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iOS 18 Review Seven Months Later Customization Shines Apple Intelligence Falls Short

Seven months after iOS 18's release, customization remains its strongest feature, especially the home screen and Notes app enhancements like voice memo transcription. Tapbacks have expanded with clearer emoji reactions, and the Calculator app regained a useful feature. However, Apple Intelligence features have failed to impress, raising concerns about accuracy and ethics. Users appreciate practical improvements but hope for more meaningful updates in iOS 19.

Published May 2, 2025 at 07:06 AM EDT in Software Development

Apple's iOS 18 has been available for over seven months, and its focus on customization continues to impress users. The ability to personalize the home screen, including right-side app orientation and dark, large icons, has enhanced accessibility and aesthetics, especially for right-handed users. This feature alone has transformed how many interact with their iPhones daily.

Messaging has also improved with expanded Tapbacks, allowing users to react with a wider range of emojis that convey clearer emotions. This update reduces misunderstandings and adds nuance to conversations, such as using a lion emoji to acknowledge a video without seeming dismissive.

The Notes app emerged as an unsung hero with new features like collapsible sections and the ability to add voice memos that automatically transcribe within notes. This functionality is especially valuable for professionals conducting interviews or students attending lectures, saving significant time and effort in documentation.

Apple also revamped the Calculator app by reintroducing the repeat operation feature and enabling offline unit conversions. These small but practical enhancements improve usability without requiring internet access, demonstrating Apple's attention to detail in everyday tools.

Despite these strengths, some customization options like lock screen and Control Center tweaks feel incomplete. Users report accidental activations of flashlight or other controls and find the scrollable Control Center pages frustrating to navigate. These areas could benefit from more refined user interface adjustments in future updates.

The 'Send Later' feature in Messages is a welcome addition for scheduling texts, particularly across time zones. However, its limitation to scheduling messages only up to two weeks in advance restricts its usefulness for planning long-term communications like birthday greetings.

Apple Intelligence, heavily promoted at WWDC 2024, has not resonated well with users. Features like Genmoji and Image Playground see limited practical use, and notification summaries often misinterpret context, especially sarcasm. Surveys indicate a majority of iPhone users find AI features add little value, highlighting a gap between hype and real-world utility.

There are also ethical concerns surrounding AI integration, including biases in language models and copyright issues in AI-generated images. These challenges underscore the need for cautious, responsible AI deployment to avoid perpetuating stereotypes or infringing on creators' rights.

Looking ahead to iOS 19, the preference is for incremental, practical improvements rather than sweeping redesigns. Features like clipboard history and revision tracking in Notes could significantly enhance productivity. iOS 18's experience suggests that refining existing tools often delivers more value than introducing complex new technologies prematurely.

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