iOS 12: Official Release Date, Compatible Devices and features

After releasing multiple beta builds and months of testing, Apple has finally announced the iOS 12 release date of the final build to the public.

iOS 12 Release Date

Apple will be releasing the final build of iOS 12 to the public on September 17 2018. Apple will be seeding the Golden Master build of iOS 12 to developers and public beta testers later today. Until and unless any major bug is discovered, it is likely that the same GM build will be released to the public next week as the final public release.

iOS 12 Compatibility

iOS 12 is compatible with the same set of devices that were compatible with iOS 11.

• iPhone X
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone 7
• iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus
• iPhone SE
• iPhone 5s
• 6th generation iPod Touch

iPad:

• 10.5-inch iPad Pro
• 9.7-inch iPad (2017/2018)
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro (All generations)
• 9.7-inch iPad Pro
• iPad Air 2
• iPad Air
• iPad mini 4
• iPad mini 3
• iPad mini 2
• iPad 5

iOS 12 Features

iOS 12 comes with a number of new features, though the highlight of the update is improved performance on older iOS devices. It also introduces Grouped Notifications, tools like App Limits and Downtime for Digital Wellbeing, new Animojis, Memoji, and more.

Apple has finally delivered on features we’ve had on our wishlist for almost a decade now. Granular Do Not Disturb controls? Don’t mind if I do. Group FaceTime? Finally. iOS 12 is a performance upgrade. It’s made up of many little features that add up to a really delightful experience.

1. Better Performace for Older Devices

Apple is working hard to bring the new iOS 12 features to every phone that supported iOS 11. This goes back to the iPhone 5s! And this time Apple is actually tweaking CPU performance bursts so older devices get the right CPU power at the right time. On an iPhone 6, apps launch 40% faster, the keyboard comes up 50% faster and camera opens 70% faster. 

2. Grouped Notifications

Apple is finally giving us an overhauled notification system and it starts with something we’ve wanted for a long time: grouped notifications! Apple will group notifications not just by apps but by threads, conversations, and context as well! You can tap on a group to view all the notifications in it.

3. Do Not Disturb During Bedtime

When you’re using Do Not Disturb at night, it will no longer light up the screen when you get a notification. All you’ll see is a dark lock screen when you tap on the screen. In the morning, notifications will still be hidden. You can tap on the screen to view them when you’re ready.

4. Control Center Shortcut for Do Not Disturb

You can now 3D Touch the Control Center shortcut for Do Not Disturb to set customized DND session at any given time. You can turn it on for just an hour if you wish. If you’ve got a calendar appointment, you can do put your phone in DND mode just for this meeting. 

5. Manage Notification Settings from Lock Screen

Now, you can manage notification settings for an app right from the notification view. You can turn off notifications for an app, hide it from Lock Screen and more without going to Settings. If you’re not using an app or interacting with a notification, Siri will even suggest that you turn off notifications for the app. 

6. Critical Alerts

There’s a new type of opt-in notification created for critical information, like reports for healthcare providers, that you will receive even when you have Do Not Disturb turned on. 

7. Screen Time

The Screen Time feature will give you a detailed report of how you’re spending your time on your device. This includes which app you’re using, for how much, how many times you’re picking up your phone, in what context and so on. The detailed are synced with your iPhone and iPad. You’ll also get a weekly summary of your habits.
This feature will give you an insight into how you’re using your device. 

8. App Limits and Downtime

Once you know how much time an app is taking up, you can set limits for using particular apps. You’ll get a notification when your time is almost up. And when it’s up, you’ll see a splash screen instead of the app. You can ignore the limit and iOS will give you a bit more time before bugging you again.
Downtime is the nuclear option. Once you enable the feature on a schedule, it will automatically lock you out of almost all apps on your iPhone. Only essential apps like Phone will be available. This is a great way to disable access to addicting apps at night. 

9. Parental Controls with App Limits

The App Limits feature is integrated with Family Sharing. So a parental device can set app usage limits for a kid’s device. Parents can set an allowance for time to be used in general or specifically on a category of apps. Parents can set limits for age-appropriate content as well. 

10. New Animoji

There are four new Animojis: Ghost, Koala, Tiger, and Trex. 

11. Tongue Detection in Animoji

You can now stick your tongue out no matter which emoji you’re using. There’s also wink detection. 

12. Memoji

You can now create your own Animoji character. If you’ve ever used Bitmoji, this is similar to that feature, but in 3D space. You can choose from a diverse set of options of skin color, hair, eye color and more to create an Animoji character that closely resembles the real you. 

13. Effects in Messages Camera

When you open the camera from the Messages app, you’ll see a little Effects icon in the bottom-left. Here, you’ll be able to add a filter, any sticker, Animoji or Memoji. This is a really cool way to send fun photos and videos in iMessages, especially when you’re getting Memoji in the camera view, live. 

14. Group FaceTime

FaceTime is finally getting a huge upgrade. FaceTime has a new design and you can now do group calls for upto 32 people! People show up in floating tiles and when they speak, their tiles become bigger and more prominent. 

