Apple released the first update for iPhone and iPad in 2025. As for functions, there is nothing new here – the update is focused on eliminating bugs and errors, and increasing the smoothness/stability of work.
In particular, the iOS 18.2.1 update fixes problems with the sensor on the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, as well as strange bugs in the operation of the camera and flashlight on other compatible models.
The update is already out and weighs about 300 MB. You can check the software's relevance in the settings. If you don't receive an offer to update, wait a few days or check your device is up-to-date.
The update is available only for iPhones starting from XR, as well as iPhone SE second and third generation.
A bigger update, iOS 18.3, is expected at the end of January 2025, but it won't have any new features either. They were saved for iOS 18.4, which will be released in the spring. For example, it will feature the improved Siri announced at WWDC 2024.
It is expected that all iPhones with iOS 18 support will be able to update to iOS 19. Thus, iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, which were released in 2018, will receive the update in particular. The situation with tablets is almost the same: iPadOS 19 will receive all current iPads, except for the iPad of the 7th generation.
iOS 19 should be introduced in June 2025. In turn, Google plans to release Android 16 much earlier than Android 15 and previous versions. Next year, users will not have to wait for autumn: the new OS will be released in the second quarter (April-June) of 2025.