IOS 18 Makes Messaging Fun (and More Useful) Again
During Apple’s WWDC 2024 keynote, the company finally revealed more about what’s coming in iOS 18. Messages is one of the apps that seems to be getting the most updates, and there are plenty of new features on the way that aim to make iMessage more fun and useful. . The new Messages features will arrive with a public update in fall 2024, but public beta users will be able to try them out as early as July 2024. Here’s a quick look at all the new features you can expect to see in Messages later this year.
Tapback
In iOS 18, Tapbacks, the feature that lets you respond to iMessages with something like a question mark or “haha,” is getting a major overhaul. In iOS 18, you’ll be able to reply to messages using any emoji, something popularized by WhatsApp and Instagram. The Tapback icons will also get a new design and be more colorful.
Message schedule
With iOS, you can finally schedule messages to be sent later, something that other popular messaging apps like WhatsApp don’t have. With this feature, you can write a message and schedule it to be sent later in the same day or the next day, for example.
Text formatting
iMessage gets old-school text formatting. In iOS 18, you can make text in messages bold, underline, and italic.
New text effects
You will also be able to add effects to only some message text, rather than the entire message. This includes effects such as judder, shake, bounce and more.
Message from satellite
Apple is developing the SOS Emergency Calling feature, which allows you to make emergency calls using satellite access, and is also bringing it to Messages. You will be able to send iMessages, emoticons and tapbacks using satellites. This will work for SMS too.
RCS on iPhone really happens
We knew RCS was coming to iPhone this year , but we didn’t know when. We still don’t know all the details, but we do know that it will be released with iOS 18.