You know how sometimes you find little hidden things that make life easier? iOS 18 is full of those. Apple tucked away some pretty neat features that you probably haven’t noticed yet. Some are obvious, others are like hidden Easter eggs. I’ll break it down for you in a way that’s easy to understand. Stick with me. You’ll be using your iPhone like a pro.
Let’s start simple:
Table of Contents
- Video Recording Pause
- Voice Shortcuts
- Rotating Wi-Fi Address
- HD Image Sharing in iMessage
- Stickers in iMessage
- RCS Messaging
- Photo Filtering
- Photos Folders
- Photos App Utilities
- Hide Screenshots
- Camera Timer and Flash Tweaks
- Shortcuts With Multiple “If” Conditions
- Call History Search
- Calculator Updates
- App Section in Settings
- T9 Dialing
- On-Screen Power Button
- Vehicle Motion Adjustments
- App Icons to Widgets
- Video Playback Scrubber
- Lock Screen Customization
- Flashlight Beam Width
- Copy Adaptive Edits
- Share Wi-Fi via QR Code
Video Recording Pause
Ever been recording a video and wished you could pause it without starting a new one? Now you can. iOS 18 lets you stop mid-record and pick right back up. Snap pictures while recording too.
Voice Shortcuts
Imagine this: you speak, your iPhone listens. You can set voice commands to perform tasks. Open “Accessibility Settings” and customize it. Want a screenshot? Just say the words.
Rotating Wi-Fi Address
This one’s about privacy. iOS 18 lets you rotate or keep a fixed private Wi-Fi address. You’ll have better control over who tracks your network activity.
HD Image Sharing in iMessage
Sending high-quality images is easier now. Up to 100MB for photos. Your images stay crisp, even after sending.
Stickers in iMessage
Remember when we only had emojis? Now iMessage lets you integrate stickers. It’s a fun way to express yourself, beyond just yellow faces.
RCS Messaging
This one’s for Android friends. RCS support means smoother communication between iPhone and Android users. But it might depend on your region or carrier. Check your settings.
Photo Filtering
The Photos app just got smarter. Now you can filter by “recently added” or sort how you like. Less scrolling, more finding.
Photos Folders
Your photo clutter? Managed. Nest folders inside albums, and group things better. Folders inside folders. Easy, clean.
Photos App Utilities
You can now see “Recently Viewed” or “Shared” categories within the Photos app. It’s about better organization and quick access.
Hide Screenshots
Tired of screenshots cluttering up your Photos app? Hide them. Keep them out of sight, so your main photo grid looks less messy.
Camera Timer and Flash Tweaks
Taking a group selfie? You can now set a 5-second timer. And the flash controls are easier to adjust—just hold the icon.
Shortcuts With Multiple “If” Conditions
This is for the tech-savvy. You can now set up multiple conditions in shortcuts. It’s like giving your phone specific instructions on how to behave.
Call History Search
Lost a number? No problem. iOS 18 lets you search your recent calls by name, number, or even date.
Calculator Updates
Your calculator has a memory now! You can view your calculation history. Plus, there’s a backspace button. No more clearing the whole thing after one mistake.
App Section in Settings
All apps, whether Apple or third-party, now live in one place in settings. It’s like cleaning out your junk drawer and knowing where everything is.
T9 Dialing
Old school meets new tech. T9 dialing is back, letting you type numbers to search for contacts faster.
On-Screen Power Button
Need a quick reboot? Control Center now has an on-screen power button with haptic feedback for a more secure reboot process.
Vehicle Motion Adjustments
Your iPhone now adjusts visual motion cues based on how your car moves. Find it in “Motion Settings.” It’s automatic but you can manage it.
App Icons to Widgets
Tired of how your home screen looks? Convert any app icon into a widget. Want it back as an icon? Switch it back just as easily.
Video Playback Scrubber
Ever tried to rewind a video and missed the mark? iOS 18’s new scrubber makes this smoother, and videos play in loop mode too.
Lock Screen Customization
Want a rainbow clock on your lock screen? Done. Planet lovers, there’s a “magic sparkle” effect for astronomy backgrounds.
Flashlight Beam Width
You can now adjust how wide the beam is on your flashlight, not just the brightness. Perfect for those flashlight moments in the dark.
Copy Adaptive Edits
Editing a photo? iOS 18 lets you copy your manual edits and apply them with automatic adjustments to similar images.
Sick of spelling out your Wi-Fi password? Share it via a QR code. Open the Passwords app, go to your Wi-Fi section, and voila, share the network.
iOS 18 is packed with hidden tricks that make your iPhone smarter, faster, and more intuitive. Whether it’s about enhancing privacy or streamlining daily tasks, Apple has sprinkled these features in without making too much noise. Explore them, and you’ll wonder how you lived without these upgrades before.