iPhone users can now download iOS 18. Here are the newest features

Beginning today, iPhone users can get the next step in customization with the new iOS 18 update.

Monday’s iOS 18 update allows users several new options for customizing the look and feel of their lock and home screens and changes to how messages work.

“Messages is central to how we communicate with the most important people in our lives,” said Ronak Shah, the director of Internet technologies and product marketing at Apple. “So in iOS 18, we’re giving you all new ways to express yourself and stay connected.”

Here’s what some of the new features are.

When is iOS 18 available?

iPhone users can download the update starting now, which was made available from Apple at 10 a.m. PT/ 1 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 16, according to the technology company.

Which iPhones can get the iOS 18 update?

People with iPhone Xs and models that came after it can download it for free.

What features are included in iOS 18?

Some of the features that iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence brings, according to Apple and USA TODAY, are:

• More customizable home screens. You can put app icons and widgets anywhere on the home screen grid, turn the iPhone on dark mode and change the tint color of the home screen..
• Genmojis, artificial intelligence-generated emojis that users can create with a description.
• Schedule a message.
• Redesigned photos app, including allowing users to search through photos by the month or year taken.
• Image Playground, which allows users to create images or get suggested concepts related to their conversations in messages.
• Rewrite, proofread and summarize text in mail, notes, pages and third-party apps.
• Transcription services in the notes and phone app.

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Users will also be able to schedule iMessage, and use emoji tapbacks and text effects. The text effects will allow users to visually amplify their messages, while emoji tapbacks allow them to respond to text messages more expressively.

Another feature, Rich Communication Services (RCS), is meant to allow for smoother text messaging between iPhone and Android users.

There will be even more updates once Apple Intelligence rolls out with iOS 18.1.

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What upgrades can iPhone users expect?

Apple is rolling out several artificial intelligence tools called Apple Intelligence, which the company highlighted during the Worldwide Developers Conference in June of this year.

The new AI will include writing tools that can analyze a user’s email and essentially rewrite it to sound more friendly, professional or concise. Apple Intelligence, according to a promotional video, will also include a feature called Genmojis, allowing you type in a short image description and create your own emojis.

Siri is also getting an upgrade, according to Apple, who said the AI assistant will be better at comprehending questions and requests, allowing people to speak more naturally.

When does Apple Intelligence come out?

iPhone users get iOS 18 now, but Apple Intelligence will not be a part of this update. Users will get to experience more with Apple Intelligence when iOS 18.1 rolls out next month, Apple said in a news release about upcoming AI features.

“Apple will lean into its hardware, software and platform integration to launch a cohesive AI pivot, and we expect the advertising and marketing of these products to focus heavily on safe AI use cases within Apple’s ecosystem,” said Emarketer analyst Gadjo Sevilla.

USA TODAY contributed to this report.