iOS 18.2 has been released today and this update brings enhanced Apple Intelligence features to supported devices, including ChatGPT integration, Gemoji, Image Playground, and many other features and changes for the rest of the lineup.
In this post, I’ve put together the most comprehensive overview of iOS 18.2’s features and changes, complete with screenshots and side-by-side comparisons with iOS 18.1 to make everything easier to follow.
The article starts with the Apple Intelligence features. If you’re not interested in that section, feel free to [click/tap here] to skip ahead to the other features.
Apple Intelligence
ChatGPT Integration
ChatGPT has been integrated with Siri in iOS 18.2 as an option you can find under Settings - Apple Intelligence & Siri - ChatGPT. You don’t need an account to use ChatGPT, but there is an option in the Apple Intelligence settings that lets you log into your existing account.
Click here for more information about ChatGPT integration
When you ask a question that Siri can’t answer, it will suggest using ChatGPT to continue. You’ll need to agree to use ChatGPT instead of Siri.
You can even ask Siri to use ChatGPT to generate images based on your description. Just type or say to Siri, “Ask ChatGPT [to do something].”
Or, you can ask ChatGPT about what’s on your screen. For example, if I’m looking at a beautiful beach photo on Instagram and don’t know its name because the poster didn’t include it, I can simply ask Siri to ask ChatGPT, “Where is this?” Then, you just need to allow the current screenshot to upload to ChatGPT, and it will provide information about the image.
Apple is also reportedly developing a similar on-screen awareness feature without ChatGPT, though it’s not expected until iOS 18.4 Beta, likely released early next year.
ShrimpApplePro on X pointed out that you can ask ChatGPT in any language it supports in the Type to Siri interface.
Writing Tools Update
Writing Tools in iOS 18.2 allow you to describe the tone or content you want to adjust and introduce a new option, ‘Compose with ChatGPT.’
Genmoji
You can create your own custom emojis in iOS 18.2 directly from the emoji keyboard. It’s called Genmoji, allows you to generate emojis based on what you type or from a person in the People album in the Photos app.
iOS 18.1 users will see emojis created with Genmoji, while users on older iOS versions will see them as images.
https://x.com/BetaProfiles/status/1849172071559172239
Image Playground
This is a standalone app in iOS 18.2, but it’s also integrated into the Messages app. You can use it to create characters that resemble your friends and family, with suggestions for outfits, locations, items, and more to enhance the images.
https://x.com/BetaProfiles/status/1849164869926617334
Image Wand
Similar to Image Playground, this feature will add images to what you’ve written in the Notes app. You can use your finger or Apple Pencil to draw a circle around the sketch to create additional images for your sketch.
Image Wand provides you with three style options for generated images: Animation, Illustration, and Sketch.
Visual Intelligence (iPhone 16 Series)
Visual Intelligence works similarly to Google Lens; you can press and hold the Camera Control to activate this feature. After capturing a subject, you have two options: “Search” to look it up on Google, and the “Ask” button to request guidance from ChatGPT.
Apple states that you can use this feature to view restaurant reviews, add events from posters to your calendar, identify dog breeds, and more.
https://x.com/BetaProfiles/status/1849153662364561430
Localized English for Apple Intelligence
Localized English for Apple Intelligence is now available for the following countries:
- Australia
- Canada
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
Mail App Categorization
Note: This change is currently only available on iPhone.
The Mail app now includes categorized mailboxes: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions, with an option to view all emails.
There’s also a new notification view to help you gather all the emails you receive from businesses.
Find My
The Find My app has been updated to allow temporary location sharing of an item with others via a link. This link can be opened in a browser and will expire in a week or once you retrieve the lost item.
There’s also a new “Show Contact Info” option that displays the owner’s phone number and email when someone brings an AirTag close to an NFC reader on their device.
Settings
Dark and Tinted icons
The icons in the Settings app on iOS 18.2 now adapt to Dark Mode or Tinted Mode.
Show Volume Control
There’s a new option in Settings - Accessibility - Audio & Visual - Always Show Volume Control that lets you add a volume slider to the music player on the lock screen.
https://x.com/BetaProfiles/status/1852343401334841706
Volume Limit
There is an option in Settings - Sound & Haptics - Volume Limit to set a limit on the iPhone’s speaker volume. This applies only to audio playback from music, movies, and other media. Incoming call ringtones, FaceTime, emergency alerts, ringtones, alarms, system sounds, or Find My sounds will not be affected by this limit.
Changing Default Apps
iOS 18.2 includes a new option in Settings - Apps - Default Apps that allows you to change default apps like Email, Messaging, Browser, and more to third-party applications.
Search Engine
In Settings - Search, there is a new Search Engine option where you can change the default search engine for Spotlight. The available options include:
- Yahoo
- Bing
- DuckDuckGo
- Ecosia
AirDrop Icon
Apple has updated the AirDrop icon in the sharesheet in iOS 18.2; it now has fewer lines and more empty space between the rings.
Share Sheet
App icons in the share sheet now adapt to dark mode or tinted.
