If you often watch domestic mobile phone conferences, you may have noticed a phenomenon that system functions are always described in great detail, fearing that users may not understand or use them. However, it's different with Apple. The system introduction at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June is not particularly detailed, and some functions require third-party media or developers to explore. Even at the September hardware product conference, some system functions may still not be mentioned, such as the ones I will discuss today. Personally, I find some of these functions quite practical and worth mentioning.

Firstly, RecoveryOS. For some Apple fans, this function may not be unfamiliar. Apple began using RecoveryOS for recovery or reset in iOS15, but it was then used on Apple Watch due to some inherent limitations. However, due to its convenience and usefulness, Apple finally introduced RecoveryOS to the iPhone 16 series in iOS18.

The reason why it's convenient is that once the iPhone 16 enters recovery mode, it no longer relies on a PC or Mac. Simply bring it close to another iPhone (or iPad, but it needs to be connected to the internet), and the other device will automatically download the latest iOS firmware and transfer it to the iPhone 16 that needs to be restored. Then, follow the necessary steps to restore the iPhone 16 to normal use. According to online reports, RecoveryOS is currently only available on the iPhone 16 series. Although the probability of using it is low, it's quite convenient when needed.

Another feature that will surely be welcomed by more iPhone users is the call recording function, which Apple has supported from iOS18, but only on iPhones that support Apple AI, i.e., the iPhone 15 Pro series and iPhone 16 series. However, starting with iOS18.1 beta4, more older iPhones can also use call recording. Unlike Android, both parties will receive a notification once the recording starts on an Apple device.

The expansion of the call recording function also indicates another issue: some functions that are said to require Apple AI support may actually be supported by older models in terms of hardware. In addition to the above two practical functions, starting from iOS18.1 beta 4, the iPhone 15 Pro series can also capture spatial photos. Personally, I find this function less practical and optional. Whether it's capturing spatial videos or spatial photos, the premise is to have an Apple Vision Pro.

However, the Apple Vision Pro is not only expensive, but its user base is unlikely to be proportional to that of iPhone users for a long time to come. Without an Apple Vision Pro, the spatial video and photo capture function is practically useless. Apple introduced this function on the iPhone to promote sales of the Apple Vision Pro, but I personally believe that this move has little effect, and iPhone users can almost ignore this function in the future.

To be honest, if you're really interested in iOS18, I recommend waiting for at least the .3 version before upgrading. After all, by then, the new system should be more stable.