As you probably already know, the latest iOS 12, announced back in July, has now arrived.

Whenever an update rolls around, many people are always hesitant, because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Users have had some time to play around with the update, which means we can get some expert reviews. Karissa Bell reviewed it for Mashable, covering the good and the bad and an overall assessment of iOS 12.

Here’s what you need to know in a nutshell:

The Good

Lightning fast even on older phones.

People are often reluctant to download upgrades because they’re worried that their phones will slow down. This isn’t an issue with iOS 12.

Apple’s focus on performance isn’t just limited to older devices. There are numerous under-the-hood tweaks that make iOS 12 faster and smoother for everyone. In practice, this may not be immediately obvious as the result is that, well, everything works the way you expect it to.

A smarter Siri is compatible with more third-party apps.

The app uses a drag-and-drop interface to let you chain multiple tasks together into a single shortcut. For example, you could get Siri to automatically make GIFs out of your photos, or ask Siri to “start your day” and automatically call up directions to work and information about the first appointment on your calendar.

It’s still not the most intuitive interface, but if you’re willing to spend a little time with it, you can get really creative. The app also provides a library of ready-made Shortcuts to make it easier to get started, and you can remix these to suit your needs.

Password management has never been easier.

Passwords are even easier to manage. iOS can now automatically generate secure passwords and store them in your iCloud keychain. If you use a password manager, like OnePassword or LastPass, you can autofill passwords in apps and websites without having to manually open the app. And SMS verification codes are automatically pulled into your keyboard, so you don’t have to switch over to the Messages app to grab the code.

Notifications are finally grouped by app.

It’s a small change — and one, frankly, we shouldn’t have had to wait until iOS 12 for — but it makes dealing with notifications significantly less painful.

There’s also a feature called “Instant Tuning,” which lets you adjust notification settings directly from the notification itself. You can change the app’s settings to “deliver quietly,” which allows the notification to surface in Notification Center, but nowhere else, or turn them off altogether.

The Bad

Screen Time can be confusing to navigate.

Screen Time maps your app usage, providing insight into how you spend your time on your phone.

[The] issue with Screen Time is that the controls don’t feel like they’ll actually do much to change behavior. In my case, I clearly spend too much time on Twitter, and get far too many email notifications.

But it’s not immediately clear what I should actually do about that. Sure, I can adjust my notification settings or set app-limits, but it would be nice if Screen Time could actually provide personalized recommendations about settings to change, much like the way itprovides suggestions to maximize your storage.

If you’re a seasoned iPhone user you’ll be fine. If not, you’ll need to put in a little practice – but you’ll get there.

Memojis are kind of meh.

Sort of like Apple’s answer to Snapchat’s wildly popular Bitmoji, Memoji’s custom avatars are like the next step up from Animoji. I feel the same way about Memoji as I do Animoji. It’s entertaining the first few times you use it, and it’s great for demonstrating the power of the TrueDepth camera, but it still feels like a bit of a gimmick.

They might be bland, but they’re still preferable to a live video chat when you haven’t changed out of your PJs yet.

The Bottom Line

iOS 12 may not have some of the big marquee features of previous years’ updates, but it still delivers massive improvements where it counts most.

If you’re still wondering whether or not to download iOS 12, then the answer is yes – do it. You won’t regret it.

Oh, and if you read this out of interest because you’re thinking of switching to, or upgrading, your iPhone, you should stop in at Digicape, SA’s largest independent Apple retailer.

[source:mashable]