6 Exciting Features Coming to iOS 18.1 (That Aren’t Apple Intelligence)

Apple is gearing up to release iOS 18.1, and while Apple Intelligence is stealing the spotlight, there are plenty of other exciting features coming to your iPhone. From health enhancements to interface tweaks, this update promises to refine and expand your iPhone experience. Let’s dive into six notable features you can expect to see in iOS 18.1, based on the latest beta releases and announcements.

1. Sleep Apnea Detection

This potentially life-saving feature uses the Apple Watch’s accelerometer to monitor your breathing patterns during sleep and detect irregularities that could indicate sleep apnea. While it requires an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, it’s a significant step towards proactive health management on your wrist. Imagine, your watch could alert you to a serious condition you might not even be aware of!

2. iPhone Mirroring Drag and Drop

This enhancement to iPhone Mirroring in macOS Sequoia allows seamless drag-and-drop interactions between your Mac and iPhone screens. Need to quickly move a file, image, or text snippet? Simply drag it from your Mac and drop it onto your mirrored iPhone display, or vice versa. This feature was initially expected with the initial releases but was delayed, and now it’s finally making its debut.

3. Share Apple Music to TikTok

iOS 18.1 makes it easier than ever to share your favorite tunes on social media. With a simple tap, you can share Apple Music songs directly to TikTok, adding a soundtrack to your latest video creation. This integration streamlines the sharing process, making it easier to express yourself through music.

4. Redesigned Control Center Toggles

Apple is refining the Control Center in iOS 18.1 with redesigned toggles for Satellite connectivity and AirDrop. These changes provide a cleaner look and potentially more intuitive access to these features. Personally, I find the new toggles more visually appealing and easier to locate within the Control Center.

5. Notification Summaries Color Matching

A subtle yet pleasing visual tweak, notification summaries on the Lock Screen will now match the color of your wallpaper. This creates a more cohesive and personalized look, integrating notifications more seamlessly into your chosen aesthetic.

6. Refined Notification Counts

iOS 18.1 brings a small but useful change to grouped notifications. The notification count displayed for grouped apps will now accurately reflect the total number of merged notifications. This provides a clearer picture of how many notifications you have waiting within each group.

Beyond these six features, iOS 18.1 is also expected to include various bug fixes, performance improvements, and other minor enhancements. While Apple Intelligence is undoubtedly a major addition to the iOS ecosystem, these smaller updates contribute significantly to the overall user experience.