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Download iOS 18 now and watch your friends on Android smile
In This Article
Apple has released iOS 18 for iPhone owners, but one of this year’s key features is something Android fans have been waiting years for.
Once iPhone usersinstall iOS 18 on their devices, iPhone and Android users will finally be exchanging texts on the same messaging protocol.
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After years of heel dragging and accusatory remarks from Google, Apple has adopted theRich Communications Services (RCS)for messages between iPhone and Android devices. Apple-to-Apple messages will still be handled by the much-loved iMessage standard.
What that’ll mean for cross platform texting is live typing indicators, message editing, proper rendering of reactions, delivered/read indicators, and full resolution videos and images. It basically remedies everything that’s madecross platform group chats an awful experience for years. RCS is also much more secure than the ancient SMS standard it’ll replace, so everyone’s a winner.
Elsewhere in iOS 18, there’s the revamped Control Centre, satellite messaging, the new iCloud Passwords app, and loads more. What’s missing for now are theApple Intelligence AI features, expected in iOS 18.1 before the end of the year for iPhone 15 Pro and up. Until that point RCS messages (which will still be green, sorry Android users) is perhaps the biggers change.
To download iOS 18 on iPhone, head toSettings > General > Software Update and check for availability. If you have automatic downloads enabled, it may be there in the background waiting for you to simply install. You’ll need to be on Wi-Fi and have plenty of batterty life remaining. It’s also wise to perform a backup of your phone via iCloud (if that’s your preferred method) before installing.
Apple has also droppedwatchOS 11and macOS Sequoia for Apple Watch and Mac owners.
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Chris Smith is a freelance technology journalist for a host of UK tech publications, including Trusted Reviews. He’s based in South Florida, USA. …
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Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
