iPhone users to be able to change default apps with iOS 18.2 update: Find details inside

iPhone users are set to gain the ability to change their default apps, similar to what Android users have enjoyed. With the iOS 18.2 update, users will be able to change default apps, including mail, contacts, calls, and other categories. Additionally, the iOS 18 update will introduce several AI features for select iPhones, along with functional upgrades catering to a broader range of devices.

As the name suggests, Default Apps will enable users to designate third-party apps as the default option for contacts, mail, and even browsers. For many years, Apple has limited this option to its own apps. However, it finally opens the window for third-party apps, allowing them to become the de-facto option for contacts, mail, and browsing. 

Once the device gets the iOS 18.2 update, iPhones will receive a new option in Settings, where users will get the option to change the default apps, such as Chrome instead of Safari, Gmail instead of Apple Mail. The beta version of the update has also revealed other options, which include keyboard, passwords and codes, and call filtering, which can be potentially utilized as a spam filter. 

Largely attributed to regulatory pressure from all corners, Apple feels the need to loosen its stance. It is to be noted that under the EU’s pressure, Apple started to offer a USB-C charging option. 

Alongside the Default Apps feature, iOS 18.2 will introduce a new way to monitor battery charging status for iPhones, dubbed ‘Battery Intelligence’. Its full application can be known only after the public version is rolled out in the upcoming months. 

The iOS 18.2 beta version has already showcased a glimpse of these upcoming features. Reports suggest that Apple is likely to roll out the new iOS 18 update by December 9. 

In other related news, Google's Gemini app has officially launched on iOS. It will bring the tech giant's advanced AI assistant to iPhone users. Combining voice, text, and camera inputs, it offers a highly versatile experience.