When Will iOS 18 Be Released?

Previewed in June at the Worldwide Developers Conference, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 are Apple's next-generation operating systems for iPhone and iPad. Here's what we know about them and when they will be released.

Since Apple announced its latest operating systems, developers and beta testers have had several months to try out iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, and give Apple valuable feedback to help the company refine the software prior to public release.

iOS 18: What to Expect

iOS 18 introduces Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features integrated into the operating system. While not immediately available when iOS 18 launches, Apple Intelligence will enhance writing, image generation, emoji creation, and significantly upgrade Siri and search capabilities. Siri will better understand natural language, show improved contextual awareness, and integrate with ChatGPT for complex queries. These features will be limited to iPhone 15 Pro models and iPads with M-series chips, and will arrive in an iOS 18.1 update that Apple is expected to release in October.

As for the initial release of iOS 18, notable features include:

• Customizable Home screen with open spaces and dark mode for app icons
• Personalized Control Center with third-party app integration
• Rich Communication Services (RCS) support in Messages for improved Android compatibility
• Scheduled text messages and expanded Tapback emoji options
• Dedicated Passwords app for managing logins, passkeys, and verification codes
• App locking feature requiring secondary authentication
• Safari's new highlights feature for article summaries
• Overhauled Photos app interface
• Tap to Cash for secure money transfers via Apple Cash
• Enhanced Notes app with equation solving and voice memo transcription
• Game mode for improved performance
• Option to respond to Siri on AirPods using head gestures

iOS 18 Release Date

Apple says that iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will be officially released to the public in "the fall" of 2024, without specifying a precise date, but the timeline of previous releases can give us a ballpark idea of when that might be.

For example, last year, when Apple announced the iPhone 15 series on September 12, the company revealed that iOS 17 would be released six days later on September 18.

New iPhones always come with the next new operating system pre-installed, so if recent years are anything to go by, ‌iOS 18‌ and ‌iPadOS 18‌ will likely appear shortly after the iPhone 16 series is announced in the first half of September. A possible iPhone 16 announcement date is rumored to be Tuesday, September 10. Based on this date, we could see iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 released on Friday, September 13 or Monday, September 16.

Device Compatibility

iOS 18 will be compatible with the iPhone XR, and therefore also the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models with the same A12 Bionic chip.

In other words, iOS 18 will be compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17:

iPadOS 18 drops support for iPad models with the A10X Fusion chip, therefore iPadOS 18 is compatible with the following iPad models:

For a detailed rundown of everything we expect in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup by clicking the tag at the bottom of this article.