Camera Control (iPhone 16 Series)
AE/AF Lock
For iPhone 16 series users, there is now an option to lock AE/AF by lightly pressing the Camera Control—a feature that Apple introduced in September but has only just added.
This feature is not enabled by default; you need to turn it on manually in Settings - Camera - Camera Control - AE/AF Lock.
Accessibility Menu
In Settings - Camera - Camera Control, a new Accessibility menu has been added at the bottom. Tapping this menu will take you to a settings page similar to the one found under Settings - Accessibility - Camera Control.
And on this settings page, a new option has been added to adjust the double-tap speed of the Camera Control to Default, Slow, or Slower.
Require Screen On
Finally, there’s a new ‘Require Screen On’ option in Settings - Display & Brightness for iPhone 16 series. It’s enabled by default, and if you turn it off, you can open Camera by pressing Camera Control button even when screen is off, and camera interface will appear right away.
With this option enabled, camera will only open when screen is on. So, if iPhone screen is off, pressing Camera Control will light up screen, and pressing it again will open camera.
Photos
iOS 18.2 finally removes the zoom in/out effect when tapping on 16:9 photos or videos in Photos app. Also, the date and time information is now centered instead of being left-aligned.
https://x.com/BetaProfiles/status/1856049453515583694
When scrubbing through a video in Photos app, the timestamp now shows milliseconds instead of seconds.
Safari
Export or import data from Safari
You can export or import browser data from Safari, including saved passwords, bookmarks, history, extensions, and credit cards.
Apple states that the exported browser data will be stored in iCloud Drive without encryption and can be accessed on other devices.
This option is located in Settings - Apps - Safari.
Safari Downloads
If you’re downloading a file in Safari and leave the app, the download progress will appear in the Dynamic Island and Live Activity from Lock Screen.
Safari Backgrounds
Safari also received six new beautiful backgrounds, including Topography, Landscape, and SF Symbols styles. These need to be downloaded rather than being pre-installed.
To change the Safari background, open Safari and create a new tab, scroll down, and tap the Edit button. If you don’t see the new backgrounds, try checking again later; I didn’t have them the first time I checked either.
Not Secure Connection Warning
In Settings - Apps - Safari, there is a new Not Secure Connection Warning option (not turned on by default) that notifies you if you’re accessing a website without a valid SSL certificate.
Control Center
A Type to Siri control has been added to the Control Center in iOS 18.2 to quickly activate the Siri input interface.
Music Recognition
Music Recognition can be added to the Control Center to quickly identify songs by listening to the melody. When you long-press this control in the Control Center, you can view a history of recognized songs. According to Macworld, in iOS 18.2, a feature called Musical Memories has been added to help you remember where you discovered your favorite songs.
Dynamic Island
When Vehicle Motion Cues is turned on, automatically activated, or turned off, an indicator now shows up in the Dynamic Island. Previously, there was no indicator when this feature was toggled.
Apple Arcade
In the App Store - Arcade - All Games section, the filter menu has been redesigned as a dropdown. The “Game Previews” option now replaces the button that toggled between viewing with or without previews.
Voice Memos
iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max users can now layer two tracks on top of each other. Additionally, there is a new option to separate layers and edit multi-layered recordings.
Podcasts
The Podcasts app in iOS 18.2 allows you to add favorite categories to the app.
Sudoku Puzzle in Apple News+
Apple has also added a Sudoku puzzle game for Apple News+ subscribers, joining the existing Crossword, Crossword Mini, and Quartiles games.
iMessage
According to The Guardian, starting with iOS 18.2, children in Australia can report nude photos sent via iMessage directly to Apple. Apple will review these reports and may disable the sender’s account or notify law enforcement. This feature is expected to roll out globally in the future.
AirPods Pro 2
Apple has changed the color of the Adaptive Noise Control icon for AirPods Pro 2 in Control Center. It now shows a blue gradient instead of the previous rainbow color.
Thanks to superlouis
iPhone Mirroring
In iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2, you can now share your mobile hotspot with your Mac while using iPhone Mirroring. This was not possible to do at the same time before.
via u/cupboard_
Shortcuts
iOS 18.2 adds several new actions for Fitness app in Shortcuts, including:
- Open Fitness Settings
- Open Award
- Open Session History
- Open Trophy Case
Maps
The Maps app now globally shows ETA for available routes, whereas previously, you had to start the directions to see this, and it was limited to certain countries.
TV App
With iPadOS 18.2, the TV app now allows customization of the tab bar, similar to Music app. Just press and hold the tab bar to add options like Channels & Apps, Library, or Sports.
Computer Connection
As pointed out by @aaronp613 on X, iOS 18.2 now requires users to authenticate with Face ID to trust a new computer, instead of entering a passcode as before.
If Face ID fails to authenticate after 2-3 attempts, Stolen Device Protection will automatically be enabled.
Deleting Core Apps (EU Only)
For EU users, Apple now allows you to delete core apps like the App Store, Safari, Messages, Camera, and Photos.
Credit @stablestream on X
Web Restrictions
As noted by @aaronp613 on X, Utah residents under the age of 17 will be opted-in to web content restrictions that block adult content.
