All of the iOS 18 options which can be already on Android

Within the early days of smartphones, iPhones and Android telephones have been like spiders and crabs: technically related however wildly totally different. These days, issues have modified. Apple and Google have cribbed from one another a lot over time that iOS and Android are primarily two sides of the identical coin. The launch of iOS 18 doesn’t change this improvement. In reality, it strikes the 2 working techniques nearer collectively than we’ve ever seen earlier than.

Throughout the Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) keynote this week, it appeared like each single time Apple introduced one thing new for iPhones, our inside Slack channels lit up with feedback like, “Android has had this for years,” or “My Galaxy S2 from 2011 might do that!” Now that the mud has settled from the launch, we truly took the time to go over each single factor Apple introduced for iOS 18 and in contrast them to Android. We discovered that the overwhelming majority of “new” iOS 18 options both exist in full or partially on Android already.

Any working system should enable customers to regulate system-level instruments and options. Customizing the system to their liking permits customers to actually make their gadgets their very own. Historically, Apple hasn’t given a lot precedence to those seemingly essential issues, however iOS 18 made some huge strides in the fitting route.

That is a type of bulletins that makes you surprise how iPhone customers have gone this lengthy with out it. The flexibility to position your iOS dwelling display screen icons wherever you need ought to have been within the unique iPhone OS 1 (earlier than 2010, the iPhone’s working system was often called iPhone OS, not iOS). For no matter motive, although, it’s taken 17 years (!!) for Apple to deliver this to iPhones. This delay is particularly perplexing when you consider how iPhones don’t have one thing equal to Android’s app drawer, so the house display screen is the principle approach individuals open apps. The flexibility to maintain these organized to your liking must be a primary perform, so it’s fairly ridiculous it’s solely touchdown in 2024.

Equally to organizing your own home display screen, customizing icons ought to have been a given on Day One. Nevertheless, like with icon association, icon customization is just touchdown now, 17 years into the iPhone’s existence. In iOS 18, you’ll have the ability to change the colours of your icons in addition to take away the labels to present your own home display screen a extra unified look.

Apple’s new icon coloring system resembles Android’s Materials You. Google launched Materials You in 2021 as a system-level computerized theming instrument that modifications the colours of icons, buttons, and different system parts primarily based on the colours of your present wallpaper. Apple does take issues a step additional than Materials You by permitting you to alter icon colours to no matter you need, whereas Android solely presents a handful of muted colours at any given time. Nevertheless, Apple’s customization doesn’t change colours all through the entire system, simply the icons, so it nonetheless has room for development.

Both approach, Android nonetheless has — and certain will all the time have — iOS beat as a result of it permits for customized launchers and putting in icon packs. Putting in these means that you can change just about every little thing in regards to the look, really feel, and performance of Android.

Since 2013, iOS has had a Management Middle. Just like the Fast Settings tiles within the notification dropdown on Android, Management Middle offers you quick access to widespread system capabilities, corresponding to brightness, cellular knowledge, Wi-Fi, and so on., by merely flattening from the highest of the show. All through the years, Apple has enhanced this with widgets and a few easy customizations, however in iOS 18, it’s lastly giving iPhone customers near-total management over what seems right here. In the meantime, Android has provided granular management over the notification dropdown and Fast Settings tiles for years. Moreover, some in style Android skins provide you with much more with a separate iOS-style system if you would like it, such because the aptly named Management Middle in Xiaomi’s MIUI and newer Hyper OS.

Gaming has all the time been an enormous deal on Android telephones, particularly for the reason that platform has allowed console emulation because it launched in 2008, one thing Apple has (reluctantly) began permitting simply this 12 months. That doesn’t imply individuals don’t sport on iPhones, although, which is why it’s perplexing that it’s taken so lengthy for Apple to launch a game-enhancing setting in iOS. Properly, Sport Mode is lastly coming with iOS 18. This mode means that you can flip off notifications and push the system to deal with delivering one of the best sport efficiency doable. Because it seems, although, Android has had a local characteristic referred to as Sport Dashboard that does the identical factor since Android 12 in 2021. Even earlier than that, numerous Android OEMs provided their very own game-enhancement suites, so this has actually been a very long time approaching iOS.

iOS 18 introduces a brand new privateness characteristic that means that you can stash sure apps in a personal folder. These apps get locked behind your PIN/password/Face ID, making it barely tougher for an individual to entry them. That is, as soon as once more, a characteristic most Android customers have had for a very long time. On Samsung telephones, the Safe Folder characteristic has been round since 2017. Granted, inventory Android solely very not too long ago received this characteristic within the type of Non-public Area, which can debut with Android 15 within the Fall. However even then, it nonetheless beat iOS to the punch for the announcement.

