6 features that iOS 18 took from Android

At WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled iOS 18, the latest software update for the iPhone. Of course, Apple Intelligence pulled all the stops, but iOS 18 also added a lot of smaller changes that you can’t just forget about. With the update, you’ll get more customization options, themed icons, a game mode, and more.

So far, you’re getting more customization options, themed icons, a game mode, and more.

But if this sounds familiar to some of you, that’s because iOS is becoming more and more like Android.

It’s great that Apple fans are getting some of these features, because some of them are actually very useful. Here are six features that iOS 18 has stolen from Android.

And here are six features that iOS 18 has stolen from Android.

Place apps anywhere on the home screen

Apple has been on a journey for a few years now, and the basic message of that journey seems to be: «Ha, turns out Google was right». The last few versions of iOS have all but recognized the validity of Android’s approach of offering control to the user. Many have centered around the homepage and included the introduction of widgets (which are very popular) and an app library (which everyone has already forgotten about).

A lot of these have centered around the homepage and included the introduction of widgets (which are very popular) and an app library (which everyone has already forgotten about).

You might think Apple has run out of ideas. Next on the list — moving apps around on the homescreen.

Yes, once you get iOS 18, you’ll be able to perform incredible feats like moving an app icon. If you’re an Apple fan, you know how revolutionary and grand —no longer do you have to use weird workarounds and «blank space» to trick iOS into letting you put everything where you want it.

And if you’re a fan of Apple, you know how revolutionary and grand this is.

Colorful iPhone design

Another major home screen-related announcement from Apple — is the ability to change the elaborate style of iOS 18. Now iPhone owners can add a discordant color scheme or icon pack to each app on the homescreen, breaking Apple’s carefully crafted color scheme.

An iPhone owner can now add a discordant color scheme or icon pack to each app on the homescreen, breaking Apple’s carefully crafted color scheme.

Customization now extends to changing the color and shade of app icons. You can match black and white icons to a similar background color, or make everything a garish shade of neon pink.

Android has had this for years, and apparently Apple just decided to do the same.

Locked and hidden apps

Moving icons and painting them in fun colors — aren’t the only changes coming to apps. Unlike the previous two changes, this one is actually useful: iOS 18 will bring the ability to lock and hide apps.

Some of the changes will be made in iOS 18.

This is another Android feature — but it wasn’t originally stock. While some Android interfaces have been terrible, Samsung introduced a number of useful features long before Google and Apple, including the ability to hide apps. Sure, the feature was mostly used to hide «bloated» manufacturer software and other unwanted apps that couldn’t be uninstalled, so it hasn’t been a point of pride for a long time, but it can also be used to hide banking apps or other apps with sensitive data. Frankly, given how much attention Apple has paid to privacy over the past few years, it’s surprising that it took this long to add this feature.

And it’s been a long time coming.

But better late than never. When iOS 18 is released, you’ll be able to block apps with sensitive data and hide apps that you wouldn’t want other people to know they exist.

After iOS 18 is released, you’ll be able to block apps with sensitive data and hide apps you don’t want other people to know about.

Customize Control Center

Since Control Center came out, you’ve had to go to «Settings» every time you want to move an icon. It’s elementary stuff, and it’s odd that it took Apple a while to do it.

Additionally, it’s been a long time coming.

This is by no means a blockbuster, but a very useful feature of iOS 18. The appearance of this feature in iOS is very important, even if it’s not brought out in the title presentation.

Select different shortcuts for the lock screen

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Customization has never been iOS’s strong suit, but that’s no longer the case. The ability to change UI elements is now so firmly embedded in Apple’s mobile software that, starting with iOS 18, you can change the app shortcuts on the lock screen.

So much so that you can change the shortcuts on the lock screen.

If you’re not familiar with this feature, it means that tapping and holding any of the shortcuts opens them. The defaults are camera and flashlight, but with the update you’ll be able to choose different apps to occupy those spaces.

In practice, this means that the phone will accidentally open another app when you try to unlock your phone. But opening some social network instead of re-enabling the flashlight — that’s an improvement.

An improvement.

Special Game Mode

Maybe macOS isn’t designed for gaming, but iOS — sure is. The iPhone really does have all the best games, and it’s very good at running them. So it’s a little strange that it took Apple so long to figure out what game mode is, while Android phones have been using it for years.

Android phones have been using it for years.

The argument could be made that iPhones don’t need them, while less powerful Android phones do. And that argument makes some sense for the budget segment of the market, but if you think mid-range and flagship Android phones are underpowered, they’re not. Gaming modes are always useful, regardless of the power of your device.

Gaming modes are always useful, regardless of the power of your device.

But what is a game mode? Simply put, it forces your device to focus on the game it’s running. Enable «Game Mode» in iOS, and your iPhone will put background activity on the back burner and keep the game running with the maximum amount of resources. The mode also reduces input lag from Bluetooth controllers and AirPods, which means gameplay will be richer across the board.

The mode also reduces input lag from Bluetooth controllers and AirPods, which means gameplay will be richer across the board.