whats the difference between iOS 18 and iOS 17
Generated on 7/31/2024
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iOS 18 introduces several new features and improvements over iOS 17. Here are some key differences:
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Privacy Enhancements:
- iOS 18 improves transparency and control over access to local network, Bluetooth, and contacts. For example, the contacts sharing prompt is now shown in two stages, providing more control over which contacts are shared (What’s new in privacy).
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User Interface and Experience:
- iOS 18 brings new features to UIKit, including improvements to transitions and animations, tab bars, and a new document launch experience (What’s new in UIKit).
- The tab bar in iOS 18 has a new syntax in SwiftUI to make it easier to catch common errors at build time (Elevate your tab and sidebar experience in iPadOS).
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HDR and Image Handling:
- iOS 18 introduces a new reference wide tone mapping operator for HDR images, which preserves output quality better than the default one used in iOS 17 (Use HDR for dynamic image experiences in your app).
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Device Management:
- iOS 18 includes new controls for managing eSIM transfers, private cellular network payloads, and the ability to lock and hide apps using Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode (What’s new in device management).
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Customization:
- iOS 18 allows for more customization of app icons and widgets, including light, dark, or tinted appearances (Platforms State of the Union).
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Security:
- iOS 18 introduces a new registration API to transition more users to passkeys, enhancing security (Platforms State of the Union).
These are just a few of the many updates and improvements in iOS 18 compared to iOS 17. For a more detailed overview, you can refer to the specific sessions mentioned.
Elevate your tab and sidebar experience in iPadOS
iPadOS 18 introduces a new navigation system that gives people the flexibility to choose between using a tab bar or sidebar. The newly redesigned tab bar provides more space for content and other functionality. Learn how to use SwiftUI and UIKit to enable customization features – like adding, removing and reordering tabs – to enable a more personal touch in your app.
What’s new in privacy
At Apple, we believe privacy is a fundamental human right. Learn about new and improved permission flows and other features that manage data in a privacy-preserving way, so that you can focus on creating great app experiences.
Use HDR for dynamic image experiences in your app
Discover how to read and write HDR images and process HDR content in your app. Explore the new supported HDR image formats and advanced methods for displaying HDR images. Find out how HDR content can coexist with your user interface — and what to watch out for when adding HDR image support to your app.
Bring your Live Activity to Apple Watch
Bring Live Activities into the Smart Stack on Apple Watch with iOS 18 and watchOS 11. We’ll cover how Live Activities are presented on Apple Watch, as well as how you can enhance their presentation for the Smart Stack. We’ll also explore additional considerations to ensure Live Activities on Apple Watch always present up-to-date information.
What’s new in UIKit
Explore everything new in UIKit, including tab and document launch experiences, transitions, and text and input changes. We’ll also discuss better-than-ever interoperability between UIKit and SwiftUI animations and gestures, as well as general improvements throughout UIKit.
Platforms State of the Union
Discover the newest advancements on Apple platforms.
What’s new in device management
Learn about the latest management capabilities for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS, then discover the latest changes to Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager. We’ll also share updates to Activation Lock, SoftwareUpdate, and Safari management.