iOS 18.0.1 New iPhone Software Release: Should You Upgrade?

Here it is, the first update since Apple launched iOS 18 for the iPhone on Sept. 16. Should you upgrade to it? Please note that I’ll be updating this post over the coming days and will make a final assessment on Friday, Oct. 11.

And apologies that this edition of Should You Upgrade is a little later than planned. Normal service will be resumed pronto.

Who Is It For And How Do You Get It?

Apple iOS 18.0.1 is compatible with all iPhones that can run iOS 18, and indeed, all handsets that are compatible with iOS 17, that is, handsets from the iPhone XS onwards, including the second- and third-generation iPhone SE models.

Updates are available automatically but you may find it will download and install sooner if you click on Settings, then General, then Software Update.

What It’s About

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This is a fixing update, sorting out issues that arose for some iPhone users when iOS 18 was released. For a start, some iPhone 16 handsets developed a problem where if your thumb or finger was resting on the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro display in certain positions, the display would become unresponsive.

Then there was a camera problem for iPhone 16 Pro users only, which froze the camera when the user was recording macro mode video through the Ultra Wide lens. Specifically, it was when the recording was made in 4K, with HDR turned off. Quite a particular circumstance, then, but annoying if you came across it.

Also very specific was a problem in Messages. If an iMessage was sent to another iPhone which shared an Apple Watch face and the other person replied, the iPhone would crash.

Apple iOS 18.0.1 Security

The security issues in this update were serious. One vulnerability was that the VoiceOver feature could read out saved passwords—not what you want if your phone falls into the wrong hands or if there’s simply someone nearby who can overhear this information.

The other problem was for iPhone 16 users and meant that audio messages could capture a few seconds of sound before the microphone was activated. Not great if you mutter “I’d better leave a message for that idiot of a boss, I suppose,” before you press record. Forbes contributor Kate O’Flaherty has more details of these security issues here.

Initial Reactions

Generally, but not entirely positive, it seems. One Redditor, speaking of the unresponsive display issue said, “It’s worse than before,” while another, and this was definitely the more common response so far, said, “My phone is now smoother since updating.” Others said they were getting higher Geekbench scores since updating, found the keyboard more responsive and, perhaps most importantly,. Saw battery life improved.

Apple iOS 18.0.1 Initial Verdict: Update

Things are not perfect, but they’re largely better than before. Check back next week for the final verdict but initial reactions are positive.