Apple has confirmed that iOS 18.2 will be released to everyone in December. The update brings major upgrades for iPhone users, including new Apple Intelligence features, a redesign fro the Mail app, and more.
Head below as we round up every new feature and change in iOS 18.2.
Table of contents
iOS 18.2 release date
According to Bloomberg, Apple is aiming to release iOS 18.2 sometime in early December. The company is reportedly planning to get iOS 18.2 to “zero-bug status in early November” so it can finalize beta testing and “ship it by December.”
Here is a timeline of when Apple has released point-two updates for major iOS versions in previous years:
- iOS 17.2: December 11, 2023
- iOS 16.2: December 13, 2022
- iOS 15.2: December 13, 2021
As you can see, Apple has shifted to a December release date for its point-two updates in recent years. Bloomberg says iOS 18.2 is currently on track for the week of December 2, slightly earlier than past years.
Apple Intelligence upgrades in iOS 18.2
Much like the iOS 18.1 update, iOS 18.2 will focus a lot on Apple Intelligence. The update includes the next round of Apple Intelligence features, headlined by ChatGPT integration, Image Playground, and Genmoji.
Image Playground
Perhaps most notably, iOS 18.2 includes Apple’s Image Playground app. This app lets you type to create “fun images in seconds” with three different styles: Animation, Illustration, and Sketch. In addition to being available as a standalone app, Image Playground is also built right into apps like Messages and Mail.
When you highlight text in the Notes app, a new “Create Image” option appears in the copy/paste popup menu. This option uses Image Playground to generate an image based on that context.
Genomji
Genmoji is an Apple Intelligence feature that will let you generate custom emoji based on text descriptions. Apple explains:
Taking emoji to an entirely new level, users can create an original Genmoji to express themselves. By simply typing a description, their Genmoji appears, along with additional options. Users can even create Genmoji of friends and family based on their photos. Just like emoji, Genmoji can be added inline to messages, or shared as a sticker or reaction in a Tapback.
Here’s how to use it:
Image Wand
iOS 18.2 adds the Image Wand feature as part of Apple Intelligence in the Notes app. “Rough sketches can be turned into delightful images, and users can even select empty space to create an image using context from the surrounding area,” Apple explains.
ChatGPT integration
When you interact with Siri, iOS 18.2 adds the option to communicate with ChatGPT. Apple says that Siri will “tap into ChatGPT’s expertise when helpful,” including things like world knowledge questions as well as image- and document-understanding capabilities.
You can also sign in to your ChatGPT account to sync your conversations and access ChatGPT Plus features like higher limits, the latest models, and more. There’s even support for upgrading to ChatGPT Plus directly in the Settings app on iOS 18.2. Also in Settings, you’ll find a toggle to disable the prompt that appears every time Siri wishes to hand a command off to ChatGPT.
Upgrades to Writing Tools
Additionally, ChatGPT is integrated with Writing Tools, providing a new “Compose” option to generate text related to your chosen topics. This integration also enables you to utilize ChatGPT’s image tools to create images in a diverse range of styles.
In iOS 18.2, Writing Tools introduces a new “describe your change” feature. This feature empowers you to provide more specific instructions to Apple Intelligence, guiding them in making desired modifications to your text.
Visual intelligence
There’s also one more Apple Intelligence feature in iOS 18.2 for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro users, dubbed visual intelligence. When you click and hold the Camera Control button, you will activate this new visual intelligence mode to learn more about the things around you.
You can take a picture of something then choose to search on Google for similar images, or to send that image to ChatGPT to learn more. You can also pull up the hours or reviews for a restaurant add an event from a flyer to your calendar, quickly identify a dog by breed, and more.
The feature also includes integration with Google for easily finding out more about a product nad seeing reviews and buying details.
Apple Intelligence in new countries
Apple has announced that Apple Intelligence will come to additional countries in December:
- Australia
- Canada
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- United Kington
iPhone 16: Two-stage shutter with Camera Control
iOS 18.2 upgrades the Camera Control on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro with a new feature: a two-stage shutter mode. This lets you automatically lock focus and exposure on a subject with a light press, then a full press will actually take the image.
There’s also a new setting to manage the double click speed of the Camera Control. You can find this option in in Settings > Accessibility > Camera Control. You can choose between Default, Slow, and Slower.
