The launch of iOS 18 marks the arrival of several new accessibility features, including ones that let you feel music and control an iPhone with your eyes.
Apple’s WWDC 2024 event was jam-packed with exciting announcements and new features set to roll out with iOS 18. Beyond the customization galore and the bucket load of AI-powered elements, the new software for iPhones and iPads comes with a few potent accessibility-oriented additions. Apple has always catered to a wider demographic of users, and has consistently promoted accessibility settings to ensure fewer roadblocks for anyone who’s using its products.
Despite being tailor-made for people with disabilities or those who have difficulty interacting with their devices, these four accessibility features found in iOS 18 have the potential to be used by just about anyone looking to further enhance the experience of using their iPhone or iPad. At the time of writing, these accessibility options are available in the developer beta of iOS 18, and should soon make their way to a stable release later down the road. With that said, here’s everything you need to know about the new batch of inclusive controls for Apple devices.Eye Tracking
It doesn’t get any more futuristic than controlling something using just your eyes — something that is now a possibility in iOS and iPadOS 18. To test out Eye Tracking on your device, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Eye Tracking, and get started with the calibration process. You will soon be able to interact with your iPhone or iPad using nothing but your eyes. Glancing at different toggles and parts of your screen will prompt your device to select that element, and holding your stare for a bit will perform the dwell action, which by default is set to a single tap. You can perform more specific tasks like summoning Siri or using the volume buttons through the AssistiveTouch shortcut.
In our testing, the feature in its current state is definitely far from perfect. Despite carrying out the calibration process in more than adequate lighting, the iPhone consistently tracked the wrong options on screen. The complementary Dwell control, while useful, might take some getting used to.
