iOS 18 features only available on some new iPhones

iOS 18 will be available to download on any iPhone from the iPhone Xr/Xs onwards when it releases in September this year. While there are a lot of additional features, Apple has some limitations that make them not fully compatible with every iOS 18 device. Here are those features.

Satellite messaging

iOS 18 will expand the satellite emergency SOS feature by allowing users to send messages via satellite. This will require hardware support, which is limited to iPhone 14 and later versions.

Audio Transcription in Notes

With iOS 18, users can record and transcribe phone calls on any compatible iPhone, as well as record directly from the Notes app. However, the ability to automatically transcribe those calls and recordings in the Notes app will be exclusive to iPhone 12 and later.

Eye tracking

Apple is making the iPhone more accessible in iOS 18 by introducing eye tracking, which will let users open apps and control certain iOS elements with nothing but their eyes, though they'll need an iPhone 12 or later for it to work.

Music Haptics

Also part of the accessibility features, iOS 18 will introduce a new feature called Music Haptics, which uses the Taptic Engine on the iPhone to match the beat of songs played through Apple Music. However, like many of the other features on this list, users will need an iPhone 12 or later to use it.

Wireless Smart Unlock

The Home app also gets an upgrade in iOS 18, allowing users to wirelessly unlock doors equipped with Ultra Wideband (UWB) smart locks. This requires iPhone users to have a UWB transmitter, which excludes the iPhone Xr, iPhone Xs, and iPhone Xs Max.