MacRumors

Private Cloud Compute is a cloud intelligence system that Apple designed for private artificial intelligence processing, and it's what Apple is using to keep Apple Intelligence requests secure when they need to be processed in the cloud.

Apple promised to allow security and privacy researchers to verify the end-to-end security and privacy promises that Apple made with Private Cloud Compute, and today, Apple made its Private Cloud Compute Virtual Research Environment (VRE) and other materials publicly available to all security researchers.

Apple has a Private Cloud Compute (PCC) Security Guide that details all of the components of PCC and how they work to provide privacy for cloud-based AI processing. Apple released the source code for select components of PCC that help implement its security and privacy requirements, which allows for a deeper dive into PCC.

The Virtual Research Environment is a set of tools that lets researchers perform their own security analysis on PCC using a Mac. The VRE can be used for inspecting PCC software releases, verifying the consistency of the transparency log, booting a release in a virtualized environment, and modifying and debugging PCC software for deeper investigation. The VRE can be accessed in the macOS 18.1 Developer Preview and can be used with a Mac that has an Apple silicon chip and 16GB+ unified memory.

Along with these tools, Apple is expanding its Apple Security Bounty to include rewards for vulnerabilities that demonstrate a compromise of the fundamental privacy and security guarantees of Private Cloud Compute. Security researchers who locate a vulnerability can earn up to $1 million.

Apple today provided developers and public beta testers with the second release candidate version of an upcoming macOS Sequoia 15.1 update, with the new software coming one week after Apple released the seventh beta. Apple introduced the first RC on Monday, and there's likely a new version to address an underlying bug.

Registered developers can opt-in to the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. An Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta. Public beta testers can sign up on Apple's website.

‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1 introduces the first Apple Intelligence features, adding support for Writing Tools, new Siri features, Smart Replies in Mail and Messages, Priority messages in the Mail app, Memory Movie and Clean Up in Photos, and more.

The update does not include Image Playground, Genmoji, or more advanced ‌Siri‌ functionality.

Using Apple Intelligence features requires a Mac that has an Apple silicon chip.

Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak today teased that the company has an "exciting week of announcements" planned next week. Joswiak said to "Mac" your calendars, and the post includes an animated icon for the Finder app on the Mac, so it is clear that at least some of next week's announcements will be related to the Mac.

Below, we have recapped what to expect from Apple's announcements next week.

Hardware

MacBook Pro

Apple is expected to announce new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, including an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.

No major external design changes have been rumored for the laptops this year, with improvements such as an OLED display and thinner design not expected until 2026 at the earliest. However, the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro is expected to gain an additional Thunderbolt port compared to the current model, based on alleged leaks earlier this month. Those same leaks revealed that the MacBook Pro lineup might finally start with 16GB of RAM, instead of 8GB, which was rumored even before the leaks happened.

Apple last redesigned the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2021, and the latest models with the M3 family of chips were released last October.

iMac

The next iMac is expected to be equipped with the standard M4 chip, up from the M3 chip in the current model released a year ago. No major design changes have been rumored for Apple's all-in-one desktop computer this year.

It is likely that the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad accessories that are included in the box with the iMac will finally feature USB-C ports, as part of Apple's transition away from Lightning. More on that below.

Mac mini

The next Mac mini is expected to be available with M4 and M4 Pro chip options. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the next Mac mini to be smaller, making it closer in size to an Apple TV, and he said that the computer will gain two front-facing USB-C ports. All in all, the Mac mini is expected to receive its biggest redesign since 2010.

It is unclear if the next Mac mini will also start with 16GB of RAM, instead of the current 8GB.

USB-C Magic Accessories

MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris recently discovered code references to new versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard, and these accessories will likely switch from Lightning to USB-C for charging alongside the new iMac. In the EU, a regulation requiring USB-C as a common charging port goes into effect later this year.

It is unclear if the accessories will have any other changes.

Software

iOS 18.1 With First Apple Intelligence Features and More

Apple recently confirmed that new AirPods Pro 2 hearing health features will be available as part of iOS 18.1 next week, so there could be an announcement when the software update is released, especially since it also includes the first set of Apple Intelligence features for the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models.

