iOS 18.5 Is Here, but Don’t Miss These Game-Changing Features from iOS 18.2
Apple continues to refine the iPhone experience with each update, but not every version is packed with dramatic new features. Case in point: iOS 18.5, released on May 12, brought only a few enhancements compared to earlier versions. But if you skipped over iOS 18.2 or didn’t fully explore its features, now’s the time to take a closer look. Released in December, iOS 18.2 was one of Apple’s most feature-rich updates in recent memory, laying the groundwork for Apple Intelligence, expanding customization, and delivering useful upgrades across the board.
Here’s everything you should know about the features introduced in iOS 18.2, many of which remain core to the iPhone experience today—even after iOS 18.5.
Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max & iPhone 16 only)
Glowing Siri and ChatGPT Integration
With the rollout of Apple Intelligence, Siri got a major upgrade—especially for users of iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, and the new iPhone 16 lineup. When you activate Siri now, the screen displays a glowing outline instead of the old Siri logo, signaling a smarter, more interactive experience.
Perhaps the biggest change is the integration with ChatGPT. You can ask Siri to pass queries to ChatGPT and return results instantly. While the AI chatbot’s responses are fast and useful, Apple includes a disclaimer reminding users to verify the information. You can copy answers using a dedicated icon and paste them anywhere, such as Notes or Messages.
However, this integration is only available on select devices equipped with Apple Intelligence capabilities. If you have an older iPhone, Siri will continue to function as before—without ChatGPT.
Genmoji: Custom Emojis Made Easy
Tired of scrolling through thousands of emojis and still not finding the right one? Genmoji, part of Apple Intelligence, allows you to describe an emoji you wish existed. Your iPhone then creates a brand-new emoji based on your description.
To access Genmoji:
- Open Messages
- Tap the emoji keyboard
- Use the search bar to describe what you want
- Tap Create New Emoji if no match is found
You’ll be presented with multiple variations, and once you find one you like, you can save it permanently to your keyboard. It’s a fun, creative tool that gives your conversations a more personalized touch.
Visual Intelligence: Apple’s Answer to Google Lens
Another impressive Apple Intelligence tool is Visual Intelligence, available exclusively to iPhone 16 users and some iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max models via the Control Center. This feature lets you:
- Point your camera at objects for instant identification
- Scan QR codes
- Translate languages
- Extract phone numbers to create contacts
Long press the new side button on iPhone 16 models to open the feature. On iPhone 15 Pro models, it can be added to the Control Center.
When used in conjunction with ChatGPT, Visual Intelligence can help you understand what’s in an image or assist with contextual queries.
Image Playground: AI-Powered Image Generation
Taking Genmoji a step further, Image Playground lets you create full-scale images using AI and simple text prompts. You can use this feature as a standalone app or directly in the Messages app.
Here’s what you can do:
- Enter prompts to generate cartoon-style or illustrated images
- Add yourself, friends, or pets to images via uploaded photos
- Customize art styles and themes
- Use sketches from Notes as starting points
The results can be amusing, surreal, or surprisingly artistic. Apple also offers prompts and themes to help you get started, making the tool accessible even for users with no design experience.
Find My Gets a Boost
The Find My app is already great for tracking your devices, but iOS 18.2 introduced two new features to help when you lose items:
- Share Item Location: Generates a temporary link you can send to others so they can help locate your lost item. Links expire in one week.
- Show Contact Info: Lets someone who finds your item know how to reach you without accessing your private data.
These features are especially useful during travel or the holiday season when items like bags and gadgets are more likely to be misplaced.
Mail App Categories
Apple’s Mail app got a much-needed organizational boost in iOS 18.2. Similar to Gmail or Outlook, emails are now automatically sorted into categories:
- Primary
- Transactions
- Promotions
- Updates
While this helps declutter your inbox, it’s not perfect—important emails may end up in the wrong category. Fortunately, you can revert to a traditional list view if the new setup doesn’t work for you.
To do that:
- Open Mail
- Tap the three dots (…)
- Choose List View
Or swipe left on the category bar and tap All Mail to see everything with categories still visible at the top.
Lock Screen Volume Slider Returns
Listening to music or podcasts on your lock screen just got easier. iOS 18.2 reintroduced the volume slider directly on the lock screen—a small but handy tweak. This allows for more precise audio control than using the side buttons alone.
Enable it by going to:
- Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual
- Toggle Always Show Volume Control
This works with Apple Music, Podcasts, and even third-party audio apps.
iPhone Speaker Volume Limit
Worried about kids blowing out their iPhone’s speakers—or your eardrums? iOS 18.2 introduced a Volume Limit setting that lets you set a maximum volume level.
To enable:
- Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Volume Limit
- Turn on the toggle and set a desired limit
Note that this doesn’t apply to phone calls, FaceTime, or emergency alerts. Still, it’s a great way to preserve audio quality and encourage safer listening habits.
Default App Customization
For years, iPhone users wanted the ability to change default apps, and Apple finally delivered. With iOS 18.2, you can set third-party apps like Gmail, Chrome, or Signal as your default apps for:
- Web browsing
- Messaging (in some regions)
- App marketplace (EU only)
This opens the door for a more personalized experience, letting users rely less on Apple’s native apps.
Sudoku for Apple News Plus Subscribers
If you’re subscribed to Apple News Plus, you now have access to daily Sudoku puzzles alongside the existing Quartiles game. Just go to:
-
News > Following > Puzzles
Sudoku puzzles vary in difficulty and refresh daily, offering a brain teaser for fans of logic and numbers.
Summary
While iOS 18.5 may not have made headlines, iOS 18.2 delivered some of the most important and intelligent updates to the iPhone experience in years. From AI-powered Siri and Visual Intelligence to Genmoji and advanced Mail organization, these features enhance how we communicate, create, and interact with our devices.
If you haven’t explored iOS 18.2’s full potential yet, now is the perfect time. Whether you’re managing email, creating custom emojis, generating AI images, or simply listening to music with a better lock screen interface—there’s something for everyone in this feature-packed update.