iOS 18.1

 iOS 18.1: Expected Release date and New features   

Alongside iOS 18.0, Apple is also currently beta testing iOS 18.1 with developers. Expected to be released sometime in October, iOS 18.1 includes new Apple Intelligence features plus a major change to the iPhone’s NFC chip. The first Apple Intelligence features are now only available for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max currently. The features available to try so far include new writing tools, suggested replies in the Messages app, email summarization, phone call recording and more. Apple Intelligence is Apple’s suite of artificial intelligence features, first announced at WWDC in June. Apple Intelligence features that are not yet available to try include Image Playground for custom-generated images, Genmoji for custom-generated emoji, and several enhancements to Siri, including ChatGPT integration, richer language understanding, deeper per-app controls, on-screen awareness, personalized context and more. These features will roll out over the next year, and the first set of Apple Intelligence capabilities is included in iOS 18.1.

New Siri design and features

iOS 18.1 also adds the ability to switch between text and voice for Siri by double-taping the home indicator at the bottom of your iPhone. Thanks to training based on Apple’s extensive support documentation, Siri can now give detailed answers to questions about Apple products and software. While most of Siri’s more significant upgrades won’t be available until later this year or next year, iOS 18.1 does include a few changes for Apple’s voice assistant. Most notably, iOS 18.1 introduces an all-new design for Siri with a glowing light that wraps around the edge of the screen when Siri is active. Apple also says that Siri in iOS 18.1 is better at keeping up with you when you stumble over words or change your request midway through. It’s also better at maintaining context between multiple requests.

Writing Tools

Using the new Writing Tools feature, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text with just a few taps on their iPhone. Following are the some of the available options in iOS 18.1:-

Rewrite

Proofread

Make Friendly

Make Professional

Make Concise

Summarize

Create Key Points

Make List

Make Table

Photos app features

Multiple new Apple Intelligence features are available in the Photos app. First, you can now create memories on demand by simply typing a description. Apple Intelligence employs language and image understanding to select the most suitable photos and videos based on the provided description. It then constructs a storyline with chapters organized around themes extracted from the photos. Finally, these chapters are assembled into a movie with its own unique narrative arc. The ability to search in videos is also more powerful, letting you find specific moments in clips and jump right to that relevant segment. Also in the Photos app, Apple Intelligence powers new natural language search capabilities, making it easier to find specific photos. 

Reduce Interruptions

Reduce Interruptions is a new Focus mode in iOS 18.1 which uses artificial intelligence to show you only notifications that require immediate attention, such as a text message indicating an early pickup from daycare. All other notifications will be silenced. The Reduce Interruptions feature behaves just like other Focus modes in iOS, allowing you to set different apps and contacts from which you always want to receive notifications. This can be managed in the Settings app.

Notification summaries

When you receive multiple notifications from Mail or Messages, Apple Intelligence automatically summarizes them so you can get a recap without having to tap and read every message.

Mail app upgrades

When looking directly at a message, iOS 18.1 adds a new “Summarize” button. A new “Smart Reply” feature provides suggestions for a quick response and will identify questions in an email to ensure everything is answered. The Mail app includes a new “Priority Messages” section at the top of the inbox, which shows your most urgent emails such as a same-day dinner invitation or boarding pass. Also in the inbox view, you’ll now see a summary of each message instead of just a preview of the first few lines of that email. iOS 18.1 includes multiple new Apple Intelligence features for the Mail app, alongside integration with other features such as Writing Tools.

Transcription summaries

iOS 18.1 also brings advanced summaries support powered by Apple Intelligence. This feature is available in the Notes app, where you can get a summary of audio recordings. When you record a phone call in the Phone app, Apple Intelligence can also generate a summary of that recording.

NFC access for third-party apps

In addition to Apple Intelligence features, iOS 18.1 will also open up the iPhone’s NFC chip to third-party developers for the first time. This means that third-party developers will be able to access the iPhone’s NFC chip for contactless features in their apps, which includes following:-

In-store payments

Car keys

Closed-loop transit

Corporate badges

Student IDs

Home keys

Hotel keys

Merchant loyalty and rewards cards

Event tickets

Government IDs (coming at a later date)

Apple says that developers interested in accessing the iPhone’s NFC chip must “enter into a commercial agreement with Apple, request the NFC and SE entitlement, and pay the associated fees.” There aren’t any details about the fee structure available right now. Apple says the functionality will launch in iOS 18.1, it will be up to third-party developers to adopt the new entitlement and add features to their apps. The feature will be available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, UK and US.

iOS 18.1 release date

With iOS 18.0 set for a release in September, the expectation is that iOS 18.1 and these features will be released in October. iOS 18.1 will likely be released in late October, based on the timing of previous similar updates:-

iOS 17.1: October 25, 2023

iOS 16.1: October 24, 2022

iOS 15.1: October 25, 2021

iOS 14.1: October 20, 2020

Most probably, Apple will likely make more changes to iOS 18.1 during the ongoing beta testing process. The latest iOS 18 and iOS 18.1 betas are as follows:-

iOS 18 Developer Beta 5

iOS 18 Public Beta 3

iOS 18.1 Developer Beta 1

iOS 18.1 Public Beta not currently available

How to install the iOS 18.1 beta

Currently, the iOS 18.1 beta is only available for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as these are the only two currently available iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence. Eventually, Apple will release iOS 18.1 betas for other iPhone models also, just without the Apple Intelligence features. Apple also hasn’t released a public beta of iOS 18.1. Instead, the beta is currently only available to developer testers. To enrol in Apple's developer beta program, visit developer.apple.com, sign in to your Apple ID, and accept the terms and conditions of the Apple Developer Agreement. Since 2023, anyone with an Apple ID can accept the Apple Developer Agreement and access the betas for free. After accepting the agreement, open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap General → Software Update → Beta Updates. This is where the iOS 18 and iOS 18.1 developer betas are listed, and you can tap on one to begin the installation process. Note that the iPhone must be signed in to the same Apple ID set up as a developer account. Due to software bugs and other potential issues, we recommend installing the iOS 18.1 beta on a secondary iPhone, rather than the device that you use daily. We also highly recommend backing up your iPhone to your Mac before installing beta software on the device, to prevent data loss in the event something goes wrong.