WWDC 2018 June 4, 2018 September 17, 2018[94] iOS12 iOS 12 was a major change from previous releases that were loaded up with new features and flashiness, instead focusing on performance, stability, and digital wellbeing — particularly for older devices.
Apple ensured that iOS 12 worked on every iPhone model getting an iOS 11 update — all the way back to the five-year-old (original) iPad Air and iPhone 5S. More Than Just Software Optimization[edit]The third-party-developed software tools that you highlighted, are much more helpful than them may appear. This focus on optimization rather then obsolescence has undoubtedly allowed the life of millions of iPhones and iPads to endure far beyond it could have had Apple not maintain forward compatibility for as long as they did.
Many thanks to this improved efficiency, the browser is now essentially a lot better on older gadgets as properly.
iOS 12 improved the performance of all devices overall, but more so on older hardware:
The fastest options broached by Apple were promising 70% faster swipe-to-camera, 50% faster keyboard display, and 2x faster app launches (under load).
In practice, this came to mean faster load times across many aging devices; indeed, people reported substantially improved speed on iPhone 6 and even iPhone 5s.
This emphasis at speed and assurance largely worked to rebuild confidence after the performance throttling nonsense of iOS 10 and iOS 11.
Screen Time: The Story of Digital Wellbeing
In introducing Screen Time, we opened with the headline that the new feature would allow iOS users to monitor their device usage as a first step in being able to better manage it.
One could also track the time consuming apps, categories or websites.
With the introduction of the App Limits & Downtime features users were able to set daily usage limits, or some hours when only specific apps would be available.
It integrates seamlessly with the Family Sharing feature so parents can control things like how much time their kids are spending on devices, restrict what types of apps they access, and set other restrictions right from their own devices.
Screen Time was Apple’s first significant system-level tool as part of its efforts on smartphone addiction and digital mindfulness.
What we can see is; grouped notifications & do not disturb improvements –
A most-needed update that finally came with iOS 12 were grouped notifications.
Messages were grouped by app, thread or other context to give users fewer notifications and to better manage their alerts.
Similarly, a revamped Do Not Disturb mode allows notifications to be automatically muted during events or at night (or until the user leave a specified location).
Notifications were able to come through the Notification Center without making any sounds or an appearance on the Lock Screen.
The changes enabled users to better control interruptions and the overflow of notifications.
FaceTime & Messages: Memoji and Group Calls
Group FaceTime (delayed from the prior release of iOS 12.0 as well as later released via an update with iOS 12.
One of these was Memoji—their name for personalized animated avatars made using the TrueDepth camera on iPhone X and newer— from Apple.
Animal-based animated emojis were added, along with tongue and wink detection for the iPhone X model.
The biggest platform in terms of new features turned out to be Messages with its camera effects, stickers and other fun filters baked right into iMessage.
These were an attempt to help conversations be more expressive and interactive, especially for younger audiences.
ARKit 2 and Augmented Reality
And Apple also doubled down on AR with ARKit 2, featuring:
Multi-user interactions (shared experiences), enabling several users to use the AR environment.
Long-lasting AR experiences that could persist virtual objects between sessions.
Object detection and tracking visual enhancement for increased accuracy and real feeling
An airy new stock Measure app that utilized AR to merge the iPhone into a digital measuring tape.
That was good news for Apple, whose ambitions in augmented reality are even more explicit.
Siri Shortcuts: Automation for Everyone
With iOS 12, users gained the ability to use Siri Shortcuts — some basic automation and voice-triggered workflows.
Shortcuts app allowed users to create multi-step custom actions with Workflow acquisition.
Or Siri would recommend those proactive Shortcuts based on user behaviour—reordering coffee or playing a playlist at standard hour of operation for example.
You could assign shortcuts to voice commands, making basic scripting available to everyone.
Although not as versatile as entire automation suites, it was a way to give every user access to personal productivity and convenience.
Photos & Search: Smarter Memories
Photos app was more intelligent with以下内容：
A new For You tab that brings together your favourite content via Memories, shared albums and new intelligent suggestions.
More advanced search, by which users can look for people, places, events and even objects in their images.
Suggested better sharing that included suggestions for photos to be shared with the people who showed up in them.
Those changes leveraged Apple’s on-device machine learning (so data stayed private) and mainly improved usability
Other Notable Features
Stocks and Voice Memos got a redesign, and apps like this came over from the iPhone.
Apple also included the capability to use third-party navigation apps with CarPlay, such as Google Maps and Waze.