Gurman said Apple has planned to release the update on Monday, October 28.

The following other updates are expected to be widely released next week as well:

• iPadOS 18.1
• macOS Sequoia 15.1
• watchOS 11.1
• tvOS 18.1
• HomePod Software 18.1
• visionOS 2.1

Earnings

Apple will be discussing its earnings results for the fourth quarter of its 2024 fiscal year on Thursday, October 31 at 2 p.m. Pacific Time. That call will provide early insight into iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4 sales, and Apple will likely touch on some of its Mac-related announcements on the call too.

Apple's Greg Joswiak today made it clear that Apple plans to reveal new products next week, teasing refreshed Macs. In a social media post, Joswiak said to "Mac your calendars" because there's an exciting week of announcements that start on Monday morning.

With Joswiak's announcement, it appears that there will not be a dedicated October event for Macs this year, with Apple instead introducing new products via press release. Monday will see the launch of the iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 software updates, but new Mac announcements could also start on Monday. In prior years, Apple has done a launch-per-day release schedule for new products when there wasn't an event planned.

Rumors and multiple MacBook Pro leaks indicate that Apple is ready to unveil the first M4 Macs. We are expecting new models of the Mac mini, iMac, and ‌MacBook Pro‌.

The ‌iMac‌, entry-level ‌Mac mini‌, and entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌ will all include the M4 chip, which we actually already got earlier this year in the iPad Pro models. Higher-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will use M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, while the ‌Mac mini‌ will also get the M4 Pro.

We aren't expecting design changes for the ‌iMac‌ or ‌MacBook Pro‌, but the ‌Mac mini‌ is rumored to be smaller, closer in size to the Apple TV. With the decrease in size, it could be a bit thicker. For all entry-level models, rumors suggest RAM is going to start at 16GB instead of 8GB, providing better performance for Apple Intelligence features.

Whatever comes next week, we'll have full coverage of the new announcements at MacRumors.com.

The high-end iPhone 17 Pro Max launching next year will feature a smaller Dynamic Island, according to technology analyst Jeff Pu, who has a fairly good track record with Apple rumors. This reiterates information that he first shared in May.

In a research note with investment bank Haitong International earlier this month, obtained by MacRumors, Pu said the iPhone 17 Pro Max will adopt a "metalens" for Face ID that results in a "much narrowed" Dynamic Island on the device. He does not expect this change to apply to the smaller iPhone 17 Pro, or any other iPhone 17 models.

While a traditional iPhone camera has curved lenses that redirect light towards the image sensor, a metalens is a thin and flat lens with microscopic patterns etched onto it that can focus light more precisely. In his research note this month, Pu did not provide any specific details about how Apple plans to use a metalens for the Face ID system, nor did he explain how the change would result in a narrower Dynamic Island.

Apple introduced the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro models in 2022, and it is also available on all iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series next September, and more details about this metalens may surface over the coming months.

Starting with iOS 18.2, children in Australia have a new option to report iMessages containing nude photos and videos to Apple, the company told The Guardian. Apple said it will review these reports and could take action, such as by disabling the sender's Apple Account and/or reporting the incident to law enforcement.

The report outlined what these reports will include:

The device will prepare a report containing the images or videos, as well as messages sent immediately before and after the image or video. It will include the contact information from both accounts, and users can fill out a form describing what happened.

The feature comes after Australia introduced new rules that will require tech companies like Apple to take stronger measures to combat child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on their platforms by the end of 2024, according to the report.

Apple said it plans to make this feature available globally in the future, according to the report, but no timeframe was provided.

This is an extension of Apple's existing Communication Safety feature for iMessage, which launched in the U.S. with iOS 15.2 in 2021. With the release of iOS 17 last year, Apple expanded the feature worldwide and enabled it by default for children who are under the age of 13, signed in to their Apple Account, and part of a Family Sharing group.

Communication Safety is designed to warn children when they receive or send iMessages containing nudity, and Apple ensures that the feature relies entirely on on-device processing as a privacy protection. The feature also applies to AirDrop content, FaceTime video messages, and Contact Posters in the Phone app. Parents can turn off the feature on their child's device in the Settings app under Screen Time if they wish to.

