With the introduction of iOS 18, Apple has significantly improved the Notes app and equipped it with a variety of new features. These changes make the app an even more powerful tool for anyone who regularly takes notes - be it for work, school or everyday life. Below you will learn all about the new features of the iOS 18 Notes app that will take your note-taking experience to a whole new level. From improved integration with other apps to innovative tools designed specifically for the iPad and Apple Pencil, we will shed light on every detail of these new features.
Apple's Notes app has been a staple of the iOS ecosystem for years and has established itself as one of the most versatile tools for jotting down thoughts, lists, and important information. But with the update to iOS 18, Apple has enhanced the app in ways that make it an even more powerful companion. Whether you're a student who needs to jot down math formulas, a business traveler who wants to transcribe phone calls, or simply someone who wants to better organize their daily tasks, the new features in iOS 18 have something for everyone.
Math Notes: Your intelligent calculator in the notes app
One of the most exciting new features in the iOS 18 Notes app is the introduction of Math Notes. This feature allows you to solve math equations right in the Notes app by seamlessly integrating with the Calculator app. This means you no longer have to leave your notes to perform calculations—everything happens right in the app. With Math Notes, you can solve equations like your monthly budget, splitting a restaurant bill, or calculating debt for a group trip right in the note. The way it works is incredibly simple: you write your equation and add an equal sign—and the result is displayed. The app also supports the use of variables, which is especially useful when you need to perform more complex calculations.
Math Notes feature also supports Apple Pencil
Then, if you type in “dinner + movie + dessert” and add an equal sign, the app will automatically show you the total. You can use these variables in further calculations or even adjust them to see how changes affect the final result. Another impressive feature of Math Notes is the ability to convert units directly in the app. Just type in what you want to convert, for example “10 euros to US dollars,” and add an equal sign—the app will give you the result immediately. This feature is especially useful for traveling or doing international business. On iPad: For iPad users, the Math Notes feature offers additional convenience as it can be used with the Apple Pencil. You can simply write math equations by hand, and the Notes app will solve them automatically. Unit conversions also work with handwritten notes, making the workflow even more intuitive.
Audio Recording and Transcription: A Powerful Tool for Meetings and More
Another highlight of the iOS 18 Notes app is the ability to make audio recordings directly in the app and have them transcribed in real time. This feature is especially valuable for anyone who regularly needs to record meetings, lectures or interviews. To start a recording, simply tap the paperclip icon in the Notes app toolbar and select the "Record Audio" option. Another tap on the red record button starts the recording. Once you're done, you can stop the recording with the stop button. The really impressive thing about this feature is the automatic transcription. Any audio recording you make in the Notes app is converted to text in real time. This allows you to read what was said later, search for specific keywords or even mark important passages. However, this feature is currently limited to English and to iPhone 12 and newer models.
- Phone recordings: iOS 18 also introduces the ability to record phone calls. These recordings are saved in the Notes app and come with the same transcription features as regular audio recordings. This makes the Notes app an invaluable tool for business professionals, journalists, and anyone who needs to document important phone conversations.
Transcription summaries (Apple Intelligence): Efficient processing of audio data
One of the most advanced features in the new Notes app is the ability to summarize transcriptions of audio recordings or phone calls using Apple Intelligence. (Not available in the EU for now!) This feature requires a device that supports Apple Intelligence, such as the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max or Macs and iPads with an M1 or M2 chip. This feature lets you turn long transcriptions into concise summaries, which is especially useful when you want to quickly access the key points of a meeting or interview. The summaries are automatically generated and give you an overview of the essential content without having to read the entire transcription.
Collapsible sections: Organize your notes more clearly
Organizing long notes can sometimes be challenging, especially when they contain a lot of headings and subheadings. With iOS 18, Apple introduced a new feature that allows you to collapse sections of your notes. When you create a heading, subheading, or title, you can now simply tap the arrow next to the heading to collapse the section. This is especially useful if you manage long documents or complex projects in your Notes app and want to quickly navigate between the different sections. To reopen the section, just tap the arrow again.
Highlight colors: More expressiveness for your notes
Another significant new feature in the Notes app is the ability to color highlight typed text. This feature is ideal for highlighting important information in your notes or for creating visual structure in your notes. Apple has added five colors: pink, purple, orange, mint, and blue. These colors can be added through the Notes app's formatting interface. All you have to do is tap the Aa button while a word or phrase is selected and you can then select the color you want. You can also use multiple colors in a sentence or combine colors with other text formatting, such as bold and italics. This feature is especially useful when you're taking notes for presentations or study preparation, as color highlighting helps you identify and understand the most important information more quickly.
