Apple has released iOS 18.5

Apple has released the iOS 18.5 update, and the main new feature is support for carrier satellite messaging on the iPhone 13 line of smartphones. This is the first time devices in this series have access to such features.

Owners of the iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max can now take advantage of Starlink satellite messaging from T-Mobile. The service is still in test mode and is free for users in the U.S. — the trial runs through July. For the rest of the world, of course, this update is a little less useful.

Important: It’s not an Emergency SOS

Despite the introduction of satellite messaging support, we’re talking not about Apple’s proprietary Emergency SOS feature. The latter is still exclusive to iPhone 14 and newer. The iOS 18.5 update only unlocks access to third-party carrier solutions, if they provide them.

What else is new in iOS 18.5

Besides satellite support, the update brings several visual and functional innovations:

• New wallpaper;
• Parents now receive notifications when Screen Time code is used on a child’s device;
• Support for “Buy with iPhone” when purchasing content on Apple TV from third-party devices;
• Fixed a bug that caused the Apple Vision Pro app to sometimes show a black screen;

As usual, not all features are available in all countries and on all devices. For more information, visit Apple’s official website.

MacOS Sequoia 15.5 and watchOS 11.5

Simultaneously with iOS 18.5, Apple released other updates: macOS Sequoia 15.5, tvOS 18.5, and watchOS 11.5. They too have some interesting new features, including interface improvements and bug fixes.