by Juli Clover
With the third betas of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 that Apple released today, there are additional tweaks to a number of features like Dark Mode icons, the Photos app, emoji in Messages, and more, with Apple appearing to be preparing for the launch of Apple Intelligence.
Apple will continue updating iOS 18 over the course of the next couple of months, refining the beta prior to its launch. We've highlighted everything new in the third iOS 18 beta.
Dark Mode Icons
There are now Dark Mode icons for many third-party apps like Facebook, Etsy, Telegram, Signal, Slack, Notion, YouTube, and more. Apple appears to be adding the Dark Mode icons automatically to apps that have icons with a handful colors.
With some icons, the secondary color becomes the main color, while the background color is turned to black, and in others, a white icon background transitions to black.
Apps with complicated icon designs in many colors do not change to a Dark Mode color at this time, but Apple does tint them to be darker. When iOS 18 launches, app developers will be able to provide their own dark-tinted icons to be used in lieu of Apple's defaults.
Photos App
Apple added a Select button for choosing multiple images to the main Photos interface, so there is no longer a need to swipe down to get to the Select button.
With this change, the Search button is now just a magnifying glass, but it is highlighted blue to make it stand out more.
Emoji
In Messages, emoji, Memoji, and stickers have all been combined into one interface, which can be navigated using the tiny icons at the bottom of the display. There are icons you can tap into to get to stickers or Memoji, and you can scroll through your Memoji to more quickly find specific characters and poses.
You can create both stickers and Memoji from this interface, and you can use stickers right in your messages like you can use emoji. This works with non-moving stickers only, and those with animation from Live Photos will display in the larger attachment sticker size. The smaller stickers used as emoji are, however, hard to see.
Emoji are displayed larger than before, so you see more detail but fewer characters before having to scroll, and there are more emoji and stickers displayed at once in the Recent section.
Apple likely made these changes to prepare for the debut of Apple Intelligence, Genmoji, and Image Playground.
Wallpaper
There is a dynamic version of the iOS 18 wallpaper that transitions through different colors based on the time of day.
Flashlight Interface
When you activate the Flashlight, or tap on the controls from the Dynamic Island, there is a larger and more intuitive interface for changing the brightness and the spread of the LED Flash used for the Flashlight feature.
Maps
Apple has once again tweaked the colors of the Maps icon when Dark Mode is activated.
RCS in Messages
The interface for RCS in the Messages section of the Settings app has changed. Rather than just showing up as an on/off toggle, it is now a tap-in menu that provides some additional context. Apple explains that sending and receiving messages with RCS uses wireless data, and cellular network identifiers may be shared with carriers and their partners.
Some iPhone users in Canada and other countries are also now seeing the RCS toggle, though it is unclear if RCS is working outside of the United States.
Apple Intelligence
There are some mentions of Apple Intelligence features in the code, further hinting at the upcoming addition of AI to the iOS 18 beta. Code references Genmoji, Image Playground, Writing Tools, Image Wand, and more.
More New Changes
Know of a new feature in iOS 18 beta 3 that we left out? Let us know in the comments below.
Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
[ 99 comments ]
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Top Rated Comments
ppdix
5 days ago at 01:32 pm
I am a photographer and use the Photos app constantly.
It's really confusing now. I really don't like it. The summary feature only works on albums and the summarized photos are square, which crop the image too much. There should be a square/normal toggle.
Also, when you click on a photo to view it and, if the photo is vertical, there is a rounded corner and the photo doesn't reach the edge of the display, making it smaller than necessary. If the photo is horizontal, the rounded corners are not there and the image reaches the edge of the display.
What are the designers doing?
Slightly disappointed to say the least...
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx
5 days ago at 02:36 pm
I am a photographer and use the Photos app constantly.
It's really confusing now. I really don't like it. The summary feature only works on albums and the summarized photos are square, which crop the image too much. There should be a square/normal toggle.
Also, when you click on a photo to view it and, if the photo is vertical, there is a rounded corner and the photo doesn't reach the edge of the display, making it smaller than necessary. If the photo is horizontal, the rounded corners are not there and the image reaches the edge of the display.
What are the designers doing?
Slightly disappointed to say the least...
I have to agree. The Photos app changes are the biggest example of "change for the sake of change" I've ever seen. None of the changes make it easier to use. It's just different, for no real good reason, and requires a lot more swiping around whereas before you had the convenient "tabs" on the bottom.
Right now I'd be ecstatic if Apple abandoned the changes to the Photos app and just kept it the same as iOS 17. There was literally no reason to make these changes.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unggoy Murderer
5 days ago at 01:14 pm
In the Photos app, you’re no longer forced to full-screen when zooming on a photo, you can zoom in just a little again. This was a HUGE peeve in b1 and b2, really glad they reversed it. ?
Also, just spotted the emoji keyboard has changed, the keys are much larger.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RigSatMe
5 days ago at 12:58 pm
Finally dark icons - Awesome!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos
5 days ago at 02:07 pm
Thought I’d like the dark mode icons but to my own surprise I don’t. Makes it harder for me to find my apps. I am a person of habits I guess.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KoolAid-Drink
5 days ago at 01:22 pm
The blue search button in Photos is giving me Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger vibes. :)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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