Attach files: More flexibility and efficiency
With iOS 18, Apple has redesigned the file attachment icon in the Notes app and expanded its functionality. Now you can easily attach files from the Files app, making adding documents to a note much easier. This is especially useful for managing projects or saving important documents to your notes. In addition to the ability to attach files, the Notes app now also offers the ability to record audio files directly. This feature was previously only possible in a roundabout way, but now it is fully integrated and allows you to save all relevant information directly to the note. The previous options, such as selecting photos or videos, scanning documents, or taking photos and videos, remain. However, the tool icon in the toolbar has been changed from a camera to a paperclip to reflect the expanded functionality.
Notes Settings: More control over your notes
iOS 18 introduces new settings for the Notes app that give you more control over your notes. Tapping the three dots icon in the top right of a note takes you to the Notes settings, where you'll find a number of new options. One of the most useful new features is the ability to view recent notes. The Notes app shows you a list of your most recently edited notes, making it easier to quickly access frequently used notes. In addition, you can now also customize the Math Notes feature. You can choose between suggested results and results that are automatically inserted when you type an equal sign. Alternatively, you can turn the feature off completely if you don't need it. The previous features for searching through notes, moving notes, adding lines and grids, and changing the attachment view are still available, giving you maximum flexibility in organizing your notes.
Lock screen notes: Quick access to your ideas
With iOS 18, you can now open the Notes app directly from the lock screen by adding Control Center controls. This feature allows you to place the Notes app in one of the slots previously occupied by the flashlight or camera, allowing you to quickly and easily jot down your thoughts without having to navigate through menus. Previously, you could also access the Notes app from the lock screen, but you had to open the Control Center to do so. This new feature saves time and ensures that you no longer lose spontaneous ideas.
Smart Script (iPadOS 18): Refine your handwriting
For iPad users, Apple has introduced an innovative feature called Smart Script. This feature uses machine learning to improve your handwriting and refine what you write. It doesn't change your own handwriting; it just smooths it out, makes it straighter, and makes it easier to read. Smart Script also lets you convert typed text into your own handwriting, correct handwritten spelling mistakes, touch and drag words to move them or change the spacing, and scribble over what you've written to erase it. This feature makes writing with Apple Pencil even more intuitive and allows you to personalize your notes in ways that weren't possible before.
Writing Tools (Apple Intelligence): Improve your texts
Writing tools are another feature of Apple Intelligence introduced with iOS 18.1. These tools help you improve your writing. They can't create text from scratch, but they are very useful when it comes to making corrections, adjusting the tone, or creating summaries. Writing tools check your text for spelling and grammatical errors, including word choice and sentence structure. You can accept all suggestions with a tap, or go through them one by one and read the explanations. In addition, you can edit your text to change the tone without changing the content.
There are three options to choose from
Options include Friendly, Professional, and Concise, for example. This is especially useful if you want to strike a certain tone in your communication, whether it's for work emails or personal messages. Finally, the writing tools also offer options for selecting and summarizing text. You can create a paragraph, pull out the main points, create a list, or even a table. These summaries are available not only in the Notes app, but also in other apps like Mail or Messages.
Image Stick (Apple Intelligence): AI-powered image generation for your notes
Another interesting feature coming to iOS 18 is Image Wand, a feature that works with Image Playground, Apple's upcoming AI-powered image creation app. This feature lets you create images in the Notes app to go with what you've written. On iPad, you can make a rough sketch of what you want to insert, and Apple Intelligence will create a more polished version from it. This is especially useful if you want to add visual content to your notes without having to resort to external graphics programs. The feature that inserts images into the Notes app is called Image Wand, and it's not yet clear when exactly it will be introduced, but already it promises to be a powerful tool for anyone looking to enrich their notes with visual content.
(Note: All Apple Intelligence features are currently not available in the EU!)
New features in the iOS 18 Notes app: Productivity redefined
With iOS 18, Apple has significantly expanded the Notes app, adding a host of new features that make it an indispensable tool for anyone who wants to stay organized and productive. From the smart math note-taking feature to the ability to transcribe audio and record phone calls, the new features offer a wide range of possibilities that will take your Notes app to a whole new level. Particularly exciting are the features that have been specifically designed for the iPad and optimally integrate the Apple Pencil. So keep an eye out for the update and discover how these new features can enrich your digital life. Looking for the best accessories? Visit our Amazon Storefront and discover a variety of products from top providers, including for HomeKit! (Image: Apple)
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