Earlier this fall, Apple released iOS 18 for all iPhones, with updates being available to devices back to the iPhone Xr, Xs, and the iPhone SE (2nd generation). The Apple Intelligence feature, released on October 28th, will only work on the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, and the full range of iPhone 16 devices.
There are many new and updated features this year. Most of these will also work on iPads running iPadOS 18.
This article focuses on the new accessibility features added this year. In Settings, Accessibility has been moved up and now appears immediately after General.
What痴 New in VoiceOver
For the first time, VoiceOver settings include a section called What痴 New in VoiceOver. This section features nine items in the general category What痴 New with VoiceOver in iOS 18 and thirteen items under What痴 New with Braille in iOS 18.
What痴 New with VoiceOver in iOS 18?
The nine items in this section of the What痴 New list are as follows:
Live Recognition now on the Rotor: All recognition features, such as detect text, detect furniture, detect people, door detection, detect scenes, and point and speak, are now placed on a single rotor item. Each can be turned on or off independently. Multiple features can run simultaneously. When activated, the feature starts speaking immediately and continues until turned off. This feature can still be activated with a four-finger quadruple tap.
New Voice Rotor: You can now add an unlimited number of voices, which are accessible through the Voices rotor item. In Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Speech, voices are highly configurable. You can even use your personal voice in the Voices rotor as your VoiceOver voice.
Updated Audio Ducking: Audio ducking reduces the volume of other sounds while VoiceOver is speaking. Now, instead of being simply on or off, you can choose among Off, When Speaking, and Always. Additionally, you can adjust the VoiceOver speech volume relative to other audio settings in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Audio.
Voice Customization: Each voice now has customizable EQ and other settings. After downloading a voice in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Speech, you can adjust the pitch, rate, volume, and four equalizer ranges. Siri voices include presets for selectable styles such as narration, even inflection, and faster pace.
VoiceOver Tutorial: In addition to the long-standing VoiceOver Practice, a new VoiceOver Tutorial teaches basic and advanced gestures, as well as how to use the rotor.
Startup Haptic: When VoiceOver starts, the phone now briefly vibrates. This haptic feedback can be turned off in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Audio > VoiceOver Sounds and Haptics.
Delay Before Selection: This new setting lets you control the amount of time between touching the screen and VoiceOver selecting an item. The default is 0 seconds, but a delay of up to 2 seconds can be set. This feature is useful for users who may inadvertently select items by accidental touches.
New Language Support: Lithuanian and Kazakh languages have been added to VoiceOver.
Live Region and Announcement Rotor Item: This new rotor item allows users to control whether updates in live regions of apps and web pages are announced.
New Braille Features
Eight of the new braille items relate to Braille Screen Input (BSI). This feature, available since iOS 8, allows users to input braille directly on the iPhone screen. In iOS 18, it has undergone a significant update. Here is a summary of the changes:
New BSI Activation Gesture: A new gesture妖ouble tapping with one finger at both the very top and bottom of the screen simultaneously溶ow launches Braille Screen Input. Triple tapping these areas launches BSI in command mode. The previous method of launching BSI via the rotor remains available but is no longer on the rotor by default. BSI can be closed by sliding two fingers in opposite directions.
Command Mode for BSI: Braille Screen Input now includes a command mode, enabling users to control VoiceOver with braille commands while BSI is active. These commands are the same as those used on braille displays, minus the spacebar.
Automatic Activation in Edit Fields: BSI can now automatically activate in braille entry mode whenever an edit field is entered. This can be enabled in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Braille > Braille Screen Input.
Persistent Command Mode: BSI can now remain active in command mode until dismissed.
Simultaneous Six-Dot Entry: All six dots can now be entered simultaneously.
Enhanced Feedback: BSI includes several new sounds and haptics for feedback when typing or changing modes. These can be modified or turned off in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Commands > Braille Screen Input.
Additional features not listed in What痴 New include:
- Support for contractions when searching apps on the home screen.
- A new Quick Action gesture耀wiping up with three fingers擁s enabled in certain apps. For example, in Messages, it sends a message.
Five additional new braille features are:
Combined Input and Output Tables: Input and output braille tables can now be controlled independently or together. The default setting is independent control, but matching tables can be enabled in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Braille. Tables can also be changed in VoiceOver Quick Settings, activated with a two-finger quadruple tap.
Reconnect Braille Display: Quickly reconnect a braille display by toggling VoiceOver off and back on or assigning a gesture to the Reconnect Braille Display command. This command can be found in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Commands > All Commands > Braille.
Item Chooser for Braille: A feature introduced last year for searching home screens is now available within BSI on any screen. Users press Enter, type characters, and press Enter again to move focus.
Non-Blinking Cursor for Braille Displays: Users can disable the blinking cursor by setting Prefer Non-Blinking Cursor to On in Settings > Accessibility > Motion.
Multiline Text for 2D Braille Displays: Text and items now display across multiple lines on supported braille displays.
Other New Accessibility Features
Voice Control Vocabulary
Voice Control, which allows navigation of the iPhone using voice commands, now supports custom vocabulary additions.
Vocal Shortcuts
Under Accessibility > Speech, a new item called Vocal Shortcuts allows users to create phrases for Siri or to launch shortcuts, system functions, and accessibility features.
Music Haptics
Music Haptics provides haptic feedback for certain music in Apple Music and Apple Music Classical.
New Background Sounds
Two new sounds have been added to Background Sounds: Night, featuring crickets, and Fire, featuring a crackling fireplace.
Conclusion
iOS 18 brings a host of new features, many of which focus on accessibility. These updates are among the most significant in recent years.