15. FaceTime Integration in Messages

You can start a FaceTime call from a group thread in Messages. People can join in from the link in Messages and leave when they want. 

16. Siri Suggestions

Siri Suggestions are now spread across the OS. As Siri learns your routine, Siri will suggest you shortcuts for things you need to do at the right time. This can be on the Lock Screen or in the search. If you find the feature too annoying, you can turn it off as well. 

17. New Shortcuts App

Apple has integrated the Workflow app right inside iOS now. It’s called Shortcuts and it’s tied with Siri. The UI for creating a shortcut is very similar to Workflow. You can create a shortcut with multiple steps. Actions that happen one after the other. The cool thing is that you can give it a name, call on it from Siri and Siri will perform all of those actions for you! 

18. Add to Siri

Siri is opening up to third-party apps via a new SiriKit API! Using an Add to Siri button, third-party apps will be able to expose certain functionality to Siri. You can then run it from Siri on any of your devices, including the HomePod. 

19. Better Translation

Translation with Siri now works with over 40 language pairs. Previously it was limited to only a handful of languages.

20. New Knowledge Areas for Siri

Siri is now much smarter about a lot of things. Siri will answer questions about Motorsports, celebrity facts, and food knowledge. You can also search for Photos Memories and passwords using Siri.

21. New Stocks App

The redesigned Stocks app gives you more information about the market at a glance. Along with the prices, you’ll be able to see sparklines as well. There are interactive charts plus Apple News integration. You’ll get the latest stories about the market which you can read right inside Stocks app. 

22. New Measure App

The New Measure app lets you measure flat rectangle surfaces simply by drawing a line on the live camera view. The awesome feature about this app is that if you simply point your camera at an object, it will detect the edges automatically and will count the distance on its own as well! 

23. News App Improvements

It’s easier to navigate the news feed now. Just swipe down to jump to your favorite topic or channels. On the iPad you can do all that from the new sidebar. 

24. Enhanced Tracking Prevention

Apple is building on the feature from iOS 12. Now, iOS blocks share buttons and comment widgets from tracking you without your permission. Safari also prevents advertisers from collecting your device’s unique settings, so they can’t retarget ads to you across the web. 

25. Better Password Management

iOS will now help you suggest stronger passwords and you’ll be reminded when you reuse the same password again. 

26. Places and Event Search

You’ll be able to quickly search photos based on where you took them. Specific and generic terms will both work. Similarly, you’ll be able to search for events as well. Search now supports multiple keywords. 

27. RAW Photo Support

You can now import and manage RAW photos right on your iPhone and iPad! If you’ve got an iPad Pro, you can edit them as well. 

28. Portrait Lighting Gets Better

A much-needed change, the Portrait Lighting is getting an upgrade in iOS 12. The camera app now generates a mask when it detects a person and intelligently and elegantly separates the person from the scene. The biggest problem with Portrait Lighting was the bad edge detection with faces. This should help with that.

29. Portrait Segmentation API

A new API for third-party developers allows for the separation of layers in a photo, such as separating the background from the foreground.

30. ARKit 2.0

The new version of ARKit comes with better 3D object recognition, better face tracking, scene reflection and more.

31. Multi-User AR

Multiple devices can now share a single AR experience. You can now play a single AR game with your friends!

32. A new AR File Format

Apple is making it really easy to create and share 3D objects in AR. To make it easier to share objects, Apple has created a new file format called USDZ. This will make it easy to preview objects in AR and to share it using Mail, Messages or even in a browser.

33. Easily Quit Apps on iPhone X

On iOS 11, quitting an app on iPhone X required a tap and hold action. Now you don’t need to do that anymore! Enter multitasking and just swipe up to force quit an app on iOS 12! 

34. Bedtime Mode in Do Not Disturb Settings

You can turn on Bedtime Mode from Do Not Disturb. This will stop messages and calls from lighting up the screen at night. All notifications will be hidden until you get started in the morning.

35. Battery Statistics in Battery Settings

There’s a new battery statistics chart in Battery settings. You’ll see battery level and usage time in one graph! The data now goes back as far as 10 days. Plus, the bars in the graph are interactive. Tap on a section in the graph to see a breakdown of the battery usage for the corresponding hours.

36. New Siri Voice Works With Text to Speech

The new Siri voice now works when you’re using the Speak Selection feature. Also Siri now works with phrases like “where is my phone”, “where is my watch” and “turn on my flashlight”.

37. Swipe Up To Retry Face ID

In iOS 12, you can swipe up again to retry a Face ID authentication when it fails. In dark, this is a really helpful feature.

38. Now Playing Widget In Dark Mode

The Now Playing widget on Lock Screen and in Notification Center is now dark. 

39. New Media Types section in Photos

Trying to find the album for Screenshots or Portraits? There’s a new section in the Albums tab dedicated to sorting images by media types. 

40. Virtual Trackpad for Every iPhone and iPad

iOS 12 brings the 3D Touch virtual trackpad feature for everyone. Just tap and hold the Spacebar to turn the keyboard into a trackpad. Then just slide your finger around to move the cursor. Tap with another finger to enter the text selection mode.

Source: iPhonehack