Apple has just dropped iOS 18.5, an update that, while not a feature-packed bombshell, delivers crucial enhancements for your iPhone. It’s likely the last major iOS 18 release before the iOS 19 preview next month, and it brings welcome refinements and a notable new capability, especially for the iPhone 13 series. This update also rolls out alongside parallel releases across the entire Apple ecosystem, ensuring a cohesive experience for all your devices.
Perhaps the most significant upgrade bundled with iOS 18.5 is the long-awaited support for carrier-provided satellite features on the entire iPhone 13 lineup, encompassing the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. This enables users of these devices to leverage emerging carrier services, such as T-Mobile’s Starlink-powered satellite messaging, which is currently in a free trial phase in the US until July.
It’s important to note that this is distinct from Apple’s own Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, which remains exclusive to iPhone 14 models and newer, focusing instead on expanding basic text messaging and potentially data capabilities when standard cellular coverage is unavailable.
Another noteworthy improvement, particularly for those who found the recent Mail app changes frustrating, addresses the controversial Contact Photos display. With iOS 18.5, Apple has finally provided a direct toggle within the Mail app itself, accessible via the ellipsis menu, allowing users to quickly enable or disable contact photos without having to navigate through the labyrinthine Settings app.
This welcome change restores a level of user control that many felt was missing, making the Mail experience far more customizable and akin to its legacy iterations. Additionally, the update subtly enhances the Mail app’s usability by making the “all mail” category more apparent, with the edge of the button now visible, resolving a common point of confusion for users adapting to the redesigned interface.
Beyond functionality and user experience tweaks, iOS 18.5 also introduces the visually striking new Pride Harmony wallpaper, a vibrant addition designed to celebrate and acknowledge the strength and beauty of LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
Available for both iPhone and the latest watchOS 11.5 for Apple Watch, this animated wallpaper features unique, dynamic patterns that redraw and subtly shift with user interaction, darkening into alternating black and colored bands when the always-on display is inactive, and then bursting into full color with elegant wiggles upon waking the device. These thoughtful animations add a layer of depth and personality that static images simply cannot match, continuing Apple’s tradition of offering expressive and meaningful customization options.
Rounding out the update, iOS 18.5 includes a series of practical enhancements and crucial bug fixes aimed at improving overall system stability and user convenience. Parents will appreciate the new Screen Time notification feature, which alerts them when a child uses the Screen Time passcode on their device, offering an added layer of oversight and control. Furthermore, purchasing content within the Apple TV app on third-party devices now seamlessly integrates with Buy with iPhone, allowing users to authenticate purchases using their iPhone or Apple Watch.
The update also resolves a persistent issue where the Apple Vision Pro app might display a black screen, ensuring a smoother experience for users of Apple’s mixed-reality headset. Minor aesthetic improvements, like the cleaner layout of the AppleCare information within the Settings app, contribute to a more polished user interface.
