Bringing an update to its mobile operating system (OS), Apple has unveiled the new iOS 18 with a range of features tailored specifically for the Indian market. The new release, which became available on September 16, brings enhancements to communication, device migration, and language support for Indian users. The new iOS 18 update introduces several India-specific improvements, including new customisation options for the home screen and control panel, updates to the Photos app, a new Passwords app, and the ability to mirror iPhones on Mac computers.
New India-Centric Features On iOS 18
One of the standout features for Indian users is Live Voicemail Transcription. This function allows callers to leave voice messages, which are then displayed on the recipient's iPhone along with a real-time text transcription. Users have the option to answer the call while the message is being recorded. iOS 18 also brings Live Caller ID, improved call history search, phone keypad search, and an enhanced dialing experience to iPhones in India.
Lock Screen Clock Widget In Bangla, Devanagari, More
In a nod to India's linguistic diversity, Apple has added the ability to customise the lock screen clock widget with numerals from 12 different Indian languages. These include Arabic, Devanagari, Bangla, Gujarati, and several others. For users of iPhone 12 and newer models, iOS 18 introduces phonetic typing support. This feature allows typing in English and up to two additional Indian languages using Latin characters. The keyboard can automatically switch between scripts based on previous conversations in different languages.
Additionally, Apple has implemented alphabetical keyboard layouts for 11 Indian languages, making it easier for users to type directly in their preferred language. The update also includes improved language search capabilities for select Indian languages, allowing users to find words using familiar spellings.
The Translate app has been updated to include Hindi, with Hindi translations also available in Safari and native apps like Notes.
The new iPhone models don't ship with Apple’s AI out-of-the-box and Apple Intelligence is expected to be rolled out later with a software update.
Apple earlier rolled out the public beta version of iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence, and users can install it on the iPhones on which it will work. Typically, a public beta is considered a more stable version compared to the developer beta, though it may still contain some bugs or glitches. To install the iOS 18.1 public beta, head to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and enable the iOS 18 public beta. Before doing so, ensure that you've registered for the iOS beta program with the Apple ID linked to your iPhone.