See the main new features and changes coming with the next iPhone operating system

Apple announced new features for iPhones through iOS 18 and the company’s AI-based intelligence system called “Apple Intelligence” at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, including scheduled iMessages, interface customization and unique emojis.

With iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence arriving later this year, according to Apple executive Craig Federighi, iPhone users will have access to a smarter, more customizable and more powerful mobile operating system.

“We’re just getting started, I hope you’re as excited as I am about the road ahead,” Federighi said during Apple’s WWDC keynote.

Here are some of the new features in iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence.

When will iOS 18 be released? Which phones can use iOS 18?

Apple announced iOS 18 will be released this fall as a free download for iPhone Xs and later.

Improved home screen, control center customization

When iPhone users unlock their devices, they typically find a wallpaper and a ton of apps. With iOS 18, users will be able to further customize their home screen in a variety of ways, including:

• Place app icons and widgets anywhere on the home screen grid.

• Turning your iPhone into dark mode, which now changes app icons.

• Changing the color of the home screen.

Control Center is also more customizable, as iPhone users will be able to group their favorite controls, including those created by third-party apps. The flashlight and camera shortcuts on the lock screen can also be changed.

Scheduled messages and more tapback reactions coming with iOS 18

The Messages app will have many new features thanks to iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence, Apple leaders announced on Monday.

Scheduled messages, emoji ringtones, and text effects were announced as improvements to the Message app. Text effects will allow users to visually amplify their messages, while emoji touches are ways to respond to text messages more expressively.

Rich Communication Services (RCS) is another new edition of Messages coming via iOS 18 and the improvement will allow for easier texting between iPhone and Android users.

Welcome, ‘Genmojis’

With the help of Apple Intelligence, users will be able to create personalized “Genmoji” to match any moment. All users will have to do is provide a description and a Genmoji will appear, along with other options to choose from. Genmojis can also be added inline to messages.

Another feature available in Messages due to Apple Intelligence is the ability for users to create “completely original images” of people in sketches and animated shapes. Apple used a contact’s birthday as an example, and a custom sketch was created and sent through the Messages app.

This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: iOS 18 release, features and changes: Apple launches new operating system for iPhone