Apple will introduce a significant new security measure to iPhones with the upcoming iOS 18 update, extending the existing Activation Lock feature to each iPhone’s individual components. With the addition of the company’s AI features, iOS 18 is expected to be a milestone upgrade.
What does this mean?
This update aims to lock the device and its key components, including batteries, cameras, and screens.
With iOS 18, each iPhone accessory will be linked to the owner’s Apple account through its unique serial number. During repairs, if an iPhone detects a previously used part, it will ask for the original owner’s Apple account password.
Nevertheless, Apple’s recent policy changes to allow the use of genuine used parts show its commitment to balancing safety with the flexibility of repairs.
When will iOS 18 be released?
iOS 18 will be available for iPhone XR and all newer models on September 26. In addition to the brand new iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, which will come with iOS 18 pre-installed since they were released on September 20, Apple has announced that only some of its models can run Apple Intelligence. The Apple Intelligence features will only be supported across the iPhone 16 model range and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. The generation iPhone XS will be the oldest model of the company that will run the new version of iOS, as they were released in 2018. It is worth noting that this new function will not be extended to iPads that will run iPadOS 18.
These are all the iPhone models that will be supported by iOS 18:
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPhone SE (3rd generation)
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS/XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro/ 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro/ iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14/ 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro/ 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15/ 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro/ 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16/ 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro/ 16 Pro Max
