At WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled iOS 18. Fans and rivals alike watched closely. New features excited iPhone users, but some felt familiar—Android had them first. This guide compares these features, giving you a clear picture of what’s new and what’s not.
In fact, a number of the innovations Apple introduced with iOS 18 have long been standard on Android devices. While Apple’s user experience has always been known for its sleek design and streamlined functionality, Android has stood out for offering a broader range of customization options and features, which gave users more control over their devices. As a result, several features that iOS 18 is now rolling out have been staples on Android for some time. Here, we’ll explore nine key features that, although new to Apple, have been part of the Android ecosystem for years.
1. Moving Apps on the Home and Lock Screens
One of the most anticipated features in iOS 18 is the ability to freely move apps around on both the home and lock screens, but Android users have had this freedom from the beginning. Since its inception, Android has allowed users to place apps and widgets anywhere on the screen, without being restricted to a rigid grid format. This has given Android users the flexibility to organize their screens exactly as they prefer, with the option to leave spaces between apps or create layouts that suit their needs.
In contrast, until now, Apple’s iOS required that apps be arranged in a strict, orderly fashion, filling in from the top left with no gaps between them. This rigid structure frustrated some users who wanted more control over the appearance of their home screens. The introduction of more flexible app placement in iOS 18 is a welcome change for Apple users, bringing them a step closer to the level of customization Android has offered for years.
This newfound flexibility in iOS 18 will undoubtedly enhance the user experience for those who want a more personalized interface. However, it’s worth noting that Android pioneered this level of customization long ago, and Apple is only now catching up in this regard.
2. Multimedia Control Center
The multimedia control center is another area where iOS 18 is catching up to features that have been available on Android for several years. On Android devices, the notification bar has long been adaptive, changing its appearance based on where you swipe down from and offering various quick shortcuts. Depending on how you interact with the screen, you can access a wide range of functions such as Wi-Fi settings, Bluetooth, or even media controls like play, pause, and volume adjustment.
iOS 18 will finally bring a similar feature to Apple devices. Users will be able to access media controls more intuitively and efficiently, with quick shortcuts tailored to the context of their usage. This will make managing music, videos, and other multimedia content much more convenient.
While this is a big improvement for Apple users, it’s worth mentioning that Android’s flexible and customizable notification bar has been providing this functionality for quite some time. The introduction of a multimedia control center in iOS 18 is a step forward, but for Android users, it’s nothing new.
3. Artificial Intelligence Integration
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a critical component of modern smartphones, enabling new levels of automation, personalization, and efficiency. While Apple is introducing more AI-driven features in iOS 18, Android has been leveraging AI for several years. With the release of the Google Pixel 8, AI capabilities such as photo enhancement, voice recognition, and predictive text were highlighted as core features, showcasing Android’s advanced integration of AI technology.
Apple’s AI improvements in iOS 18 are impressive and are sure to enhance the user experience, particularly with functions like real-time language translation, on-device machine learning for photos, and smarter Siri responses. However, these innovations are not entirely new to the smartphone world. Android has been incorporating AI in meaningful ways for quite some time, with features like Google Assistant becoming smarter and more intuitive with each update.
For Apple users, the increased presence of AI in iOS 18 will be a significant upgrade, bringing them closer to the type of intelligent automation that Android users have already been enjoying. While Apple’s AI developments are noteworthy, they follow the trend set by Android in using machine learning to streamline everyday tasks.
4. Password Manager
Password management is essential in today’s digital age, where users juggle multiple accounts, each with its own login credentials. With iOS 18, Apple is introducing a built-in password manager that will automatically save and recommend passwords when users log into websites or apps. This feature is designed to make managing multiple accounts easier by offering auto-fill options and recommending strong passwords for better security.
However, Android users have been benefiting from this convenience for years, thanks to Google’s integrated password manager. Whether through Chrome or Android itself, users have been able to store passwords securely, allowing for seamless login experiences across devices. Additionally, manufacturers like Samsung have added their own layers of password management, giving users more flexibility and control.
Apple’s password manager is a valuable addition to iOS 18, making it easier for users to keep track of their credentials. But in reality, Android has been providing similar functionality for a long time, ensuring that users can navigate the web with less hassle and more security. For Apple users, the new password manager will simplify life online, but for Android users, it’s old news.
5. Game Mode
For mobile gamers, having a dedicated “Game Mode” is a dream come true. This feature optimizes the phone’s resources for gaming, ensuring that the device prioritizes performance during gameplay. iOS 18 brings this feature to Apple devices, allowing gamers to enhance their experience by boosting performance, managing notifications, and tweaking settings like screen brightness to fit their needs during intense gaming sessions.
Android, however, has had this feature for years. Many Android devices, particularly gaming-focused phones, come with built-in game modes that allow users to optimize their devices for gaming. These modes often include options for minimizing distractions by blocking notifications, adjusting performance settings, and even enhancing audio for a more immersive experience.
The arrival of Game Mode in iOS 18 is a significant win for Apple users who enjoy gaming on their devices. It ensures that the phone can handle resource-heavy games while maintaining smooth performance. Yet, for Android users, this is hardly revolutionary. Game Mode has long been a staple on many Android phones, catering to the growing mobile gaming community.
6. Photographic Summaries
The ability to organize and summarize photos based on location, date, or style is a feature that Apple is emphasizing in iOS 18. This function allows the Photos app to group images into albums or collections, creating easy-to-view memories from a specific event or period. For example, if you took photos during a vacation, the app might automatically create a slideshow or an album for that trip.