The nudity reporting option comes after Apple in 2022 abandoned its controversial plans to detect known CSAM stored in iCloud Photos.

The first iOS 18.2 beta was released yesterday for devices with Apple Intelligence support, including iPhone 15 Pro models and all iPhone 16 models. The software update is expected to be widely released to the public in December.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Amazon today has the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 for the new all-time low price of $366.28, down from $399.00. This sale is only available in the Rose Gold Aluminum model, and Amazon provides an expected delivery date of October 28 for most United States residences.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Apple just launched the Series 10 models in September, so we haven't tracked particularly steep discounts as of yet, making this $32 markdown notable. There are also a few solid second-best prices on other 42mm GPS colors, like the Jet Black at $370.00.

Secondly, the 46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 has hit $399.00 in multiple colors, down from $429.00. Specifically, you can get this record low price in Rose Gold Aluminum (both S/M and M/L sizes) and Silver Aluminum (same size options).

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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iOS 18 allows iPhone users to change the flashlight and camera shortcuts on the Lock Screen to something else, and Snapchat is now an option.

Snapchat today announced that iPhone users can now quickly launch the app's camera view from the Lock Screen on iOS 18, even when the device is locked. To set this up, update to the latest version of the Snapchat app, released today. Then, tap and hold on the Lock Screen, tap on the Customize button, tap on the Lock Screen, tap on the minus sign next to the flashlight or camera shortcuts, tap on the plus sign that appears in its place, and tap on the Snapchat option that appears in the Control Center gallery.

Snapchat's update also includes Camera Control support on all iPhone 16 models to quickly access the app's camera view using that button.

The next iPad mini will feature an OLED display, display industry analyst Ross Young said in a social media post on Wednesday.

"Next iPad Mini will have an OLED," he said, succinctly.

Compared to the iPad mini 7 and previous models of the device, which have LCD displays, benefits of OLED technology should include increased brightness, higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks, improved power efficiency for longer battery life, and more.

Given the iPad mini 7 just launched this week, it could take at least a few more years before the iPad mini 8 is released. While the iPad mini was updated on an annual basis between 2012 and 2015, the device has only been updated three times since then, including in March 2019, September 2021, and this month.

Apple has been gradually transitioning its products to OLED displays, including the iPad Pro earlier this year, so it would make sense for the iPad mini to eventually follow suit. Plus, an iPad mini with an OLED display has already been rumored previously, so it looks increasingly likely that such a device is on Apple's roadmap.

Other devices rumored to get an OLED display include a new iPhone SE next year, followed by the iPad Air and MacBook Pro in a few years from now.

Young is the CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, and he has a mostly-accurate track record with display-related information for future Apple products. For example, he was the first source to reveal the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max would feature 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively, over a year before the devices launched.

Apple will allow third-party browsers in the European Union to create web apps for the iPhone Home Screen using their own custom engines when iOS 18.2 launches later this year.

This expands on changes introduced in iOS 17.4, which first allowed third-party browsers in the EU to use non-WebKit engines for both standalone browsers and in-app browsing. Previously, Apple required all iOS browsers to use Safari's WebKit engine, including popular options like Chrome and Firefox.

According to new documentation on Apple's developer website spotted by 9to5Mac, the upcoming API will be exclusive to the EU and enable web apps to use the same custom engine as their parent browser.

The change follows Apple's reversal of an earlier decision to remove web app support entirely from EU devices – a move that prompted scrutiny from the European Commission. However, despite Apple announcing support for alternative browser engines like Chrome's Blink and Firefox's Gecko in January, these have yet to appear on iPhones.

iOS 18.2 will bring additional EU-specific changes, including the ability to completely remove core apps like the App Store, Safari, Messages, Camera, and Photos. Outside the EU, the update will introduce new Apple Intelligence features such as ChatGPT integration with Siri, Image Playground, custom Genmoji, Visual Intelligence, enhanced Writing Tools, and expanded language support. For all the details, don't miss our iOS 18.2 beta 1 roundup.

Apple could use the LTP03 display technology that debuted in the Apple Watch Series 10 to improve power efficiency and display performance in future iPhone models, industry watchers believe (via The Elec).

