New iOS 18.5 Features Leave Users Unimpressed but Hopeful For iOS 19

A handful of new iOS 18.5 features are here for compatible iPhones, and they aren’t particularly exciting but they are worth noting nonetheless. This Apple iOS 18.5 update is a minor one so there’s no advanced Siri AI assistant or new features to explore and optimize, but it does come with a few bug fixes and security patches so users could benefit from an upgrade to the latest OS.

The most talked about feature this time is the extension of iOS satellite support to the iPhone 13. Then there’s a parental control feature update for worried moms and dads who want to supervise how their children use their Apple devices. Also recognizing the upcoming Pride Month despite the crackdown on DEI, iOS 18.5 also has a new wallpaper on offer, which is a nice token gesture for those who enjoy such offerings.

The list of iOS 18.5 features are short and to the point. (Image: iPhone 13)

What Are the Latest iOS 18.5 Features for Your iPhone?

All eyes are currently on Google’s upcoming I/O developer conference and the possible release of Android 16, but Apple also has announcements to make. The Cupertino company just released the fifth installment of the iOS 18 software after it spent a month in beta mode alongside iPadOS 18.5.

Compatible iPhones can be updated to access the new iOS 18.5 features right now, so if you haven’t already seen an update notification, you can go check your Settings page to see if it is available to download.

The features available with the new iPhone iOS 18.5 update include:

A new Pride Harmony wallpaper that “features colors that change position as users move, lock, or unlock the device”
A notification to parents when the Screen Time passcode is used on a child’s device
Buy with iPhone is available when purchasing content within the Apple TV app on a third-party device
Addresses a black screen issue on the Apple Vision Pro App
Carrier-provided satellite connectivity for iPhone 13 models
Bug fixes and minor security updates
Mail app enhancements that improve the categories and AI-sorted priority messages introduced with iOS 18.4

What is the Screen Time Notification for Parents?

The new setting allows parents to be notified if children successfully enter the Screen Time passcode on their devices. This will alert parents to their children’s advancing capabilities, notifying them when children manage to bypass the restrictions on their devices. This should enhance parental control over device usage.

The iOS 18.5 Emergency Feature Extends to the iPhone 13 Models

One of the key iOS 18.5 features is the extension of satellite support for all iPhone 13 models and the guarantee of carrier-provided satellite services in the US. As a result, users will be able to send and receive text messages and access limited data when they step outside cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.

The feature has been around for a while but was previously limited to iPhone 14 models and up, but with the iOS 18.5 release, more iPhone users will be able to make the most of emergency services when the need arises.

User Expectations with iOS 19 on the Horizon

Customers are understandably unimpressed with the iOS 18.5 features and the lack of any substantial changes for a large number of users, particularly those who are neither parents nor own an iPhone 13. The promise of advanced AI features for Siri that was made last year still has not come to fruition and likely will not in 2025.

The focus on security updates and bug fixes is a good thing—it’s always better to focus on building a safe and secure device over a new swipe gesture—but some Apple users are growing tired of waiting for Apple to impress them. This year’s iPhone lineup might do the trick to a degree, but many customers are unlikely to upgrade their phones just because of a new release.

Gimmicky tactics like listing a new wallpaper as a feature are not doing the company any favors, so unless Apple really dials into what users want, its iOS 19 release is going to fall flat just like iOS 18.5’s release did.

What Do Users Want from a New iPhone Update?

The iOS 18.5 features have not impressed but what would users have preferred to see? This is a tough question to answer because most customers know they want something “big” but designing big releases every few months can be difficult to pull off. The vagueness aside, there are some areas where Apple could make upgrades with iOS 19:

Better settings sorting and customization options for users
Fixing the battery drain on iPhones with more efficiency upgrades via AI
Better gesture controls and integrations
UI upgrades that are more meaningful to the user experience
Address bugs that users have reported over the years including problems with shortcuts, connectivity issues, etc.
Improved Siri responsiveness and response quality
Deeper AI integration across apps and more productivity-centric changes that users will use
More privacy features and accessibility improvements—Apple has a good track record with both

The iOS 18.5 wallpaper may be the most non-feature we’ve ever seen with a system upgrade, but Apple likely threw that in as it had very little to report after issues on the AI front. More users appear to be angry about the Pride wallpaper than the lack of substantial enhancements, which will have been the point of its release. Hopefully, the upcoming iOS 19 released in June will offer more impressive advancements and set Apple firmly back on track with being a creative, industry-leading brand.

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