Though it didn’t formally discuss it through the WWDC24 keynote, Apple included an enhanced model of its charging restrict characteristic in iOS 18. This method instrument means that you can stop your telephone from charging past a sure share, which helps protect battery longevity. In iOS 17, this was locked to 80%, however in iOS 18, you’ll be able to choose from a number of stoppage factors between 80% and 100%. Not solely did Android OEMs supply the unique charging restrict characteristic earlier than iPhones ever did, however sure Android OEMs have additionally provided granular controls, specifically ASUS. There are additionally third-party apps you’ll be able to set up that supply much more charging advantages — one thing iOS lacks totally as a consequence of Apple’s strict lockdown of iOS settings.

Briefly talked about through the WWDC24 keynote, iOS 18 presents customers the power to alter the 2 shortcuts that seem within the decrease corners of the show when the telephone is locked. Android has its personal shortcuts on the lock display screen (one thing the working system had a 12 months earlier than iOS did) and has lengthy allowed customers to alter them. Some Android skins permit you to change them to no matter you need, whereas inventory Android offers you a fairly lengthy checklist of restricted choices.

Speaking with different individuals is the primary motive now we have smartphones. As such, there possible gained’t ever be an iOS or Android improve that doesn’t add new options for messaging and telephone calls. iOS 18 does supply fairly a couple of new instruments on this regard, however the majority of them have lengthy been a part of the Android world.

Regardless that Apple integrating wealthy communication companies (RCS) into Messages on iOS might be the largest information of the 12 months, Apple spent actually two seconds on it through the keynote. Regardless of the corporate making an attempt to downplay it, RCS assist in iOS 18 will basically change communication between iPhones and Android telephones.

Established for years on Android, RCS offers telephones a common customary for messaging, bringing learn receipts, typing indicators, high-quality media transfers, and end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to any telephone’s messaging app that helps it. With iPhones on board, this ought to enable for all these issues to exist between iPhones and Android telephones, thus dealing an enormous blow to the “inexperienced bubble” antagonism we see right here in the US.

Sadly, Apple spent virtually no time discussing RCS assist on iPhones at WWDC, so we’re nonetheless at the hours of darkness on a whole lot of what’s in retailer. We all know there will probably be learn receipts and high-quality media transfers, however what about typing indicators and, most significantly, E2EE? We’ll want to attend and see, however relaxation assured that RCS assist is prospering on Android, and Apple is just now getting the message that that is one thing individuals need.

I’ll be trustworthy: when this one was introduced, I practically spit out my tea. How is it that this hasn’t already been in iMessage? When this launched for Google Messages practically 4 years in the past, I had simply assumed iMessage had already allowed for this, and Android was late to the get together. However, right here we’re, in 2024, and iPhone customers are actually going to lastly have the power to compose a textual content message and schedule it to be despatched at a later date.

Granted, Apple does have one benefit right here, which is that scheduled messages will probably be despatched even when your iPhone is off or disconnected from the web. This possible signifies that your scheduled messages are first despatched to Apple’s servers after which held there earlier than sending. With Android, in case your telephone is off or disconnected, your message gained’t ship till it’s reconnected. Nonetheless, this doesn’t change the truth that it took approach too lengthy for Apple to supply such primary performance to the iPhone.

That is one other characteristic I couldn’t consider hadn’t existed on iOS earlier than. T9 dialing means that you can open your dialer app and use the letters related to every quantity to seek for a contact. In different phrases, to seek out somebody named “Tom,” you’ll hit 8-6-6 on the dialer. Doing so would deliver up not simply telephone numbers with that sequence but additionally individuals named “Tom” or individuals with “tom” of their contact names. On iOS 17, this doesn’t work — dialing numbers solely brings up choices that embody these numbers. Welcome to the 2000s, iPhone.

iOS has a instrument referred to as Tapback that means that you can react to messages with an Emoji. I’ll absolutely admit that iMessage had this lengthy earlier than Android. Nevertheless, as soon as Android did get it inside Google Messages, Google wasted no time in making it higher than the iMessage system. For one, Tapbacks from iPhone to Android work because of Google hijacking the text-based response iMessage sends to Google Messages customers, deleting it, and including the Emoji response to the suitable message, giving customers the phantasm that iPhones and Android telephones work nicely collectively. Notably, Apple doesn’t supply an identical system, making Emoji reactions despatched by Android customers to iPhones look very, very clunky. Google Messages additionally permits customers to react to an Android-based message with any Emoji they need. iOS 18 is lastly giving iPhone customers leeway on this regard, roughly two years after Android received it.

