iOS 18 brings a lot more customisable Home Screen, revamped Control Centre, RCS, and more to iPhone

The next big update for iPhones, the iOS 18 is now official, and it gives people more control than ever. The update brings major customisation options – for both the Home Screen and home screen, a new Photos app, and nifty additions to Messages, including RCS. Yayy. Not only that, but it’s more private and secure than ever, too.
With iOS 18, iPhone users can finally break free from the rigid app grid and place icons anywhere on the Home Screen.App icons can also be themed with colours and automatically adapt to dark mode. The icons can also be made bigger. The redesigned Control Center now spans multiple pages, giving quick access to the controls you use most.
iOS 18 lets you lock individual apps behind Face ID, ensuring your private data stays secure even when sharing your phone. You can also fine-tune which contacts each app can access, putting you in full control of your personal information.
If you are one of those who use the Messages app for texting, then there are some new additions for you and your friends. For starters, you can schedule the texts to be sent later. There’s support for rich text formatting, so you can add emphasis to your words, while the new text effects make your messages pop. Also, one can react to texts using any emoji, so more using those Haha or exclamation marks. And for iPhone 14 and 15 users, communicating via satellite when off the grid is now possible.
For those waiting for the blue bubble, green bubble war to end, the iOS 18 update finally brings the RCS
The iOS 18 brings the "biggest redesign ever" to the Photos app, and it brings a new "Collections" feature that can intelligently group your shots by people, places, and events. Hiding screenshots is a snap, and the redesigned interface makes browsing your memories a breeze.
The Mail app now offers automatic categorization, while Apple Maps introduces detailed topographic maps with offline support. The Wallet app has been upgraded with tap-to-pay for Apple Cash and improved event ticket management. The Journal app now allows users to log their state of mind and track goals, with a new Insights view and search support.
The update also includes reminders integration in the Calendar app, an option to make home screen icons bigger, and the introduction of Game Mode, which minimises background activity to ensure the highest frame rates for gaming while ensuring the lowest latency possible with gamepads and AirPods.
iOS 18 also brings the Apple Intelligence to iPhones, though only two of them at the time -- iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The new generative smarts on the iOS 18 are Writing Tools, Genmojis, Image Playground, and a smarter Siri.
The first developer beta of iOS 18 is available starting today, with a public beta expected to follow in the coming weeks. The official public release is slated for fall 2024, coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 16 lineup.