Apple reveals 14 new iOS 18 features ahead of WWDC 2024

Apple has just announced several iOS 18 accessibility features via a press release. Although the company only says these functions are coming “later this year,” this means they’ll be part of the iOS 18 update.

This is not the first time Apple has announced big accessibility features ahead of the WWDC keynote, and it’s a trend the company has followed for at least a couple of years. With today’s announcements, Apple says iOS 18 is bringing Eye Tracking, music Haptics, Taptic Engine, Vocal Shortcuts, Vehicle Motion Cues, and more features to the next iPhone software.

“We believe deeply in the transformative power of innovation to enrich lives,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “That’s why for nearly 40 years, Apple has championed inclusive design by embedding accessibility at the core of our hardware and software. We’re continuously pushing the boundaries of technology, and these new features reflect our long-standing commitment to delivering the best possible experience to all of our users.”

Here’s what you need to know about iOS 18 upcoming features:

Eye Tracking: Powered by artificial intelligence, Eye Tracking gives users a built-in option for navigating iPad and iPhone with just their eyes. Designed for users with physical disabilities, Eye Tracking uses the front-facing camera to set up and calibrate in seconds, and with on-device machine learning, all data used to set up and control this feature is kept securely on the device and isn’t shared with Apple.

Music Haptics: Music Haptics is a new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to experience music on the iPhone. With this accessibility feature turned on, the iPhone’s Taptic Engine plays taps, textures, and refined vibrations to the music’s audio. Music Haptics works across millions of songs in the Apple Music catalog and will be available as an API for developers to make music more accessible in their apps.

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