Apple iOS 18.6.1 Surprise iPhone Software: Should You Upgrade?
This post has the initial thoughts on the new release and I'll be updating this post over the coming week and will make a final assessment on Friday, Aug. 8.
Who Is It For And How Do You Get It?
Apple iOS 18.6.1 is compatible with all iPhones from 2018 on. That's the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Plus and iPhone XR models and every phone since. That means the iPhone 11 series, iPhone 12, iPhone 13 and so on right up to the iPhone 16 series, plus the second- and third-generation iPhone SE models as well as the iPhone 16e. If you have any of these phones except the first three, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Plus and iPhone XR, they will work with iOS 26.
To update, find the iPhone's Settings app, click on General, then Software Update. Then, choose Download and Install, and the software will download from there. This is a medium download, around 720MB, but it should be reasonably quick to install.
What It's About
This update, though is recommended for all users, is specifically to introduce a benefit for millions of Apple Watch users. A patent dispute between Apple and medical equipment company Masimo led to the blood oxygen monitoring feature on U.S.-sold Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to be disabled. It never appeared on Apple Watch Series 10 models sold in the States.
The software update means all compatible Apple Watches sold anywhere to have the feature again, once this update and a watchOS 11.6.1 update are installed.
It's essentially a workaround: you still activate the Blood Oxygen app on your Apple Watch, but it now transmits data to the iPhone where it is calculated and analyzed, with the result found in the Health app under the Respiratory section.
Compatible Apple Watches comprise Series 7, Series 8, Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2. You can read more about the blood oxygen feature's return here.
Apple iOS 18.6.1 Security
No, there are no security features in this update, Apple says. Mind you, there were more than 20 in the last one, and that was scarcely more than two weeks ago, so perhaps that's no surprise.
Initial Reactions
Some users have reported a snappier performance on their iPhones though nobody has said it introduced new problems, I believe. One Redditor said their iPad now had a blank screen, but to be clear there hasn't been an iPad update.
Apple iOS 18.6.1 Initial Verdict: Update
If you are in the U.S. and have an Apple Watch or are going to get one in the future, this is a no-brainer. For the rest of us, go ahead, there's no harm here and maybe you'll find a snappier iPhone as a result. If you have an Apple Watch, don't forget to install watchOS 11.6.1 as well.
Final verdict next week.
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