One of iOS 18’s coolest features just got even better

By Bryan M. Wolfe Published July 9, 2024

An iPhone home screen with iOS 18. — Apple

In June, we told you how Apple had updated the built-in flashlight’s interface in iOS 18. The latest iOS 18 beta 3 update includes further enhancements to the flashlight UI, making it more attractive and user-friendly.

TechCrunch explains that in the iOS 18 beta 3, the flashlight design now includes a curved line to indicate both the width of the beam and its brightness. The UI also now includes a dotted, curved line at the top to indicate the flashlight’s peak intensity mark. These latest flashlight changes are minor, and it’s unclear whether they will be included in the final version of iOS 18. However, the changes demonstrate that Apple intends to revitalize a feature originally introduced in 2013.

Recommended Videos

OK this new flashlight UI in iOS 18 beta 3 has absolutely no right to go this hard. Too cool pic.twitter.com/vIyaiBYyHp

— Sebastiaan de With (@sdw) July 8, 2024

In previous versions of iOS, it was possible to change the brightness levels of your iPhone’s flashlight. In iOS 15, you can also adjust the beam pattern of the light, allowing you to make the flashlight beam wider or narrower.

For iPhone users with iOS 18, the flashlight icon is conveniently located in the Control Center. Tapping on it brings up a user-friendly interface with a well-sized flashlight icon at the top middle of the device. From there, you can easily adjust the brightness level of the light and, now, its radius.

If you want to try out the new flashlight tool and other released features of iOS 18, you can install the current beta version on your supported iPhone. However, since we are only on the third iOS 15 beta, more betas will be released before the official version arrives, likely in September. Beta releases may include only some new features and can contain bugs. Apple advises against installing iOS 18 on your main iPhone. If you prefer to wait, it’s better to install iOS 18 when the first public beta is released, which is expected to happen soon.

Apple announced iOS 18 at last month’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) alongside iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, and macOS 15 Sequoia.

Former Mobile and A/V Freelancer

Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.

Topics

Gaming

Don’t breathe easy just yet. Apple and Microsoft aren’t done with price hikes.

Xbox and Apple device price hikes could be a warning for the rest of the tech industry.

Earlier today, Microsoft raised the price of its Xbox consoles by up to $150 in the U.S. Just a few hours before that, Apple announced a similar move for its Mac and iPad portfolio, while also raising the sticker price of its Vision Pro headset and several other products except the iPhone. But it seems these two giants are not done with price hikes yet.

Neither company has explicitly said that more price hikes are coming, but their statements suggest otherwise. Take, for example, this statement that Apple shared with The Washington Post earlier today.

Phones

Samsung’s wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 may fix the two foldable flaws people still complain about

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide may be the complete foldable Samsung had envisioned

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

Samsung’s next premium book-style foldable may do more than refine its design and get the annual spec bump. A new leak suggests the rumored Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide could directly address two of the most annoying foldable complaints, namely the weight and display crease.

According to sources who have handled samples of Samsung’s wider Fold 8 model, the phone feels surprisingly light. he actual weight is still unconfirmed, but previous leaks have pointed to around 201g, which would make it lighter than the 215g Galaxy Z Fold 7 and even the 214g Galaxy S26 Ultra. This might not sound like a big deal till you've actually used a foldable phone. I recently reviewed the Motorola Razr Fold, and despite its slim design, the heft is what kept me away from switching to it for a while.

Phones

This Oppo phone has a wild 3D back, but its magnetic Bubble is the real party trick

Oppo’s Reno 16 Pro wants to be your camera, editor, and vanity mirror

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

Oppo has started rolling out the Reno 16 Pro globally, giving Europe its newest style-heavy, camera-focused Android phone with a few impressive numbers on the spec sheet.

The European model is listed in Germany and Austria in a single 12GB RAM + 512GB storage configuration. It costs €1,099, though Oppo is offering a launch discount that brings it down to €899 until July 31. Pre-orders are open now, with release set for July 3. Considering how the Reno lineup is considered the brand's upper mid-range model, the price is nothing to scoff at. But Oppo isn't raising the prices for nothing. It is pushing the Reno line closer to premium territory, with cameras, design, and creator-friendly extras doing most of the selling.