OK, this one is a tiny little bit of a stretch, however bear with me. Genmoji is Apple’s new generative AI system that means that you can create an Emoji from a textual content immediate. As soon as created, you need to use this Emoji identical to you’ll a “actual” Emoji as designated by the Unicode Consortium. This presently doesn’t exist on Android, however a really related system does, which clearly impressed Apple: Google’s Emoji Kitchen. The Emoji Kitchen doesn’t use generative AI, nevertheless it does permit you to create an Emoji by mashing two and even three collectively to create one thing particular to the scenario. Whereas Apple’s Genmoji system clearly takes the subsequent step, the core thought is one thing Android customers have had for an extended whereas.

Apple spent roughly half of its WWDC24 keynote discussing a bevy of AI-powered options coming to iOS 18 below the umbrella time period of Apple Intelligence. It downplayed the truth that lots of the options gained’t be provided for months, will then be in beta for an undisclosed period of time, will solely be provided at first to a sure-to-be-long waitlist, and can solely land on the iPhone 15 Professional and 15 Professional Max till we see the iPhone 16 sequence launch. However hey, who’s conserving monitor of that stuff? Oh, wait — we’re! Listed here are the issues you are able to do on Android proper now that Apple is just making obscure guarantees about as we speak.

Nearly all of the Apple Intelligence options Apple advised us about stem from a revamped, generative AI-powered Siri. Android already has a generative AI digital assistant referred to as Gemini. Customers can exchange the years-old Google Assistant with Gemini as we speak and have entry to all types of neat AI-powered tips, a lot of which Apple talked about through the keynote. This contains issues like producing textual content, summarizing internet pages and different content material, and analyzing real-world objects that can assist you get extra info on them.

Choose Pixel and Galaxy smartphones even have entry to some options that work proper on the gadget, eliminating the necessity for an web connection. Many extra options have been introduced at Google I/O 2024 that may virtually definitely be extensively obtainable on Android lengthy earlier than Apple Intelligence rolls out in a steady kind, corresponding to Ask This Web page, Ask This Video, rip-off name alerts, and way more.

In different phrases, Apple might need huge desires about what it will do with generative AI, however Google is already doing it.

Many people have been creating pictures with textual content prompts for practically two years now. Positive, we haven’t been doing it for that lengthy on smartphones, however over the previous 12 months or so, there have been loads of developments with this on Android. Proper now, you’ll be able to generate wallpapers with ease on choose Pixel and Galaxy telephones. Quickly, as revealed at I/O 2024, you’ll have the ability to make any picture you want in Gemini after which simply drag and drop that picture into an electronic mail or textual content message.

Primarily, that is what Apple will do with Picture Playground every time it rolls out. By the point it turns into steady worldwide, although, Android will possible have a 12 months’s head begin on this area.

In iOS 18’s Photographs app, there will probably be a brand new instrument referred to as Clear Up. It’ll permit you to circle a side of a photograph after which transfer (or take away) it, utilizing generative AI to fill within the hole left behind. This is similar actual system obtainable inside Google Photographs as we speak referred to as Magic Editor. Not solely is that this obtainable at no cost on Pixels and Galaxy telephones (below the title Generative Edit on the latter), nevertheless it’s additionally obtainable to anybody who makes use of Google Photographs on the internet, albeit in a restricted capability. Meaning iPhone customers don’t even have to swap to Android to get this performance as we speak!

We’ve gone over all the large iOS options Apple introduced at WWDC24 which can be already on Android, however there are nonetheless a couple of different issues to speak about.

The primary-party Mail app in iOS 18 will use machine studying to categorize your electronic mail robotically. This may permit you to separate promotional emails from firms to maintain them away from emails from family and friends, for instance. This primary got here to Android on a large scale within the short-lived Inbox app created by a sub-division of the Gmail staff. Finally, Inbox vanished, and the principle Gmail app absorbed this characteristic, which suggests the overwhelming majority of Android customers have loved this performance for years.

The Reminders and Calendar apps in iOS have all the time been separate and can keep that approach in iOS 18, however will lastly combine with each other higher. Now, whenever you make a reminder, it would seem in your calendar. Google has lengthy provided this performance, albeit messily. Over the previous 12 months, although, Google has simplified the scenario by feeding all reminders into Google Calendar’s Duties. Nonetheless, the thought of your reminders showing in your calendar is one thing Android customers have loved for longer than I can bear in mind.

The Voice Memo app in iOS means that you can make audio recordings of ideas, conversations, interviews, lectures, and so on. In iOS 18, you’ll have the ability to make transcriptions of those recordings, which is one thing Google’s superb Recorder app has executed for years. Likewise, iOS 18 will permit you to file and transcribe telephone calls and transcribe voicemail, two different options Android already has.

These are all of the iOS 18 options we’ve noticed that Android customers have already got. Did we miss any? Tell us within the feedback!