With the introduction of iOS 18, Apple announced its most significant redesign of the Photos app to date. The revamped app features a single-pane interface that emphasizes collections and curation while allowing full customization according to user preference.
The launch of the Photos app, however, sparked mixed reactions. Personally, I have appreciated it since its initial launch, but Apple has implemented numerous adjustments in later iOS 18 updates to tackle prevalent user feedback. Additionally, several noteworthy new features have been introduced.
iOS 18 Betas
When it was first introduced at WWDC in June, the Photos app design showcased an ambitious Carousel interface that allowed users to swipe left and right to view highlights that updated daily, showcasing favorite people, pets, places, and more.
However, with the launch of iOS 18 beta 5 in August, Apple completely removed the Carousel view. This change represents the most significant structural adjustment made to the Photos app redesign.
iOS 18.1
iOS 18.1 marked the first major update for iOS 18, primarily concentrating on the implementation of Apple Intelligence features, which included enhancements to the Photos app.
- The Photos search function allows users to find photos and videos simply by describing their content.
- Clean Up feature removes distractions from photos.
- Memory movies can be made by detailing the story you’d like to see.
Additionally, iOS 18.1 fixed one significant bug affecting the Photos app:
- Resolved an issue where videos shot at 4K 60 could stutter during playback scrubbing when the device was warm.
iOS 18.2
While iOS 18.1 concentrated on enhancing the Photos app with Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.2 focused on refining the new design, incorporating several key improvements.
- Improvements to video playback, including frame-by-frame scrubbing and an option to disable auto-looping during playback.
- Enhanced navigation within Collections views, allowing users to swipe right to return to the previous view.
- Options to clear Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history.
- Favorites album now appears in the Utilities collection, in addition to Pinned Collections.
I have found the swipe-to-return feature to be one of the most beneficial navigation enhancements to the Photos app since iOS 18. It significantly accelerates and simplifies navigation.
Conclusion
As I mentioned earlier, I am very fond of the redesigned Photos app. While such a significant overhaul of a frequently used iPhone app can initially be disconcerting, I believe Apple has successfully achieved a desirable balance between customization and curated content.
My top recommendation for individuals frustrated with the new Photos app is to explore the customization options available.
- Launch the Photos app.
- Scroll down and select “Customize & Reorder.”
- Select and arrange the specific order of different options and hide any that are unnecessary.
The revamped Photos app also incorporates one of the most effective features of Apple Intelligence: Clean Up. Personally, I have found Clean Up invaluable for removing distractions from my images, whether it’s an unwanted object or person spoiling a perfect shot.
What are your thoughts on the redesigned Photos app introduced in iOS 18? Have your concerns been addressed with subsequent software updates? What improvements are you still hoping for? Share your insights in the comments!
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