On Monday, Apple released the iOS 18.3 update for the iPhone, marking a significant contrast to the previous two major updates that introduced prominent features, primarily focused on the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. While the new version does not deliver major enhancements, it addresses specific concerns regarding Notification Summaries, which faced criticism for inaccuracies in generated news headlines. Additionally, the update includes minor adjustments to the Calculator app and the opt-in mechanism for Apple Intelligence.
iOS 18.3 Update for iPhone: What’s New
Per Apple’s release notes, iOS 18.3 is compatible with all models that support the iOS 18 platform. A significant change in this update is the default deactivation of Notification Summaries for the News & Entertainment category, which means users must actively opt in to use the feature once it becomes available again.
This feature, first introduced in iOS 18.1, aggregates notifications to provide users with concise summaries of key information. However, recent feedback, particularly from the BBC, highlighted issues with inaccuracies in the AI-generated summaries. In response, the latest update disables this feature by default and now includes a disclaimer stating that the summaries “may contain errors.”
Moreover, the visual representation of Notification Summaries has been updated to include italicized text, helping users differentiate them more easily from standard notifications.
Another noteworthy change relates to Apple Intelligence, which has shifted from an opt-in to an opt-out model. Users who wish to avoid using the AI suite must now manually deactivate it through the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings section of the Settings app.
Visual Intelligence has also seen some refinements. Users can now add calendar events directly from posters or flyers, and the feature will have enhanced capabilities to identify a broader range of plants and animals. This functionality, however, is exclusive to the iPhone 16 models and accessible via the Camera Control button.
Additionally, Apple has reinstated a previously removed feature in the Calculator app that allows users to repeat the last mathematical operation by pressing the equals sign multiple times. iOS 18.3 also includes bug fixes addressing issues related to Genmoji, HealthKit, and Writing Tools.
According to Gadgets 360 staff, the iOS 18.3 update and its new features are now fully accessible to users on iPhone devices.
