Pricing starts at $129, and pre-orders are available now. The AirPods 4 are set to launch on Friday, September 20.
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser that was first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed Safari Technology Preview to allow users to test features that are planned for future release versions of the Safari browser.
Safari Technology Preview 203 includes fixes and updates for Accessibility, Canvas, CSS, Editing, JavaScript, Media, Networking, Rendering, SVG, Web Apps, Web Assembly, Web Extensions, and Web Inspector.
The current Safari Technology Preview release is compatible with machines running macOS Sonoma and the macOS Sequoia beta. Set to launch this fall, macOS Sequoia is the newest version of macOS that Apple is working on.
The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser from Apple's website. Complete release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.
Apple's aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use.
Ahead of the release of the new iPhone 16 models, Apple has seeded the third beta of iOS 18.1 for the devices. iOS 18.1 beta 3 was actually released in late August for the iPhone 15 Pro models, but now there's a version for the iPhone 16 models. iOS 18.1 beta 3 for the iPhone 16 has a build number of 22B5034o, up from the 22B5034e version released for other devices.
iOS 18.1 introduces the first Apple Intelligence features, such as Writing Tools, Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode, notification summaries, and more, and it is expected to see a public launch in October. The initial launch version of iOS 18 will not include any Apple Intelligence features.
A version of iOS 18.1 available for the iPhone 16 models means people who are currently running iOS 18.1 on their iPhone 15 Pro will be able to transfer their iCloud backups when the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max launch next Friday. Transferring data from one iPhone to another requires that both devices run the same version of iOS, which can be a hassle when betas are involved.
Apple has likely provided iPhone 16 review models to media sites, so the early release of the beta will allow reviewers running iOS 18.1 to set up their test iPhone 16 devices.
iOS 18 will be released on Monday, but the iOS 18.1 beta testing process will continue on for several more weeks.
The iOS 18Photos app features a new video speed control option that can be used to change the frame rate of your videos after they're captured.
Apple mentioned the option to change video speed in post processing when it introduced the new iPhone 16 models, but it turns out it's a feature that's available for older iPhones running iOS 18.
Added in the iOS 18 Release Candidate, the Playback Speed editor can be used to slow down playback speed of a high frame rate video. There are 240, 120, 60, 48, 30, and 24 frames per second options to choose from.
There's always been a feature for adjusting the speed of select parts of Slo-mo videos, but Playback Speed is a separate control. You can get to it by opening up the editing interface for a video, and then tapping on the timer icon at the top right.
Apple's iPhone 16 Pro models support 4K 120fps video in Slo-mo and Video modes, and the Playback Speed feature can be used for making adjustments after you shoot a video. From Apple's keynote event:
You can use 4k 120, in Slo-mo or Video mode, and now you don't have to make that upfront decision on frame rate. You can adjust the playback speed after capture. In the new Photos app, there's a quarter speed playback, a new half speed option that really adds a wonderful, dreamy effect, or you can bring it back to normal speed. There's also a 1/5 speed option that corresponds to 24 frames per second playback. These playback speeds are great for easy on the go editing.
iOS 18 with the Playback Speed feature is set to be released to the public on Monday, September 16.
While the focus is currently on iOS 18 and iOS 18.1, Apple is already working on iOS 18.2 as well, and the update is expected to include several new features.
Below, we recap everything that we know about iOS 18.2.
iOS 18.2
Apple has been internally testing iOS 18.2 for at least a few months now, based on evidence of the software version in our website's analytics logs.
iOS 18.2 will likely be released in December, as that is when Apple said that it will be making Apple Intelligence available in localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K., and support for those languages will likely be added in that update. Apple released iOS 15.2, iOS 16.2, and iOS 17.2 in December over the years.
Expected Features
Apple Intelligence in More Countries
As mentioned, iOS 18.2 should expand Apple Intelligence to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. for the first time.
In the U.S., Apple Intelligence will be available starting with iOS 18.1 on the iPhone 15 Pro models and all four iPhone 16 models.
iOS 18.1 is already available in beta for developers, and it includes Apple Intelligence features such as writing tools for proofreading text, notification summaries, suggested replies in the Messages app, the ability to record and transcribe phone calls, and a new "Clean Up" tool in the Photos app that can quickly remove objects from a photo.
Image Playground and Genmoji
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said two more Apple Intelligence features that were previewed earlier this year will be added in iOS 18.2, including Image Playground for generating images and Genmoji for generating custom emoji.
Here is how Apple describes Image Playground:
Produce fun, original images in seconds with the Image Playground experience right in your apps. Create an entirely new image based on a description, suggested concepts, and even a person from your Photos library. You can easily adjust the style and make changes to match a Messages thread, your Freeform board, or a slide in Keynote.
Here is how Apple describes Genmoji:
Make a brand-new Genmoji right in the keyboard to match any conversation. Provide a description to see a preview, and adjust your description until it's perfect. You can even pick someone from your Photos library and create a Genmoji that looks like them.
ChatGPT Integration With Siri
Apple said that ChatGPT will be available through Siri before the end of the year, so this integration will likely go live with iOS 18.2.
With user permission, Siri will be able to show ChatGPT answers directly in response to questions and other prompts. ChatGPT will also be an option for Apple's system-wide Writing Tools feature, allowing users to generate text and images. Apple said ChatGPT will be powered by OpenAI's latest GPT-4o model on its platforms.
iPhone, iPad, and Mac users will be able to use ChatGPT for free, without creating an account, and ChatGPT Plus subscribers will be able to connect their accounts to access paid features on these devices. Apple said OpenAI will not store ChatGPT requests made from its devices, and it said users' IP addresses will be obscured.
Hearing Health Features on AirPods Pro 2
During its iPhone 16 event this week, Apple announced new hearing protection, hearing test, and hearing aid features that will be available on the AirPods Pro 2 starting "this fall" in more than 100 countries and regions, including the U.S., Germany, and Japan. Based on this timeframe, and since these features are not yet included in the iOS 18.1 developer beta, it is possible they will be released as part of iOS 18.2.
More
iOS 18.2 will likely include these additional new features:
Transactions, Updates, and Promotions categories in the Mail app
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
