Apple is preparing to unveil exciting updates to its Messages app with the release of iOS 18, as reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. These enhancements, set to debut at the WWDC 2024, aim to enrich user interaction and introduce long-awaited features.
A significant update to the Messages app includes a major revamp of the Tapback feature, which has been part of the app since iOS 10. Traditionally, Tapback allows users to quickly respond to messages with basic icons such as hearts, thumbs up, thumbs down, laughter, exclamation points, and question marks. In iOS 18, these icons will receive a colorful redesign, offering a more vibrant and engaging way to react.
More notably, the Tapback feature will be expanded to support a wide range of emojis. This update means users will be able to use any emoji to react to messages directly in the conversation thread, a feature that brings Messages in line with other messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram, which have offered similar functionality for years. Currently, Messages users can only use emojis as stickers, but the new system will allow for seamless in-line emoji reactions.
Additionally, iOS 18 is expected to introduce the ability to schedule messages. This much-requested feature will enable users to compose messages and set them to be sent at a specific time, providing greater flexibility and convenience for managing communications.
Apple's unveiling of iOS 18 and other major software updates will take place during the WWDC keynote on June 10. The event will be streamed live on the Apple Events website, YouTube, Apple TV app, and Apple Developer app, beginning at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. The new features in the Messages app will also be available on iPad and Mac, ensuring a consistent experience across Apple devices.
