The updated Control Center in iOS 18 has emerged as more than just a simple redesign. Apple has consistently rolled out enhancements to Control Center through software updates, and iOS 18.4 amplifies this trend with numerous valuable improvements.
#1: Enhanced Ambient Music Controls
With iOS 18.4, there’s a newly introduced section in Control Center dubbed Ambient Music. This section offers four distinct controls:
- Chill
- Productivity
- Sleep
- Wellbeing
Each option allows users to quickly access an Apple Music playlist tailored to the specific mood. Additionally, users can set a different playlist as the default for each control, choosing from either custom selections or suggested built-in playlists.
The Ambient Music controls can be adjusted to occupy one, two, or four slots in Control Center and can also be assigned to your iPhone’s Action Button or Lock Screen.
#2: Visual Intelligence & Siri Communication
The section in Control Center previously known as ‘Apple Intelligence’ has been updated to ‘Apple Intelligence and Siri’, now featuring two new functionalities.
In addition to the existing toggle for ‘Type to Siri’, users can now add both ‘Talk to Siri’ and ‘Visual Intelligence’ as new options.
The ‘Talk to Siri’ function activates Siri in voice mode, akin to the action of pressing the side button. Meanwhile, ‘Visual Intelligence’ brings a key Apple camera feature—previously exclusive to the iPhone 16—to the iPhone 15 Pro and 16e, despite the absence of Camera Control. This feature works exceptionally well as an assignment for the Action Button.
#3: Design Enhancements in iOS 18.4 Control Center
Apple has also introduced several design upgrades with the arrival of iOS 18.4. Among these enhancements are:
- Focus control now features up and down arrows
- Brightness slider animations vary based on the intensity level
- Volume slider also incorporates dynamic animations
The Focus adjustment clarifies that tapping the arrows reveals all available Focus modes. The right-side arrow toggles the current Focus on and off, while the left-side arrow does the same.
The animations on the brightness and volume sliders showcase Apple’s signature design flair. For instance, as you adjust the brightness, the sun symbol visually reacts by shrinking when dimmed and expanding when brightened.
iOS 18.4 Control Center: Conclusion
The Control Center has undergone numerous updates throughout its existence, and the latest version substantiates its status as the finest yet. Users now enjoy the freedom to fully personalize their Control Center setups and select from an ever-expanding array of controls—creating a compelling user experience. The innovations introduced in iOS 18.4 further solidify Apple’s commitment to enhancing Control Center.
What features or changes in the iOS 18.4 Control Center are you looking forward to the most? Share your thoughts in the comments.
