Apples neglect of customization on iOS has been a sore point for both long-time iPhone users and dual wielders of Android and iPhones like myself. With
iOS 18, Apple is finally addressing this issue and has introduced a plethora of new features, like the ability to move icons wherever you want on the home screen, a reworked
control center and, finally, a way to customize app icons. Many of these additions are features Android users have enjoyed for years, but, in typical Apple fashion, it has its own unique twist or set of limitations.
iOS 18's customization upgrades borrows liberally from Android, but adds its own twist.
Now, Ive been using the
iOS 18 developer beta since its release, and Ive wanted to talk about its customization features since then. But I decided to wait till a few of my most-used apps, like Instagram, got support for iOS 18s tinting feature to get a better read on how most apps will behave with it. Ive also been keeping a close eye on my
Pixel 8as Material You customizations to see how the two compare. Here are my first impressions of Apple and Googles two very different approaches to customization, which, surprisingly, share a lot in common.
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