With today’s releases of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Federico Viticci of MacStories is back with its annual in-depth review of Apple’s latest updates.

Federico, everyone’s favorite opinionated and caffeinated weirdo, leaves no stone unturned in these reviews. This time, we get an in-depth look at all of iOS 18’s big and small changes, as well as Federico’s more general thoughts on the state of the Apple ecosystem.

In his review, Federico explains that iOS 18 is “a smaller update than previous years, but a fun one nonetheless.” It starts with the changes to the Home screen, which he describes as “a major rethinking of the Home screen and its customization options.”

“Despite some remaining limitations on icon placement and widget size options, I think iOS 18’s more dynamic home screen layout is a success. Apple has managed to preserve the ideological sanctity of the iPhone’s icon grid while opening it up to user creativity, and that’s a great thing in my eyes. The new system maintains the underlying grid system, so it’s difficult to create something that looks bad or messy. But by allowing empty spaces between icons, it opens up more personalization opportunities for everyone.

An almost Android-like level of customization combined with the design ethos of iOS is a big theme for me this year, and the new home screen in iOS 18 is another reflection of that.”

I was especially curious to hear Federico’s thoughts on the redesign of the Photos app in iOS 18. I’m a big fan of the changes and it sounds like he is too:

“Earlier this summer, I thought Apple would reverse the drastic redesign of Photos like they did with Safari three years ago. Instead, they tweaked it based on user feedback but stayed true to their underlying vision, and I think that was the right decision. I miss the carousel at the top of the screen that I covered in my first impressions story back in July, and I still hope Apple brings it back at some point. All in all, though, I think the company has achieved a solid redesign that makes Photos more than just a bucket to browse your photos. Now it’s more of a destination where you can find joy in rediscovering memories.”

As always, I refer you to MacStories for Federico’s full review of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. I’ve read all of Federico’s reviews over the years, and this one may be his best. Different and more personal than ever, it offers a fantastic insight into the current state of Apple’s software platforms and a preview of what might come next.

Be sure to join the Club MacStories membership program to get even more from MacStories, including some special content from Federico’s review.

And of course, be sure to check out 9to5Mac’s complete coverage of iOS 18. We have recaps of the new features, how-to guides, and more.