iOS 12 rolled out to compatible iPhones and iPads last September. AniOS 12.2 updateis now in the works, but we’ll cover the core features that you get withiOS 12and iOS 12.1 here.
Which devices can run iOS 12?
iOS 12 runs on an extensive list of iPhones and iPads. But, essentially, it will support any iOS device released since 2013, including theiPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and XR(it will be preinstalled on those new devices).
The following tablets and phones are compatible with iOS 12.
Check out:Apple iPhone XS vs iPhone X: What’s the difference?
What are the new iOS 12 features?
We’ve outlined the key iOS 12 features below. WhileiOS 12.2 is on the way, the previous iOS 12.1 update fixed a few issues that we’ve detailed here as well.
Dual-SIM (eSIM) support
In iOS 12.1 and later ou can now activate eSIM to work alongside your physical SIM on iPhone XS, XR and XS Max - we’re gathering details here:What is an eSIM and what does it mean for your new iPhone XR, XS or XS Max?
Animoji and Memoji
Animojiare getting an update to support “Tongue Detection.” Seriously. But the most interesting new thing is something called Memoji, which is what happens when you make an Animoji of yourself. It’s different from Bitmoji and Samsung’s AR emoji - but also similar. With the new Memoji builder, you can select your skin colour, hair, etc. You then pull up the camera in iMessage, and there’s a star button you can tap to access effects. You can even do a live recording of the Animoji.
More than 70 new emoji made their debut in iOS 12.1 including characters with red hair, grey hair, curly hair and no hair. There are also more animals, sports and food, too.
Grouped FaceTime calls
After being delayed from the original iOS 12 release,group FaceTimeis now a thing for between two and 32 participants in iOS 12.1 and later (everything is end-to-end encrypted). you may also add stickers and filters to calls and there’s Messages integration so you can start a Group FaceTime from a group Messages chat, just as you can in other group chat apps that you might use. Dominant speakers are shown at the front on screen.
Screen Time helps manage you and your offspring
Like the newAndroid Pie Dashboard, Screen Time enables you to quickly check out how much you use your phone and apps like Facebook (surely not EVERY day?!). You can see a weekly activity summary and set time limits for each app. You’ll then be notified when, er, time is up. You can also set ‘app allowances’ for kids with Screen Time for Family. Kids using Fortnite too much?
You can now take proper action. Go easy on yourself to start with as we found we were managing to lock ourselves out of apps when we needed to use them for work. Yes, we know, a bit silly. Screen Time replaces the old Restrictions menu in Settings > General and it’s clearly a much more user-friendly way to implement parental controls and so on.
iOS 12 performance improvements
Apple says it is “doubling down on performance” with this update after criticism of the performance and stability ofiOS 11. Apps should launch up to 40 per cent faster and although opening many apps seems snappy, some still lag; perhaps these just need optimising. Whatever, the jury’s out here.
Grouped notifications
This is not just a really good feature, it’s a great feature; especially if you’ve got stacks of people on Facebook wishing you happy birthday or people are liking the same tweet. The bringing together of notifications from each app is welcome, as is the ability to control notification settings from the lock screen.
You can tap any notification group to expand it as well as hard press as before (if your phone supports 3D Touch) for more options, such as to Like or Reply if it’s a Twitter notification. Swipe any notification and you’ll get an option to Manage. From here you can change the notification settings for each app very easily - mute or turn off?
A new ‘Do not disturb during bedtime’ feature will hide notifications on a device’s lock screen at night to stop you seeing them when you wake and check the time at 3am. However, we found this doesn’t help as we always want to know whether we actually do have any notifications (Tip: turn your iPhone off for better sleep!).
Interface changes on the iPad
The iPad version of iOS 12 is, of course, broadly similar to the iPhone version. However, there are a couple of minor interface changes to bring it more in line with the Face ID iPhones; clearly designed to remove any confusion when moving between devices.
you may now swipe down from the top right to get to the Control Center (and yes. top left for Notification Center like iPhone X, XR, XS amd XS Max). Apple introduced the iPad dock last year which was great but you had to swipe up further for the Control Center and it wasn’t a great user experience. So that’s now fixed.
When you’re looking at all your open apps you can also flick apps upwards to close them, again as on the Touch ID phones.
The iPad status bar now includes the date as well. We all know that Apple wants to position the iPad as a laptop replacement so this is a further little move in that direction.
Size up with the Measure app
iOS 12 features a new ARKit-utilising measurement tool called Measure. And it’s really good. It can measure and detect real-world objects and it works really well - indeed someone on Twitter used it to inform Subway that one of their sandwiches was, er, a little shorter than the cited six inches.
There are two tabs in the app - measure and level - and the app has a camera view, which lets you tap, drag a line, and measure.
The level bit of the app isn’t new but used to be incorporated in the Compass app (the Compass app is now just the compass, without the level feature).
As part of iOS 12 Apple has improved ARKit with face tracking, 3D object detection, and sharing.