Android users, particularly those who use Google Photos, will be familiar with this feature. Google Photos has been automatically organizing images into albums, memories, and highlights for several years. Its AI-driven capabilities can identify people, places, and objects in photos, making it easy for users to search for and find specific memories.
While iOS 18’s photo organization tools will undoubtedly make it easier for Apple users to manage their ever-growing photo libraries, this is yet another example of a feature that Android users have already been using. Apple’s implementation is polished, but it’s a catch-up move in the world of photo management.
7. Categorized Email
Managing email efficiently is crucial, especially in today’s world where inboxes can quickly become cluttered with promotional messages, social media notifications, and work-related emails. In iOS 18, Apple is introducing a feature that categorizes emails into different sections, much like Gmail has done for nearly a decade.
Gmail revolutionized email organization with its ability to automatically sort messages into categories such as Primary, Social, and Promotions. This system helps keep the main inbox clean by diverting less important emails into separate tabs, making it easier for users to focus on what’s essential.
Apple’s new email categorization feature in iOS 18 will bring similar functionality to the iPhone’s native Mail app. This will allow users to have a more organized inbox, with promotional and social emails placed into their own categories, making the main inbox easier to navigate. For long-time Android users, though, this concept is hardly groundbreaking. Gmail’s categorization features have been a game-changer for years, and Apple is just now adopting a similar approach.
8. One-Touch Payment
One of the exciting new features in iOS 18 is the introduction of one-touch payment between phones. This means that users will be able to quickly transfer money simply by tapping their devices together. This functionality is especially useful for making fast payments between friends or family, whether you’re dividing a bill at dinner or sending someone money for a small purchase.
This feature will make transactions more seamless and convenient, as it eliminates the need to manually enter payment details or go through lengthy approval processes. Just a quick tap will suffice, making it easy to handle everyday financial interactions without fuss.
For Android users, this type of functionality is not entirely new. Android devices have had similar features for a while now, thanks to Google Pay and Google Wallet. The idea of tapping phones together to transfer money was first introduced with Google Pay, and over time, it has become more refined and secure. Android users have enjoyed the benefits of this feature for several years, thanks to near-field communication (NFC) technology, which allows for quick and secure transactions between devices that are close to each other.
Apple’s adoption of one-touch payment in iOS 18 is likely to be well-received by users who value the convenience and speed of this payment method. It provides a similar experience to what Android users have had for some time, though it’s noteworthy that Apple is implementing this feature after its introduction on Android.
While this new feature enhances the Apple ecosystem, it follows in the footsteps of existing Android technology rather than presenting a groundbreaking innovation.
9. RCS Messaging
Rich Communication Services, commonly known as RCS, represents a major advancement in SMS technology. Unlike traditional text messaging, which is quite basic, RCS introduces a range of enhanced features that significantly improve the messaging experience.
These enhancements include things like read receipts, which let you know when someone has read your message, typing indicators that show when the other person is composing a reply, and more sophisticated group chat capabilities that allow for better management and interaction in group conversations.
With the release of iOS 18, Apple is finally incorporating RCS messaging into its platform. This means that iPhone users will now be able to enjoy these advanced messaging features, which will greatly enhance compatibility with devices that are not part of the Apple ecosystem. For instance, when communicating with friends or colleagues who use Android phones, iPhone users will benefit from features like seeing when their messages are read or when others are typing a response.
Google has been a strong advocate for RCS messaging and has worked hard to promote its widespread adoption. For several years, RCS has been the default messaging standard on Android devices, providing users with a richer, more interactive messaging experience. By adding RCS support in iOS 18, Apple is addressing a significant gap in its messaging system and aligning itself more closely with the features already available on Android.
This update is a notable improvement for iOS users, as it reduces the discrepancies in messaging capabilities between iPhones and Android devices. While Android users have been benefiting from RCS for some time, the introduction of this technology in iOS 18 is a significant step forward for Apple.
It ensures that iPhone users can now participate more fully in modern messaging experiences, making communication between different platforms much smoother and more integrated.
Conclusion: A Step Forward for Apple, But a Familiar Path for Android Users
The release of iOS 18 brings several exciting updates and new features to the iPhone, offering improvements that are sure to be welcomed by many users. This latest version of Apple’s operating system introduces enhancements in areas such as customization, AI integration, and overall usability. These updates reflect Apple’s commitment to adapting to the evolving needs and preferences of its user base, aiming to deliver a more personalized and efficient experience.
For iPhone users, iOS 18 marks a significant advancement. The new features, such as enhanced customization options, one-touch payments, and improved messaging capabilities, promise to make the iPhone experience more intuitive and versatile. These changes will likely enhance the way users interact with their devices, offering them greater control and a more seamless experience.
However, it’s important to recognize that many of these innovations are not entirely new. Android users have had access to similar features for quite some time. For instance, one-touch payments and Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging have been available on Android devices for years. As a result, for those who have been using Android, the features introduced in iOS 18 might feel more like Apple catching up rather than offering groundbreaking new capabilities.
Ultimately, the improvements in iOS 18 are beneficial regardless of whether you use an iPhone or an Android device. Apple’s decision to integrate these features reflects a broader trend in the tech industry where advancements made by one platform influence the other. While Android users may see these updates as familiar, they mark a notable step forward for Apple and its users.
By adopting these features, Apple enhances its offerings and continues to provide value to its loyal customers, ensuring that iPhone users can enjoy a richer, more capable device experience.