Apple has officially rolled out iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, bringing a host of updates and improvements to its devices.
The new software introduces enhanced Visual Intelligence features and tweaks to the Apple Intelligence notification system.
One standout feature is Visual Intelligence’s ability to scan posters or flyers and automatically add events to the Calendar app. The update also expands Visual Intelligence’s capabilities for identifying plants and animals, making it more versatile for everyday use.
Apple has made significant changes to its notification system, particularly around its Intelligence Notification summaries for news and entertainment apps.
These summaries, which were sometimes found to be misleading, have been temporarily removed. Apple assures users that the feature will return in the future, and those who prefer them can opt back in later.
To improve clarity, notifications generated by Apple Intelligence will now appear italicized, helping users distinguish them from other alerts. Notification settings can be easily managed directly from the Lock Screen by swiping and tapping “Options.” This also allows users to disable notification summaries for specific apps with minimal effort.
Several bugs have been addressed in this update. The Calculator app now correctly handles repeated taps of the equals sign, eliminating the unintended repetition of the last operation. An issue where the keyboard would disappear when initiating typed Siri requests has been resolved. Additionally, a bug that caused audio playback in Apple Music to continue until a song ended, even after the app was closed, has been fixed.
Apple Intelligence features have undergone a key change in this release. They will now be automatically enabled for new users and those upgrading to iOS 18.3, shifting from an opt-in to an opt-out system. This ensures broader access to Apple’s AI-driven tools while allowing users to disable them if desired.
The iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 updates are now available for download. Users are encouraged to explore the new features and enjoy the improved functionality across their devices.