As announced, iBooks was given a new name — Apple Books — and it has received a relatively small update with new store browsing and reading interface.
Security Code AutoFill for SMS-based two-factor authentication codes Passwords AutoFill with third-party password manager Extensions
iOS 12. x Updates: Continuous Refinement
IOS 12.1 — Adds Group FaceTime, dual-SIM support for iPhone XS/XS Max/XR, and more than 70 new emojis.
iOS 12.2, to support Apple News+, new Animoji and bug fixes
The new Apple TV appMay 6, 2019iOS 12.3: Launches it ( with Apple TV Channels)
iOS 12.4 — iPhone migration tools, Apple Card (U.S.)
iOS 12.5 (later 12.5.1–12.5.7): Published for older machines (e.g., the iPhone 6, 5s) to provide COVID-19 introduction updates and fixes;
In Summary
iOS 12 was a back-to-basics release that focused on getting things running smoothly again and, for the most part, helped to restore confidence in the system after iOS 11 fiasco. Things like Screen Time, Siri Shortcuts and Grouped Notifications are pretty big updates to iOS — along with a significant speed boost across the board and even broader AR support — all of which made it an update that was good for both new and old hardware. This was a foundational change that focused on UX, privacy and reliability to the detriment of pizzazz, for which it paid off.
1. When was iOS 12 released?
Apple announced iOS 12 at WWDC on June 4, 2018, and officially released it to the public on September 17, 2018. It launched alongside the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. Unlike some previous versions, iOS 12 focused less on visual design changes and more on improving speed, stability, and overall performance.
2. Which devices supported iOS 12?
iOS 12 supported all devices that were previously compatible with iOS 11, starting from the iPhone 5s up to the iPhone XS Max, as well as the iPad mini 2 and newer, iPad Air and later, and the iPod touch (6th generation). This was notable because Apple did not drop support for older devices, making iOS 12 accessible to more users than expected.
3. What was the main focus of iOS 12?
The primary goal of iOS 12 was performance improvements, especially on older devices. Apple optimized system animations, app launch times, and keyboard responsiveness. Even on older iPhones like the 5s or 6, apps opened faster, and multitasking felt smoother. This focus on speed and efficiency was widely praised, as it extended the usability of aging hardware.
4. What new features were introduced in iOS 12?
iOS 12 introduced Screen Time, a tool that allowed users to track and manage their device usage. It also added Group Notifications, making it easier to organize alerts. Siri Shortcuts were introduced, letting users create custom voice commands to trigger app actions. Other features included improved AR capabilities, better photo sharing, and more powerful search in Photos.
5. What improvements came to Messages and FaceTime?
Messages in iOS 12 introduced Memoji, customizable animated avatars that worked with Face ID for expressive communication. Animoji was expanded with new characters and tongue detection. FaceTime gained the long-awaited Group FaceTime feature, allowing up to 32 participants in a single call, though it was delayed and rolled out in a later update (iOS 12.1).
6. How did Siri improve in iOS 12?
Siri became smarter with Siri Shortcuts, allowing users to automate common tasks and link them to custom voice commands. For example, a user could create a shortcut like “Heading Home” to open Maps with directions, send a text, and adjust HomeKit devices all at once. Siri also gained more knowledge about sports, celebrities, and nutrition.
7. What changes came to Photos?
The Photos app gained a new For You tab, which highlighted memories, shared albums, and suggested edits. Search in Photos was significantly improved, allowing users to find images by places, events, or even objects within the photos. Sharing suggestions also made it easier to share pictures with people detected in the images.
8. How did Apple address digital wellbeing in iOS 12?
Apple introduced Screen Time in iOS 12 to help users monitor and control their device usage. It provided weekly reports on app usage, notifications received, and phone pickups. Parents could also use Parental Controls to set limits for children’s device use. This was Apple’s direct response to growing concerns about smartphone addiction.
9. Were there any new AR and machine learning features?
Yes, Apple expanded ARKit with version 2.0, which introduced shared experiences, persistent AR objects, and better 3D object detection. A new app called Measure used augmented reality to measure real-world objects with the iPhone’s camera. Machine learning improvements also enhanced Photos, Siri, and app recommendations across iOS 12.
10. How was iOS 12 received overall?
iOS 12 was praised for its performance improvements, particularly on older devices, which made it one of Apple’s most positively received updates in years. Features like Screen Time, Siri Shortcuts, and Group Notifications were useful additions, while fun extras like Memoji kept iOS engaging. Overall, iOS 12 was seen as a stable, polished release that balanced speed with meaningful new tools.
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