Mail app redesign
iOS 18.2 also includes the new Mail app design that Apple previewed at WWDC in June. The Mail app will use on-device categorization to organize and sort incoming email into different categories:
- Primary: Personal and time-sensitive emails
- Transactions: Confirmations and receipts
- Updates: News and social media notifications
- Promotions: Marketing emails and coupons
The Mail app also adds a new “digest view” that pulls together all relevant emails from a specific business. There’s also a new option to show notification badges only for unread messages in the “Primary” category.
Notably, these changes to the Mail app are not labeled as Apple Intelligence features. This means they are available on all devices that run iOS 18.
Find My upgrades
Apple has introduced a big new feature to Find My with iOS 18.2. You can now share the location of a lost item, allowing someone else to assist you in finding it. To do this, you can generate a link and send it to the person you want to share the location with.
The link can be opened on the web, so the other person can use it regardless of if they have an Apple device or not.
“Get help finding your lost item by sharing its location with an airline or a trusted person,” Apple explains. “The person who opens the link will be able to see the location of your item for a limited time.
iOS 18.2 also adds the option to share contact information when someone holds an AirTag near an iPhone. This can help other people find the email address or phone number of the owner of a lost item more easily.
New ‘Volume Limit’ setting
In the Settings app, iOS 18.2 adds a new “Volume Limit” control fro the iPhone’s built-in speaker. This lets you set a limit for how loud your iPhone speaker can play audio such as songs, movies, and other media. You can find this option in the Settings app under “Sounds and Haptics.”
the limit does not affect phone calls or FaceTime calls, emergency calls and alerts, ringtones, alarms, system sounds, or Find My sounds.
Volume slider on the Lock Screen
Speaking of volume control, iOS 18.2 lets you permanently add the volume slider back to your iPhone’s Lock Screen. This comes after iOS 16 removed the volume slider from the Lock Screen except while using AirPlay.
Here’s how to find this new setting:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap “Accessibility”
- Choose “Audio and Visual”
- Toggle on or off the “Always Show Volume Control” option
Default apps
iOS 18.2 lets users set default apps for Messaging and Calling worldwide. This is managed through a new “Defaults” menu in the Settings app, where you can set defaults for these apps in the US:
- Messaging
- Calling
- Call Filtering
- Browser App
- Passwords & Codes
- Keyboards
Changes in the EU
For iPhone users in the European Union, Apple says that iOS 18.2 includes the previously-announced changes to the browser choice screen. The update also makes the App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos, and Safari apps deletable.
Apple also says that developers can now develop and test EU-specific features worldwide:
Following feedback from the European Commission and from developers, in these releases developers can develop and test EU-specific features, such as alternative browser engines, contactless apps, marketplace installations from web browsers, and marketplace apps, from anywhere in the world. Developers of apps that use alternative browser engines can now use WebKit in those same apps.
Voice Memos upgrade
For iPhone 16 Pro users, iOS 18.2 adds the more powerful Voice Memos experience that Apple showcased in September. This feature lets you layer multiple tracks on top of each other. You can also choose to separate those layers after they’ve been recorded.
More changes in iOS 18.2
- iOS 18.2 enables the ability to use iPhone Mirroring while using your iPhone as a hotspot for your Mac.
- There are new Shortcuts actions for the Fitness app.
- In Utah, users under the age of 17 will have new content restrictions: “Utah requires a web content restriction for anyone 17 years old or younger. This restriction limits adult websites.”
- In the Settings app, app icons now fully match the tint of your Home Screen, adopting a darker design and background.
- In Settings > Apps > Safari there is a new option to import or export browsing history and website data.
- In the Podcasts app, you can now mark specific categories as favorites.
- In the App Store, there’s a new option to disable “Game Previews” in the Apple Arcade interface.
- iOS 18.2 adds a new “Type to Siri” widget for Control Center.
Wrap up
What are you most excited to try in iOS 18.2 later this fall? Do you think you’ll find yourself regularly using the new Image Playground and Genmoji features? Let us know down in the comments.
My favorite iPhone accessories:
- USB-C to USB-C cable with LED display
- Belkin 3-in-1 MagSafe charging stand
- Satechi 165W 4-port USB-C Charging Station
- Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker
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