LTPO refers to a TFT panel that adds oxide to a Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon (LTPS) TFT, which reduces power consumption at low refresh rates. Apple applied the name "LTPO3" to the OLED displays used in the recently released Apple Watch 10 series to differentiate it from the LTPO2 displays currently used in Apple Watch Series 9 and iPhone 16 Pro models, as it replaces the drive TFT (thin-film transistor) with a more efficient oxide-based version.

The technology enables Apple to optimize each pixel to emit more light at wider angles. As a result, the Apple Watch Series 10 display is up to 40 percent brighter than Series 9 when viewed off-axis. LPTO3 also enables a faster refresh rate when the Apple Watch is in always-on mode, going from once a minute to once a second. This means users can now see a ticking seconds hand without raising their wrist on select watch faces.

Given that the drive TFT directly controls the current that makes the OLED pixels emit light, future iPhones with LTPO3 could see meaningful improvements in battery life and viewing angles. Industry sources indicate that Samsung Display is preparing to develop LTPO3 OLED panels that could potentially be for future iPhone models. However, next year's iPhone 17 series is expected to continue using LTPO2 technology while expanding its adoption across all models, not just the Pro devices.

• 10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

Apple has historically tested new display technologies in the Apple Watch before bringing them to the iPhone. For example, the original LTPO displays that debuted in the Apple Watch Series 4 eventually appeared in iPhone 13 Pro models three years later. If and when LPTO3 could make its way to the iPhone, however, remains unclear at this time.

Perplexity has released its first native desktop app for macOS, bringing its AI-powered search capabilities to Mac users. The app offers a streamlined way to access the company's advanced search features directly from the desktop, without requiring a web browser.

The new Mac app includes Perplexity's signature features, including Pro Search for in-depth research and voice input capabilities for hands-free queries. Users can receive instant, up-to-date answers powered by advanced AI models like GPT-4 Omni and Claude 3, and all responses are backed by cited sources.

A key feature of the desktop app is its threaded conversation capability, allowing users to ask follow-up questions while maintaining context from previous queries. The app also includes a library feature that archives past searches and discoveries, as well as a number of custom shortcuts for quickly accessing features.

Perplexity Pro costs $20/month or $200/year, and subscribers get additional benefits through the Mac app, including access to up to 600 Pro Searches daily and the ability to choose between different AI models for various search needs. Pro users can also analyze uploaded files, including PDFs, CSVs, and images, using the advanced AI models.

The free version of the app remains accessible to all users, offering up to five Pro Searches per day and access to Quick Search functionality for basic queries. The app is available now through the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

Apple released the first iOS 18.2 beta for developers today, and while it's only available on devices that support Apple Intelligence, there are a slew of features that will be available for everyone when the software eventually sees a release.

This guide highlights all of the new features we've found in iOS 18.2 so far.

Apple Intelligence

There are a whole bunch of new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in iOS 18.2, including Image Playground and Genmoji. It's a much more fun update than iOS 18.1 thanks to the image generation features. You'll want to check out our launch post for full details on what's included, but here's a quick overview.

• Image Playground - There's an ‌Image Playground‌ app and Messages integration for creating stylized images based on prompts and images of you and your friends.
• Image Wand - Image Wand is for adding images to what you've written in the Notes app. On iPad, you can use the Apple Pencil to make a rough sketch and have Image Wand turn it into something nicer.
• Genmoji - With ‌Genmoji‌, you can create custom emoji. It's similar to ‌Image Playground‌, but on a smaller emoji-sized scale. People that have iOS 18.1 installed will see ‌Genmoji‌ and can even get information about them, but they can only be created in iOS 18.2. In earlier versions of iOS, they show up as an image.
• Siri ChatGPT - Siri can now hand over requests to ChatGPT, a feature that's entirely opt-in. You don't need an account, and anything you ask ‌Siri‌ can be sent to ChatGPT if you want. ChatGPT has more advanced info than ‌Siri‌ and can also generate images and text. If you want to make it simpler to turn requests over to ChatGPT, you can toggle off the Ask Every Time setting so ‌Siri‌ doesn't always need your permission to contact ChatGPT. ‌Siri‌ with ChatGPT integration supports on-screen responses, so you can do things like ask "what's in this photo?" when you're looking at an image.
• Visual Intelligence - On iPhone 16, Visual Intelligence can be used to identify objects and places around you. Long press the Camera Control button to get to Visual Intelligence, and then point your iPhone at something. You can get hours and reviews if the camera is looking at a restaurant, copy text, get text read aloud, search for items on Google, ask ChatGPT questions about objects, and more.
• Writing Tools - The Rewrite Writing Tools feature is no longer limited to three styles. You can describe the tone or content that you want, such as adding more dynamic words or turning an email into a poem.
• Languages - With iOS 18.2, ‌Apple Intelligence‌ supports English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK in addition to U.S. English, so if you're in Canada, you no longer have to set your ‌iPhone‌ to U.S. English to use ‌Apple Intelligence‌.

