Top 3 Key Points:
- App Locking: Secure built-in iPhone apps with Face ID or Touch ID for enhanced data protection.
- Dark Home Screen Icons: Dark mode gets a visual upgrade, automatically tinting app icons to match the darker theme.
- Android Influence: These features mirror existing functionalities on Android, suggesting a potential convergence between the two platforms.
The rivalry between iOS and Android is a constant source of debate, with users passionately defending their preferred platform. Apple’s walled garden approach has traditionally contrasted with Android’s openness, but recent developments suggest a shift. Regulatory pressure from the EU’s DMA rules is pushing Apple to loosen its grip and offer more user control, mirroring features long available on Android.
Following our previous report on iOS 18’s app customization options inspired by Android, new leaks hint at even more familiar territory for Android users. MacRumors suggests iOS 18 will introduce an app locking system and dark mode for home screen icons.
Apple’s app locking system, reportedly for built-in apps initially, allows users to secure sensitive data within apps like Messages, Notes, and Photos. This eliminates the need for workarounds like shortcuts and provides a more intuitive way to safeguard information. Face ID and Touch ID authentication add a layer of security.
Dark mode, a popular feature on both platforms, is getting an upgrade in iOS 18. Currently, dark mode only affects the background of the Home Screen. With this update, app icons will also automatically adjust to a darker color scheme, creating a more visually cohesive experience that complements the customizable app icons introduced earlier.
While initial reports suggest these features might first apply to Apple’s built-in apps, it’s unlikely they’ll remain exclusive for long. Given the popularity of many third-party apps, opening up these functionalities to the broader App Store ecosystem is a logical next step.
These leaks paint a picture of iOS 18 potentially borrowing some successful elements from Android. Whether this signifies a true convergence or simply strategic adaptation remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: users are likely to benefit from this increased feature parity.
