iPadOS 18 is the newest version of iPadOS, the software that runs on the iPad. iPadOS 18 incorporates many of the same features that are in iOS 18, including all of the new AI capabilities that Apple has in store, but there are also some notable iPad-specific changes. Both iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 are built around Apple Intelligence, aka AI. Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia.

Apple Intelligence improves writing across the operating system, makes Siri much smarter, and allows for multiple forms of content generation. Writing Tools are available across most apps that support text for rewriting, polishing, proofreading, and summarizing content. You can change your tone, make your writing more concise, and ensure there are no spelling or grammar errors.

A new Image Playground app lets you generate images using prompts or Apple's suggestions and themes. You can incorporate pictures of your friends and family to make all kinds of fun custom photos in styles that include Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Image Playground image generation is built into Messages, Notes, and other apps.

There's a Genmoji feature in the Messages app that lets you create any emoji you want without being limited to the built-in options. You can enter a short description of what you want, even including your friends, and Apple makes it for you.

In the Photos app, you can create custom Memories by typing in a description, with Apple Intelligence choosing appropriate photos and videos based on your description. Memories include a storyline, music, and chapters for a full narrative arc. A Clean Up tool can be used when editing images to remove unwanted objects from the background of a photo.

Apple entirely overhauled Siri with Apple Intelligence, creating an assistant that is more contextually relevant, personal, and natural. You can use voice commands with Siri, but there's also a new type to Siri option you can activate with a double tap on the bottom of the display. Siri has more personal context for fulfilling requests, and can take actions in apps for the first time. Siri can edit photos, manage files, create folders, and tons more.

Siri better understands language, can keep track of what you asked in a prior request, and knows what's on your screen so you can ask about it. Siri can search your entire device for information and knows your history, so it is prepared to help you with all your everyday tasks.

Apple gave Siri a new look, and when the personal assistant is activated, there's now a glowing ring around the display. Siri also has deep Apple product knowledge and can give you step-by-step instructions on whatever you need to do, so it's like having an Apple Genius in your pocket. When Siri doesn't know something, there's an option to bring in OpenAI's ChatGPT for your requests. ChatGPT is free, gets no info from you, and can be used for creating and illustrating content from scratch.

Apple Intelligence is limited to iPad models that have an M-series chip or A17 Pro chip, which includes the newest iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPad mini models. The limitation is due to the on-device processing requirements of AI.

iPadOS 18 also has several new feature additions that join Apple Intelligence, many of which mirror what's possible in iOS 18. There are new customization options for the Home Screen, with the option to rearrange apps and widgets with open spaces and around wallpapers. Icons and widgets can be made larger and have a darker option for dark mode, plus there's an option to add a colored tint.

Apps in iPadOS 18 have a redesigned tab bar that floats above app content and makes it easier to get to what you need. It's a feature that is available across all iPad apps. Apple added an updated Document Browser for Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and Swift Playgrounds that lets you navigate to your most recent documents more quickly.

Apple redesigned Control Center and made it so everything can be rearranged to put what you use most front and center, with customized sizes and groups. A controls gallery lets you add all kinds of new quick actions, including controls from third-party apps. Control Center can also be split into multiple screens, so you can have dedicated sections for HomeKit, media playback, connectivity, and more, with the option to swipe between them.

The Notes app supports live audio recording and transcription, and for writing in Notes with the Apple Pencil, a Smart Script feature smoothes out your writing by using on-device machine learning to model your own handwriting. It's designed to make your writing straighter and more legible even when you're writing quickly, and you can check spelling, paste typed text in your own handwriting, and scratch out writing to remove it.

With Math Notes in the Notes app, you can write equations and expressions and have them solved right in the app without needing to open up the Calculator app. Equations are solved as soon as you write or type an equals sign. Text can be highlighted with color, and notes now have collapsible section headers for better management.

The Calculator app is now available on the iPad, and it has been updated specifically for larger displays. It supports history and unit conversion, with options for both basic and scientific calculators.

Apple overhauled the Photos app, merging the Library and For You tabs into a simplified view that focuses on surfacing your best photos and memories. With Collections, it's easy to find photos organized by themes like recent days, trips, and people and pets. Collections can be pinned for quick access to your most used content.

The Messages app supports scheduling texts for the first time, and the Tapback feature that you use to react to texts now supports any emoji. Text effects can be added to a word, phrase, or emoji, and formatting like bold and italic is available. iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 saw Apple transition from SMS/MMS to Rich Communication Services or RCS for green bubble text, which results in better messaging experiences with Android users.

Mail will adopt on-device categorization with sections like promotions, transactions, and personal email, and there is a new digest view that aggregates all of the relevant emails from a business for a full look at correspondence. This feature has already been implemented on the iPhone, but Apple has not yet brought it to the iPad.

There are Highlights in Safari that surface key information about a webpage like a summary of an article, the location of a restaurant, or access to a map on a webpage for a shop. Reader mode has been upgraded with a summary and table of contents. Maps now includes topographic maps and trail networks, including detailed maps of all 63 U.S. national parks. Hikes can be saved for offline access, and you can create custom walking and hiking routes.

SharePlay, the feature that lets you interact with friends or family over FaceTime, supports tap and draw when screen sharing is activated. You can tap and draw on the screen to point out what the person you're communicating with should do on theirs. Full remote control is also an option with permission.

Apple added a Game Mode that minimizes background activity to ensure all of your processing power goes to the game you're playing, plus it cuts down on latency from game controllers and AirPods, with AirPods also gaining support for Personalized Spatial Audio for gaming.

The Passwords section in Settings is now a whole Passwords app that stores iCloud Keychain logins and passwords. The Passwords app supports passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, verification codes, and more. Passwords can be accessed on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Windows PCs.

Apple improved privacy in iPadOS 18, and it's now possible to lock any app, requiring Face ID or Touch ID to open it even when your iPad is unlocked. You can also hide an app, which removes it from the Home Screen and tucks it away in a hidden folder in the App Library that can't be accessed without authentication. Apps that are locked or hidden won't send notifications and aren't available in search.

Apps that ask for contacts can now be granted access to just select contacts, hiding access to your full contact list. Apple has also added a new method for connecting third-party accessories without letting an app see other devices on the network. Apple refreshed the Privacy and Security section of the Settings app to give you more control over what you're sharing with apps.

AirPods Pro 2 in iPadOS 18 support a new gesture-based Siri response option, so you can shake your head for no or nod for yes. If you get a call, you can shake your head to decline, for example. Apple is also adding Voice Isolation so you can better tune out background noise.