Apple Arcade

In the Apple Arcade section of the App Store, the "All Games" section has a new drop down filter menu and the option to turn off game previews.

Mail App Categorization

In the Mail app, there are new built-in categories for separating out important emails, deals, newsletters, transaction emails, and more.

The Mail app includes bigger pictures for contacts and businesses, and all emails from a single person or source will be pooled together.

Voice Memos

With Voice Memos, two tracks can be layered on top of one another. There's also an option to separate layers and edit layer mixes.

EU App Changes

In the European Union, users can now delete core apps that include the ‌App Store‌, Safari, Messages, Camera, and Photos.

Third-party browser apps in the EU will be able to create web apps for the ‌iPhone‌'s Home screen using their own custom engines when iOS 18.2 launches.

Default Apps Section

In the Settings app under "Apps," there's a new "Default Apps" section that can be used to manage your default apps for the ‌iPhone‌.

There are Default App settings for Email, Messaging, Calling, Call Filtering, Browser App, Passwords and Codes, and Keyboards. In the U.S. and other countries, you can use this section to choose your preferred Email, Call Filtering, Browser, and Passwords, and Keyboard apps. In the EU, there are more options for choosing non-Apple calling and messaging apps.

Volume Limit

In the Sound and Haptics section of the Settings app, there's a new Volume Limit option with a "Limit Maximum Volume" toggle to control how loudly the ‌iPhone‌ speaker can play audio like songs, movies, and other media.

It does not impact phone calls, FaceTime calls, alarms, and other sounds.

Control Center

In Control Center, there's a new quick access option for Type to ‌Siri‌. Apple has also removed the Satellite control from the Connectivity section, and changed the icon for Adaptive Audio.

Safari

In the Safari section of the Settings app, there's a new "Not Secure Connection Warning" toggle that lets you know if you're visiting a website that does not have a valid SSL certificate for an encrypted connection. It is not advised to send passwords or other sensitive data on a site that pops up a "Not Secure" warning.

Apple's "Not Secure Connection Warning" toggle is not turned on by default. There's also new section for managing website data and history. There are new import and export options, and the section also includes the Clear History and Website Data tool.

Podcasts

You can favorite categories in the Podcasts app in iOS 18.2.

Children in Australia have access to a tool to report iMessages that contain nude photos and videos. Reported images will be reviewed by Apple, and actions could be taken such as disabling the sender's Apple Account or reporting the incident to law enforcement.

The feature will expand globally in the future.

Apple News+

For Apple News+ subscribers in the United States, iOS 18.2 adds daily sudoku puzzles. The sudoku puzzles join existing the Crossword, Crossword Mini, and Quartiles offerings. There are three difficulty levels to complete each day, including easy, moderate, and challenging.

More Features

Know of something new in the iOS 18.2 beta that we left out? Let us know in the comments below.

Astropad, known for the Luna Display, Rock Paper Pencil, and Astropad Studio app, today launched a new accessory called Bookcase. Bookcase adds handles to the iPhone or another smartphone to make the device more comfortable to hold when reading.

With Bookcase, Astropad is aiming to turn the ‌iPhone‌ into an e-reader. The accessory provides a more ergonomic grip for long reading sessions, and holding the ‌iPhone‌ doesn't block part of the display.

The Bookcase is adjustable so it is able to work with almost all modern ‌iPhone‌ and Android smartphones, plus it comes with a companion app to create Shortcuts to launch reading apps automatically. With the Shortcut, a reading app can be set to open up whenever the ‌iPhone‌ is put into Bookcase thanks to an included NFC tag.

