Just because your iPhone may be running the latest version of Apple iOS does not mean that all features included in this update will work on your phone. Sometimes selected features have hardware requirements that older devices simply cannot meet.
And that goes for iOS 18, which Apple just unveiled at WWDC 2024. When it arrives later this year, iOS 18 will run on 2019 iPhones, including the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. But a handful of iOS 18 features won’t work on older phones, and it’s good to know which ones you’re potentially missing.
We’re not just talking about Apple Intelligence features. These AI capabilities are limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max at the moment, though we expect all four iPhone 16 models to support Apple Intelligence in the fall. Rather, these are additional features baked into the software that have stricter requirements than iOS 18 itself.
Here’s a rundown of iOS 18 features that have very specific hardware requirements. We’ll also list features coming to iPhone that will be limited to specific languages ​​and regions.
iOS 18 features are limited by hardware
News via satellite
In iOS 18, you’ll be able to send text messages even when there’s no Wi-Fi or cellular connection, but you’ll need an iPhone 14 or later to do so. This limitation comes as no surprise, as Apple only started offering Emergency SOS via satellite with the release of the iPhone 14, and Messages via Satellite uses the same feature.
If you have a compatible phone, it sounds like the messaging experience via satellite is the same as if you were connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network. Send a message using Apple’s iMessages platform, for example, and you’ll still be able to send emoticons and tapbacks even if you’re connected via satellite. These iMessages will also have end-to-end encryption.
Audio transcription in notes
The Notes app is getting built-in recording functionality in iOS 18, and we expect it to be available on all iPhones that can run the software update. What won’t be widely available is the ability to create audio transcripts on the fly, which you can then search or combine with other elements. This feature will require an iPhone 12 or later.
While we’re talking about limitations, audio subtitles will only be supported in English for users in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and the US.
Improve dialog in the Apple TV app
If you’ve ever had trouble making out what characters are saying amidst all the background noise, sound effects, and music in a show or movie, then Enhance Dialogue is tailor-made for you. It uses machine learning to boost speech over other audio, making things more audible.
You’ll need an iPhone 11 or later to enjoy Enhance Dialogue in the TV app, but the good news is that the feature works with your phone’s built-in speakers, as well as wired headphones, AirPods, and other Bluetooth-connected audio devices.
Wirelessly use your phone to open smart locks
An update to the Home app in iOS 18 lets you unlock doors just by wearing your iPhone or Apple Watch. However, this feature depends on Ultra Wideband, so if you want to enjoy hands-free unlocking through your iPhone, you’ll need at least an iPhone 11 or later. This means iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, or any iPhone SE owners are locked out. (It probably goes without saying, but you’ll need a smart lock with its own Ultra Wideband chip for this feature to work.)
Accessibility improvements
A pair of accessibility features will only work on certain iPhone models running iOS 18. Eye tracking, which lets you control your iPhone with your eyes, will require iPhone 12 or later; this feature also works on iPhone SE 2022.
Meanwhile, Music Haptics, which uses the iPhone’s Taptic Engine to pulse to the beat of a song, requires an iPhone 12 or later. This feature is aimed at helping people with hearing impairments use Apple Music.
iOS 18 features are limited by language and region
Mail categorization
A big change in the Mail app includes categorization by device where incoming messages will be sent to different mailboxes such as Primary, Promotions, Transactions and Updates. Not only is this feature coming in, but it’s also limited to English in Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the UK, and the US.
The best of Safari and readers’ roundups
In iOS 18, our iPhone’s built-in web browser will be able to browse web pages and call up specific information – directions to a business you’ve looked up using Safari, for example. This feature will only be available in the US for now.
A similar feature is coming to Safari’s Reader, as you now get a summary and table of contents of the articles you view using the feature. It is only in English, but has a wider reach and is available in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and the US.
Topographic maps
Maps for iPhone will add topographic maps in iOS 18 that include trails and hikes, along with maps of all 63 US national parks. However, these will only be available in the US and Japan. You must also be an iPhone user in the US to browse through a collection of different trips that you can save to your phone.
Call recording and transcriptions
The Phone app on your iPhone gets the ability to record calls in iOS 18, and you can then transcribe those recordings. These transcripts will be available in English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, and Portuguese.
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