Essential iOS 18.5 Features to Explore Post-Update

WWDC is approaching quickly, Apple’s yearly conference where significant announcements are anticipated. In the meantime, Apple released iOS 18.5 on May 12.

While iOS 18.5 may not be the largest update in the iOS 18 series, it still brings a variety of useful updates and features. Whenever a new iOS version comes out, I rush to explore the new functionalities. After all, who knows what enhancements could make using my smartphone even more convenient?

I’ve reviewed all the new features in iOS 18.5, so you don’t have to — but you might still want to. Once you stop procrastinating and update your iPhone, check out the new iOS 18.5 features listed below. I’ll also explain why you should take a closer look at them.

Updates to Apple Mail

Apple Mail recently underwent a considerable update, and although the changes in iOS 18.5 aren’t as significant, there are still a few adjustments that could prove beneficial.

For instance, there are settings you can adjust directly within the Mail app rather than having to search through the iOS settings menu. Now, when you tap the three-dot menu in the upper right corner, you can toggle contact photos, which you might prefer to have turned on or off.

Try out new Back Tap settings

Many users are unaware of Back Tap, a handy feature that enables you to perform an action simply by tapping the back of your phone twice or three times. With iOS 18.5, an alert will now notify you when Back Tap is triggered, including how many taps you made.

This new feature isn’t enabled by default. To activate it, navigate to the Settings app, choose Accessibility, then Touch. Scroll to the bottom and select Back Tap. Here, you can toggle on the Show Banner option and access other previous Back Tap settings.

Know when your kids have cracked the code

Screen Time is also seeing updates in iOS 18.5, primarily concerning the features available to parents. With this update, parents will now receive notifications when their Screen Time passcode has been entered on their child’s device, alerting them when their kids have unlocked the code. While it may be tough to prevent your child from guessing your code, at least now you’ll know when they succeed.

Mashable Light Speed

Set a charging limit

Apple is also expanding the battery options in the Settings app. It is commonly thought that routinely charging the battery to 100% can affect its longevity. Therefore, if you intend to keep your device for several years, it may be wise to set a battery charge limit to help mitigate this. To find this setting, go to the Settings app, visit the battery section, and tap on the charging option. Here, you can set a charge limit anywhere between 80% and 100% using a slider.

Keep in mind that if you set the limit to 90%, you won’t be able to utilize more than 90% of the battery. Conversely, if set to 100%, it may take years for the battery to decline to the equivalent of 90% of a new one. For most, it’s advisable to enable the “Optimized Battery Charging” feature, which charges the device to 80% during regular use but lets it reach 100% when the device anticipates it will be needed.

Try out the new Pride Harmony wallpaper

iOS 18.5 also unveils a new Pride Harmony wallpaper in celebration of Pride Month. iOS already features various Pride wallpapers, but if you’re curious about the latest addition, you can find it by opening the Settings app, scrolling to Wallpaper, and following the prompts to change your wallpaper. There’s a version available for your iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch.

Plus a few more iOS 18 features we love…

Since iOS 18.5 was a relatively small update, we wanted to highlight some of the most exciting features from iOS 18 that you might have missed.

If you’re looking to maximize your iPhone’s utility, check out these new features and tools:

Call recording and transcribing

First introduced with iOS 18.1, this incredibly useful feature is a lifesaver for journalists and anyone needing to take notes on a call. With this feature, you can record phone conversations (and receive surprisingly accurate transcriptions) directly on your iPhone. During a call, click the waveform icon in the upper left corner of the screen. Then, a notification will appear (and the person on the other end will hear a notification), indicating that the call is being recorded.

Eight new emojis!

The April update to iOS 18.4 delivered something exciting: Eight new emojis.

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Specifically, we received:

Adjust flashlight brightness

Find the iPhone flashlight too bright? You can now adjust the intensity of the flashlight, provided you have an iPhone 14 Pro or a newer model.

Now, when you activate the flashlight, a new control panel appears, allowing you to modify both the brightness and width of the beam.