iOS18 has come to be Apple's most important update for the iPhone over the years. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, Apple also seems to be planning a review of the iPhone control center. 

As part of the new design, the Control Center has acquired a "new music widget" and improved its interface with HomeKit smart home controls. The settings app is also being revamped with a "cleaner interface, better organization, and much improved search," Gurman says - an update that should also be extended to macos users.

This is welcome news given that the Control Center has received few updates over the years. With this quick Settings panel, you can access frequently used settings and home devices by sliding down from the top right corner of the best iPhone. The control center, introduced in Ios7, last underwent a massive overhaul on the iPhone X in 2017, when Apple condensed it from a 3-page quick access control set to 1 view. That same update added customization options, shortcuts to the Notes app, and more. 

Gurman does not elaborate on the expected control center changes in iOS18, but you can guess in the meantime. One long-term complaint that Apple users have is how the audio controls are limited in the current settings. Now the audio control is crushed into a small 2x2 square near the top right of the screen. In iOS18, users can customize this to make the UI bigger during playback, or to include album art and a progress bar by default.

This additional level of customization allows you to turn your iPhone into HomeKit, a universal remote for your smart home device The Home section of the Control Center into an iOS system with up to 6 access points in an automatic layout that appears to be reorganized at random intervals. Sari will appear and it will be difficult to access them at a glance. Gurman's mention of the new music widget means that iOS18 will eventually allow users to choose which accessories to include in this menu, as well as make the tiles bigger.

Of course, you'll have to wait to find out more about what iOS18 is preparing for. RUMOR has it that the preview will be shown on WWDC6/10 in 2024 and the beta will be shown before it is officially released in the FALL.