Apple has finally released iOS 18.3, packed with updates and fixes to enhance user experience. This update introduces significant changes to Apple Intelligence features, resolves long-standing issues, and brings new tools to iPhone users.
You can install iOS 18.3 by navigating to your iPhone’s Settings > General > Software Update. Once downloaded, your device will prompt a restart to complete the installation. The build number for this release is 22D63. Additionally, iPad users can now update to iPadOS 18.
Key Updates in iOS 18.3
Enhancements to Notification Summaries
Responding to criticism—especially from outlets like the BBC—Apple has overhauled the notification summaries in Apple Intelligence. A notable issue involved misreported headlines, including one where a notification incorrectly stated that an accused killer had taken his own life. Here’s what’s new:
- Temporary Suspension: Notification summaries for News & Entertainment apps have been entirely disabled. Apple plans to restore this feature in a future update after further refinement.
- Enhanced Design: Summaries now appear in italicized text on the Lock Screen, making them easier to differentiate from standard notifications.
- User Control: You can now disable summaries for specific apps directly from the Lock Screen or Notification Center by swiping and selecting “Turn Off Summaries.”
- Beta Transparency: The system now highlights that notification summaries are a beta feature and may include errors. This warning also appears in the Settings app.
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Visual Intelligence Upgrades
Not all changes to Apple Intelligence are about fixes—there are exciting enhancements too:
- Event Recognition: Capture an event poster or flyer with your camera, and Visual Intelligence will identify the details, letting you add them directly to your Calendar.
- Nature Recognition: The update expands Visual Intelligence’s ability to recognize a wider variety of plants and animals.
These features are available on all iPhone 16 models and can be accessed by long-pressing the Camera Control.
Apple Intelligence Enabled by Default
In a bold move, Apple has made Apple Intelligence a default feature for users upgrading to or starting fresh with iOS 18.3. Previously opt-in, the system now automatically activates during setup. To disable it, head to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and toggle off the feature.
Additional Improvements
This update also addresses smaller issues and includes quality-of-life enhancements:
- Calculator Fix: The Calculator app now allows repeated presses of the equals button to perform consecutive operations, addressing user frustration.
- Keyboard Bug Resolved: Fixes an issue where the keyboard occasionally disappeared during typed Siri requests.
- Audio Playback Glitch: Resolves a problem where audio from Apple Music continued playing even after the app was closed.
iOS 18.3 showcases Apple’s commitment to improving its systems while introducing fresh, user-friendly features. The question remains: do these updates resolve the underlying issues effectively? Share your thoughts!