iPadOS 18: A Much-Needed Glowup
iPadOS 18 feels like a detailed car—it’s not a Ferrari by any means, but it’s fresh and it works.
Smart Script
One of the coolest things about iPadOS 18 is Smart Script.
It takes handwriting recognition to the next level, making your messy notes look super clear and polished.
For students and note-takers, this is a game-changer. It builds on the Scribble feature, so editing your handwritten notes feels just as easy as typing.
Calculator App
After what feels like forever, the iPad finally gets its own Calculator app.
It might seem like a small thing, but Apple has added some really cool features:
Handwriting recognition for solving math problems
Graphing functions
Unit conversions
Both basic and scientific modes
Enhanced Customization
iPadOS 18 gives you way more freedom to make your device your own:
You can place icons anywhere on the home screen grid
Icons can match your wallpaper colors
The Control Center now has multi-page support
There's also a new floating tab bar for easier app navigation
These feel gimmicky to me, but appreciated nonetheless.
Productivity Boosts
A few updates make getting stuff done a lot easier:
Live transcription and summaries for audio clips in Notes
Collapsible headers in Notes to keep things organized
Better integration between Calendar and Reminders
Enhanced screen sharing in SharePlay
Haven’t really tried most of these, but live transcript and summaries will be exciting (I'm attending my first college lecture soon).
Where’s the AI?
Apple’s new AI features (they're calling it Apple Intelligence) were announced, but sadly, they’re not included in this version of iPadOS 18.
Looks like we’ll have to wait for a later update for those cool AI-driven tools.
Those will be the real gamechanger imo.
Performance & Stability
Some users are loving the smooth experience with iPadOS 18, while others, especially those with older iPads, have reported bugs and lag.
Hopefully these issues will get ironed out in future updates.
Final Thoughts
iPadOS 18 is good. Apple Intelligence will make it great.
Thanks for reading!
Adi
Concepts ✍️
Concepts is an "unlimited canvas" note-taking app I've used for years (if you don't believe me, check my post history). I use it to take notes, brainstorm article ideas, and come up with startup ideas.
It's one of the few apps I highly recommend for every iPad user out there. And I genuinely believe this (again, check my post history if you wanna verify this claim).
Concepts has been kind enough to offer a free 30-day trial. And no, you don't have to enter your credit card info.