Apple has officially launched iOS 18.3, bringing fresh updates to iPhones worldwide. While it doesn’t pack the same headline-grabbing punch as iOS 18.2’s packed Apple Intelligence upgrades, the latest version still offers some decent enhancements, especially for fans of Apple’s growing Visual Intelligence capabilities.
While Visual Intelligence steals the spotlight, iOS 18.3 also smooths out a few rough edges. Expect minor UI adjustments for the keyboard and calculator, ironing out some lingering bugs for a more seamless experience.
Here’s a closer look at what’s new in iOS 18.3:
Visual Intelligence
Apple continues to refine its Visual Intelligence toolset, delivering two new features for iPhone 16 users:
-
Instant Event Detection: Visual Intelligence can now extract the date and time from images and prompt you to add the event directly to your Calendar. No more manually typing in details — just shoot, save, and go.
-
Smarter Nature ID: Visual Intelligence now recognizes a wider range of plant and animal species.
Just a reminder, however, that Visual Intelligence is a feature only available to iPhone 16 users and can be accessed through the new camera control button.
Notification summary changes
Apple has made key changes to notification summaries in response to criticism, including high-profile errors flagged by the BBC. The controversy stems from a BBC News app notification where Apple Intelligence falsely claimed that Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had shot himself.
In response, Apple has rolled out these key changes in iOS 18.3:
-
Notification summaries for News & Entertainment apps are temporarily disabled while Apple refines the feature.
-
Summaries now appear in italicized text for clearer distinction.
-
Users can disable summaries for specific apps directly from the Lock Screen or Notification Center.
-
A beta label now clarifies that summaries “may contain errors,” as noted in the Settings app.
Apple Intelligence will be on by default
While the update focuses heavily on notification summaries, it also introduces a notable system-wide change: Apple Intelligence will now be enabled by default. For those hesitant about the feature, opting out is straightforward.
Head to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and toggle off Apple Intelligence.
