Apple

Apple to Release iOS 18.1 on October 28, Reveals Gurman

Highlight

Apple is set to release iOS 18.1 on October 28.
iOS 18.1 will include Writing Tools, a new Siri UI, Notification Summaries, Memory Creation in Photos, Clean Up in Photos, and Intelligent Breakthrough with Notifications.
iOS 18.2 to come in December (ChatGPT support, Genmoji, Image Playground)
iOS 18.3 or iOS 18.4 in early 2025 (full new Siri experience)

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman predicts iOS 18.1 launch date. (Image credit – Apple)

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is set to release iOS 18.1 on October 28. This update will include some of the first Apple Intelligence features, although it’s arriving a bit later than previously expected.

Initially thought to launch in mid-October, Apple is reportedly taking extra time to ensure the update is free of bugs and that its private cloud servers can handle the influx of users downloading it.

“I’m told that Apple is taking its time with the rollout to ensure that major bugs are eliminated and it can support all the new traffic on its AI cloud servers,” writes Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest newsletter.

What’s New in iOS 18.1?

The Clean Up tool in Photos can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.

Once iOS 18.1 is released, iPhone 16 users will finally gain access to some of the Apple Intelligence features that were promised when the phone first launched, just over a month ago. However, not all features may be groundbreaking right away.

Here’s what users can expect after installing iOS 18.1:

Writing Tools powered by Apple Intelligence, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarise text nearly everywhere they write.

Writing Tools to enhance text input
A New Siri UI, though the fully revamped experience is set for a future release
Notification Summaries, offering more organized alerts
Memory Creation in Photos for generating meaningful memories from your photo library
Clean Up in Photos, helping with organizing and managing images
Intelligent Breakthrough with Notifications, potentially offering smarter notification handling

Subsequent iOS 18 Updates – What’s Coming Next?

Priority Notifications surface what’s most important, and summaries help users scan long or stacked notifications to show key details right on the Lock Screen.

While iOS 18.1 brings some new features, more exciting updates are planned for later this year and early 2025. Apple has a phased rollout strategy for its new features:

October: iOS 18.1 will debut with the features mentioned above.
December: iOS 18.2 is expected, which will introduce ChatGPT support, Genmoji, and Image Playground.
Early 2025: iOS 18.3 or iOS 18.4 will roll out, including the full new Siri experience.

Siri is redesigned with an elegant glowing light that wraps around the edge of the screen when active.

It looks like it will be a while before all of the Apple Intelligence features are fully available. By the time Apple releases the iPhone SE 4, likely in 2025, the complete set of features should be live.

FAQs

When is iOS 18.1 expected to be released?

iOS 18.1 is set to be released on October 28, 2024. Apple took extra time to ensure a bug-free update and prepare their private cloud servers for the influx of users.

What new features can users expect from iOS 18.1?

iOS 18.1 will introduce several new features, including Writing Tools to enhance text input, a new Siri UI, Notification Summaries, Memory Creation and Clean Up in Photos, and Intelligent Breakthrough with Notifications.

What are the upcoming updates planned after iOS 18.1?

Subsequent updates include iOS 18.2 in December 2024, which will introduce ChatGPT support, Genmoji, and Image Playground, followed by iOS 18.3 or iOS 18.4 in early 2025, featuring the full new Siri experience.

Has Apple Shifted Away from Its Annual Release Cycle ?

Gurman noted that Apple is shifting from its traditional annual product update cycle, potentially resulting in more frequent releases and fewer delays.
Apple launched new products each fall, which helped align employee goals and set analyst expectations.

However, with a broader product range that includes multiple iPhones, iPads, Macs, and AirPods, maintaining a yearly update schedule has become impractical, especially for products like the Apple Watch Ultra and iPhone SE.

Apple deviated from its fall schedule, launching new iPads in May 2023 and faster Macs earlier in the year.

This flexible strategy enables Apple to release products when they are ready, rather than adhering to a fixed timeline. The staggered rollout of Apple Intelligence features, acknowledged by CEO Tim Cook, underscores this approach.

For hardware, Apple has demonstrated that not all products require annual updates. Instead of launching an Ultra 3 watch, the company added a new color option for the Ultra 2 and left the Apple Watch SE unchanged, with updates planned for 2025.

Apple’s 2025 strategy includes multiple hardware launches coinciding with significant iOS 18 updates.

To sustain this strategy, Apple must avoid rushing OS features for September releases. This shift could lead to greater innovation and increased revenue outside the holiday season, aligning with its goal of “surprise and delight,” Gurman added.