iOS 18.2 Features: All the New Additions in iOS 18.2

iOS 18.2 is the second major update to iOS 18, and it brings the first Apple Intelligence image generation features, ChatGPT integration with Siri, and plenty more changes and bug fixes.

Apple has introduced iOS 18.2, the second major update for iOS 18, which comes packed with cutting-edge “iOS 18.2 features.” This update brings advanced Apple Intelligence capabilities, including new image generation tools, Siri-ChatGPT integration, and various other enhancements and bug fixes.

Apple Intelligence Innovations

1. Image Generation Capabilities

Image Playground: A new app and Messages integration that allows users to create custom, stylized images using prompts or existing photos of themselves and their friends.

Image Wand: This feature within the Notes app enables users to add images to their notes. iPad users can sketch using the Apple Pencil, and Image Wand will convert rough sketches into polished visuals.

Genmoji: A tool for creating personalized emoji, similar to Image Playground but on a smaller scale. Users with iOS 18.1 can view Genmoji, but only iOS 18.2 users can create them. On older iOS versions and Android, Genmoji appears as an image.

2. Siri-ChatGPT Integration

Siri can now route user requests to ChatGPT. This optional feature doesn’t require a ChatGPT account. Siri can generate text, answer in-depth questions, and analyze images via prompts like “What’s in this photo?” Users can streamline the process by disabling the “Ask Every Time” setting.

3. Visual Intelligence Enhancements

Available on iPhone 16, Visual Intelligence identifies objects and landmarks via the camera. By holding down the Camera Control button, users can recognize landmarks, copy and read text, access restaurant reviews, search for items online, and ask ChatGPT questions about identified objects.

4. Advanced Writing Tools & Language Support

The Rewrite Writing Tools now support custom tone and style requests. Users can request specific changes, such as making text more dynamic or converting an email into a poem.

Apple Intelligence has expanded language support to include English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK, in addition to U.S. English.

Camera Control Upgrades

iPhone 16 users can now lock Auto Exposure (AE) and Auto Focus (AF) settings with a simple light press. The AE/AF Lock toggle can be found in Settings > Camera > Camera Control.

Camera Control includes double-click speed options (Default, Slow, Slower) and a “Require Screen On” option that limits camera access when the screen is off.

Mail App Enhancements

New built-in categories organize emails into tabs for deals, newsletters, and transaction emails.

Larger profile images for contacts and businesses make it easier to identify senders. Users can toggle between categorized and list views using the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the app.

Photo and Video Updates

The video player now offers immersive, full-screen playback with thinner borders.

Users can scrub videos frame-by-frame, disable auto-looping, and clear Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history.

Safari Browser Updates

A “Not Secure Connection Warning” toggle alerts users to unencrypted sites, promoting safer browsing.

Safari now allows users to export and import website data from other browsers.

Safari downloads can be tracked directly from the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island.

Voice Memos Enhancements

Two audio tracks can now be layered and edited separately. Users can import two-track projects directly into Logic Pro on iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Find My App Improvements

Users can now share the location of misplaced items with airlines or trusted people via a shareable link that works on any device.

The “Show Contact Info” feature allows non-Apple devices to connect to an item and view the owner’s contact details, enabling easier recovery of lost items.

Apple Music and Apple TV Enhancements

Apple Music introduces natural language search, allowing users to find tracks, genres, and moods using phrases like “songs about love” or “sad 80s songs.”

The Apple TV app features customizable navigation and improved search capabilities, supporting queries like “movies about cats” or “natural disaster movies.”

Podcasts and Apple News+

Podcasts now let users favorite categories, which are displayed in the Library.

For Apple News+ subscribers in the U.S., sudoku puzzles have been added alongside Crossword, Crossword Mini, and Quartiles.

AirPods Pro Improvements

The Hearing Test for AirPods Pro 2 is now supported in Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, UAE, and the UK.

Hearing Aid support is also available in the UAE.

Apple Arcade and EU App Changes

Apple Arcade introduces a new “All Games” filter and the option to disable game previews.

In the EU, users can delete core Apple apps like Safari, Messages, and Camera. Third-party browsers can now create web apps for the Home screen.

Default Apps Section

A new “Default Apps” section in Settings allows users to select preferred apps for Email, Messaging, Calling, Call Filtering, Browsing, and Keyboards.

Sound & Haptics Updates

Users can now set a volume limit for media playback using the “Limit Maximum Volume” toggle in the Sound & Haptics section. This does not affect call alerts, alarms, or system sounds.

Control Center Customization

Users can add “Type to Siri” as a quick-access button in the Control Center. The Satellite control has been removed, and the Adaptive Audio icon has been updated.

Dark Mode Icon Update

Icons in Dark Mode have a refreshed look, featuring colored icons on a black background instead of white accents.

AirDrop Changes

The AirDrop icon in Dark Mode now appears as a darker shade rather than a bright white icon.

Web Restrictions in Utah

Utah residents under 17 are subject to content restrictions that block adult sites, following new state regulations.

Bug Fixes and Security Updates

These exciting “iOS 18.2 features” offer powerful new tools and capabilities for Apple users, from enhanced customization options to improved visual intelligence. This update solidifies iOS 18.2 as a significant step forward in AI-driven mobile technology.

Bug fixes address issues with missing photos in the All Photos grid and degraded Night mode images on iPhone 16 Pro models.

Security patches fix vulnerabilities in the kernel, Safari, WebKit, VoiceOver, and Passwords.