Apple has released iOS 18.3 for download, along with iPadOS 18.3 and macOS 15.3. These latest operating system versions can be downloaded through the integrated software update feature on the devices. Unlike iOS 18.1 and 18.2, which introduced many new features, the third major update for iOS 18 offers only a few additions. For iPhone and iPad users in the EU, there is a new wallpaper for Black History Month. Moreover, a function returns: pressing the plus button again repeats the last calculation in Apple’s calculator app.
With iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS 15.3, Apple has made Apple Intelligence a default part of the operating system. The AI models are automatically loaded, and the entire AI system is now opt-out instead of opt-in. Users who do not wish to use Apple’s AI must disable Apple Intelligence manually. In the EU, the AI system is currently only available on Macs and only when the operating system is used in English. On iPhones and iPads, Apple Intelligence can be activated through indirect methods. Apple plans to release the system in the EU in April with iOS 18.4, possibly with support for the German language.
With Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.3 and its counterparts also introduce a significant change in notification summaries. Following complaints from the BBC about misleading headlines, these summaries are temporarily disabled for the app categories “News” and “Entertainment.” For other notifications, Apple’s AI summary is now displayed in italics.
Updates are also available for macOS, watchOS, and other platforms. iPhone 16 owners receive new features for “visual intelligence,” which can be activated through the camera controls. This allows users to create calendar entries when the camera is pointed at a poster. Additionally, identifying animals and plants becomes easier. According to Apple, the keyboard should reliably appear when “Type to Siri” is activated. On Macs with macOS 15.3 and Apple Intelligence, users can now generate new emojis (“Genmojis”) through text commands.
Alongside the major operating systems, Apple has released watchOS 11.3, tvOS 18.3, and a new software version for HomePods. The updates for Apple Watches include at least a new watch face for Black History Month. As usual, the updates are expected to address several security vulnerabilities, though specific details were not available at the time of publication.