With the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and later, the ‌iPhone‌ secures to the Bookcase using MagSafe. For older iPhones, there's an included ‌MagSafe‌ conversion kit. Bookcase can be used with MagSafe-compatible ‌iPhone‌ cases.

According to Astropad, Bookcase is ideal for commutes, lunch breaks, bedtime, and more, and it replaces the need to purchase an e-reader when the ‌iPhone‌ already offers the same general functionality.

Bookcase can be purchased from the Astropad website for $40.

With iOS 18.2, Apple has introduced some of the most exciting Apple Intelligence features, including Image Playground, Genmoji, Image Wand, ChatGPT integration with Siri, and more. For those who aren't able to install iOS 18.2 yet, we did an overview of everything new so you can get an idea of what to expect as the beta testing process continues.

‌Image Playground‌ is available as a dedicated app, but you can also use the features right in Messages. With ‌Image Playground‌, you can write a prompt and get a cartoon-like image in return. You can build on your creations by adding different categories and sections, and you can get images modeled after you and your friends.

Images that you have made to look like you or a friend look fairly spot on, and it's a fun version of things like Bitmoji from other social networks. There's also an Image Wand feature in the Notes app that lets you circle a word or a blank space to generate an image that goes with what you've written. On the iPad, you can draw a rough sketch and have Image Wand whip up something better.

‌Genmoji‌ is similar to ‌Image Playground‌, but it's for generating custom emoji characters. If you've ever wanted an emoji that's not available, ‌Genmoji‌ solves that problem. You can make up whatever you want and use it just like an emoji.

ChatGPT integration isn't on by default, but once you enable it, you can send any ‌Siri‌ request over to ChatGPT instead. ChatGPT can generate writing from scratch, create photorealistic images, and answer any of your queries that ‌Siri‌ can't. Information from ChatGPT is relayed through ‌Siri‌, and no account is required.

Visual Intelligence is for iPhone 16 users. It uses the Camera Control button to identify objects and places around you. It'll tell you what it sees, and if you point it at a place like a restaurant, you can see things like ratings and hours.

More information on the specific ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features included in the beta can be found in our launch post, and we'll have an article coming soon on all of the other changes in the iOS 18.2 update.

As of right now, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are limited to developers, and the betas are only available for ‌Apple Intelligence‌ devices. A public beta will come at some point in the future.

Note that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is still a beta, and Apple is working on improving it. There can be unexpected results with ‌Image Playground‌ and ‌Genmoji‌, but Apple is taking feedback and will be making changes over time.

iOS 18.2 includes a new "Default Apps" section that can be found in the Settings app, which can be used to manage your default apps for the iPhone. This is a feature that Apple promised would be coming to the European Union, but it is actually available worldwide in the latest beta.

There are Default App settings for Email, Messaging, Calling, Call Filtering, Browser App, Passwords and Codes, and Keyboard apps.

In the United States, you can use the Default App interface to choose your preferred Email, Call Filtering, Browser, and Passwords, and Keyboards. The sections for Messaging and Calling don't list anything other than Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, respectively, but you can set ‌FaceTime‌ or Phone as the default calling app.

EU users should have more options for choosing non-Apple apps as their default, as Apple is required to allow ‌iPhone‌ users in Europe to swap out their messaging and phone apps, in addition to the others. EU users are also able to delete core apps like Messages, App Store, Safari, Camera, and Photos.

Eventually the Default Apps section should also include contactless payments and other settings.

With iOS 18.2, iPhone users in the European Union can fully delete a number of core apps, including the App Store, Safari, Messages, Camera, and Photos.

Apple said in August that it planned to make additional changes to its Digital Markets Act compliance in the European Union, and one update included the option for EU users to remove system apps. Almost all apps can now be deleted in the EU, with the exception of the Phone app and the Settings app.

Apps that are removed, such as the ‌App Store‌, can be re-downloaded using an "App Installation" section in the Settings app.

In the U.S. and other countries, core apps like ‌Photos‌ and the ‌App Store‌ can be hidden but not entirely removed from the ‌iPhone‌ and replaced with third-party apps.