No iPhone 16 with AI – no drawback: These new iOS 18 options made my previous iPhone significantly better

Pause button for recording a movies + play music whereas recording movies

Consider it or not, the iPhone’s by no means had a pause button when recording a video, and iOS 18 lastly places an finish to that madness, introducing the power to pause video recording mid-shot.

Whether or not you’re a TikToker, a filmmaker, or only a common Joe, now you can pause and resume recording as an alternative of getting to sew collectively a number of clips later, counting on apps like TikTok and Instagram to do the modifying.

The video pause button won’t sound like a giant deal, however you’ll recognize it huge time. It is a game-changer for anybody who data often, making modifying quite a bit simpler. The truth is, with all of the fast-cut TikToks we see, some creators gained’t must edit their clips in any respect now.

Proceed taking part in music whereas recording a video

This one would possibly sound trivial, nevertheless it’s an enormous quality-of-life improve, and I’m 100% positive you already know precisely what I’m speaking about. iOS 18 lastly allows you to proceed taking part in music whereas recording a video – what?!

Gone are the times when the music abruptly stops the second I begin taking a video.

That is helpful for a number of causes – now you can document one thing enjoyable with background music taking part in, or (going again to the creators’ POV), you may make a enjoyable TikTok with the background music taking part in within the background… stay.

You mix this with the brand new pause button in video mode, and Tarantino can use the iPhone to shoot his tenth and final film.

Schedule textual content messages

I don’t learn about you, however I’m generally in a scenario the place I need to remind somebody of one thing vital, nevertheless it’s 1AM, and I don’t need to disturb them, or look insane as a result of I’m reminding them to “purchase milk” at 1AM.

Effectively, iOS 18 lastly allows you to schedule textual content messages, which is tremendous helpful. Now, you’ll be able to write the message and simply schedule it for the morning or a extra acceptable time.

It’s a small function, nevertheless it’s the kind of element that makes life a bit simpler, particularly for evening owls or folks with unhealthy reminiscence – like me.

Automated calculations all through the iPhone

iOS 18 additionally introduces a function I’m positive many individuals will come to depend on nearly day by day – computerized calculations in any app the place you’ll be able to sort.You simply sort in “55,252 + 91,982” into any textual content area, adopted by the ”=” signal, and iOS will resolve it for you – no must open the calculator app or ask Siri.

Whether or not you’re taking notes, or texting somebody one thing that wants fast math, you’re sorted. It’s one other a kind of small conveniences that you simply didn’t understand you wanted.

Conversions within the iPhone Calculator app

Talking of calculations, iOS 18‘s calculator app now does unit conversions!

This implies no extra opening Google to transform Celsius to Fahrenheit or {dollars} to euros – one thing I do nearly day-after-day when scripting this tales since completely different telephones can have a superbly completely different price ticket relying available on the market.

I severely can’t let you know how usually I’ve to change between apps simply to determine some fast conversion whereas working or touring, and now, it is all within the iPhone’s Calculator app. Magic.

Lock Apps with Face ID / Contact ID

Right here’s a giant one, people!

Privateness is a giant deal to Apple, and I’m thrilled to announce that iOS 18 allows you to lock apps with Face ID or Contact ID.

Whether or not it’s my banking app, relationship apps, or one thing like your loopy bizarre notes, now you can make it in order that solely you’ll be able to entry them. Which suggests you’ll be able to hand your iPhone to anyone with out being terrified they’d discover out you’re… a serial killer. What?!

Bigger icons with no icon labels

I discover it that one of many easiest but most impactful aesthetic adjustments on iOS 18 is perhaps the power to cover house display screen icon labels.

The truth is, I by no means realized how cluttered my house display screen appeared till I began utilizing this function. I imply, positive it makes it a bit tougher to establish which app you’re attempting to get to however you get used to it.

With out the textual content labels, every little thing seems to be a lot cleaner, and the icons seem bigger and simpler to hit on smaller iPhones like my iPhone 13 mini.

iOS 18 Communication Security – conceal content material with nudity from kids

Right here’s one for fogeys (and never solely) – the brand new “Communication Security” function on iOS 18 places a password on delicate photographs.

That’s an amazing one if in case you have youngsters who often use your telephone otherwise you’re fearful about sure photographs being seen by anyone else.

iOS 18 mechanically locks nude photographs behind a password, which might prevent from some fairly awkward conditions.

We’ve all been there… What?! Simply me?

Display screen sharing from the Messages app

I believe some of the underrated new options in iOS 18 is display screen sharing instantly from the Messages app.

I can now share my display screen to assist somebody with troubleshooting, whether or not it’s strolling my mother via an iPhone setting or displaying her learn how to use a selected app.

However it will get much more spectacular. It’s also possible to management your mom’s display screen remotely. It’s the right instrument for tech help from afar, and I’m positive it’ll prevent from super-long explanations and tutorials.

Multilingual keyboards (2 keyboards in 1)

Now, I’m a bit sceptical about how effectively this function will work in apply, however iOS 18’s “Multilingual keyboard” function needs to verify your iPhone will mechanically acknowledge the language you’re typing in and alter the autocorrect and instructed phrases accordingly. This needs to be helpful for multilingual folks.

For instance, I usually swap between English and Bulgarian when texting, which is ok as a result of Bulgarian makes use of a superbly completely different keyboard and alphabet than English.

Nonetheless, my cousin provides German to the combination, which suggests each time he varieties one thing in German utilizing the English keyboard (each are Germanic languages with latin influences), the telephone would suppose he’s typing “incorrectly”.

And if Apple actually managed to repair this, that’s a giant one!

Customizable Lock Display screen shortcuts

Lastly, iOS 18 lets you customise your lock display screen shortcut buttons – I do know, proper? Samsung customers are like: “We had this 45 years in the past”.As a substitute of being caught with the Digital camera and Torch, now you can swap them out for the apps you utilize extra usually.

Personally, I’d fairly have entry to Notes as an alternative of the Digital camera, since I can entry this with the Motion Button on my iPhone 15 Professional, or the Digital camera Management on iPhone 16.

Because of this, in complete, iPhone 16 customers have 4 shortcut “buttons” – the 2 digital ones on the lock display screen, the Motion Button, and the Digital camera Management key.

The Apple Intelligence hype apart, iOS 18 brings among the most “sensible” upgrades in a very long time (and they’re right here on day one!)

Whether or not it is easy enhancements like locking apps with Face ID or highly effective ones like display screen sharing from the Messages app, these are options that make utilizing an iPhone simpler, and higher. And I haven’t even talked about the power to maneuver your icons wherever on the house display screen.

Additionally… A pause button for video?! I gave up on the dream of getting this magical function on my iPhone years in the past.

What’s subsequent, Apple? Contact ID within the Digital camera Management key?