Updating your iPhone’s iOS can be a little nerve-wracking. You’re either that person who taps “Update” the second Apple sends the notification, or someone who waits until your phone literally won’t let you ignore it anymore. Either way, now that you’ve installed iOS 18.5, it’s time to break down what this update really means for you. Let’s talk about the 6 essential things you should know right now.
Your Battery Is Doing a Weird Dance
One of the first things you might notice is that your battery suddenly feels like it’s sucking life way faster than usual. Don’t freak out. This is actually common after any big iOS update. Here’s why:
- When your phone updates to iOS 18.5, it immediately starts doing a ton of background work.
- It’s re-indexing everything—that means Spotlight search needs to get re-organized, your Photos app might be scanning for faces or places, and the system is generally trying to “get its bearings” in the new software environment.
All this work can drain your battery faster than usual.
Usually, within a day or two, once all the background tasks finish, your battery life should return to normal or even get a little better thanks to some efficiency tweaks in this update.
Quick tips:
- Restart your iPhone after the update.
- You can check how much battery different apps are using by heading over to Settings > Battery. If one app is being a battery hog, you can adjust or uninstall it.
- Avoid heavy gaming or streaming for the first 24 hours if you want to baby your battery.
READ MORE: Top 10 iOS 18.5 Features That Will Change How You Use Your iPhone
1. Siri’s Got Smarter and More Helpful
iOS 18.5 brought some meaningful upgrades to Apple’s digital assistant. She’s a bit quicker, better at understanding natural speech, and can do more complicated stuff inside apps.
For example, you can now ask Siri to toggle certain settings or dive deeper into apps without opening them yourself.
- Want to turn on Low Power Mode? Just say it.
- Want Siri to send a message with just the right vibe or even toss in an emoji? She’s got your back.
Of course, she’s not perfect, and sometimes still hears “play Justin Bieber” when you meant “play jazz”, but it looks like Apple’s trying to make Siri less of a headache and more like that go-to friend who just gets you.
2. Messages Are Getting a Serious Upgrade
If you’ve ever felt trapped in the bubble of green and blue message bubbles, iOS 18.5 is trying to fix that with RCS or Rich Communication Services, in case you skipped the tech class.
What this means: Messaging between iPhones and Android phones is getting way better. You know how iMessages (blue bubbles) have all the cool features like read receipts, high-quality photos, typing indicators, and reactions? Meanwhile, Android texts (green bubbles) have been stuck with basic SMS forever?
Well, Apple is starting to bridge that gap with RCS support. Now, you can send better quality photos, see when your Android friend is typing, and generally enjoy a richer messaging experience all without needing to convince them to switch to an iPhone.
Still, iMessage features are exclusive to Apple devices, but this update makes texting way less of a mess when you’re messaging outside the Apple ecosystem.
3. Apple Wallet Is Getting Smarter
If you’re the kind of person who loves using Apple Wallet, then you’ll want to know about this.
With iOS 18.5, Wallet now works with even more transit cards in new cities—yep, big names like Paris and Toronto are on the list. This means you can add your local transit card to your Wallet app and just tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for your ride.
Plus, Wallet now offers real-time updates for your transit rides in supported systems, like delays, changes, or gate info for flights. It’s basically turning your iPhone into a smarter travel companion that keeps you one step ahead.
4. Settings Got a Glow-Up
Sometimes the best updates are the ones you barely notice but totally appreciate once you find them.
With iOS 18.5, Settings got a subtle but powerful upgrade. You can now fine-tune haptic feedback (those tiny vibrations your phone makes) on a per-app basis.
- Hate your TikTok notifications shaking your whole phone? Tone it down.
- Love the satisfying buzz when you type? Turn it up.
Privacy is also getting more love. Apple continues to lock down user data with more transparency and controls, especially in areas like Location, Camera, and Microphone permissions. The update gives users better options to manage what data apps can access and when.
Accessibility got some fresh options too, making iPhones even friendlier for people with different needs, whether that’s easier speech recognition, improved visual settings, or more customizable controls.
5. Security Fixes That Keep You Safe
Last but definitely not least: security. iOS 18.5 patched over 30 known security vulnerabilities, including some critical fixes in WebKit, the engine behind Safari and many apps.
Why does this matter?
Because every security hole is a potential doorway for hackers, malware, or data theft. Installing this update means you’re slamming that door shut tight.
Even if you’re not a tech wizard, keeping your iPhone’s software updated is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your personal information, your passwords, your messages, and even your photos.
READ MORE: Top Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Specs You Need to Know Before Buying
Wrapping It Up
If you haven’t installed iOS 18.5 yet, you’re probably wondering: is it worth it?
The short answer: yes.
The long answer: it’s a solid update that brings meaningful improvements across the board—smarter Siri, better messaging, enhanced Wallet features, important privacy tweaks, and crucial security patches. Plus, once the initial battery weirdness settles, your iPhone should feel smoother and safer.
So go ahead, update your iPhone. Give yourself a day or two to get used to the changes, and then enjoy the little perks that come with Apple’s steady march forward.
Looking for more updates that make your tech life easier and more exciting? Try Virtual Oplossing—your go-to source for the latest digital trends, tips, and solutions that actually make sense.