Lo, behold! The stable version of iOS 18 hath arrived at last! Verily, this latest iteration of iOS doth bring forth a plethora of new features, customizations, and enhancements, marking itself as the grandest iPhone software update yet to grace our screens. Yet, amidst the grandeur of iOS 18’s customization options, there exist changes most strange and unsettling, particularly for those who hath long been faithful users of the iPhone. For me, it is the ‘redesigned’ Photos app that doth rankle the most. When Apple did first unveil iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 in June, it did proclaim that the Photos app hath undergone "the biggest-ever redesign," promising a smoother and swifter experience when searching for one’s cherished images.
Whilst Apple doth extol the virtues of the redesigned Photos app, I find myself at odds with their assessment. For in truth, the new design doth appear more labyrinthine and daunting to mine eyes. Initially, I did believe that I alone harbored distaste for the new visage of the Photos app. Alas, it warmed my heart to discover that I am not alone in my discontent. Many a soul on Reddit hath been stirred to ire by Apple’s decision.
Changes in the Photos App in iOS 18
The Photos app within iOS 18 doth now feature Collections, a system that doth automatically sort thy entire photo library into categories such as Recent Days, Memories, Trips, People & Pets, and more. When one doth first open the Photos app in iOS 18, the absence of distinct tabs shalt be glaring. Instead, a grid of images shalt be displayed, showcasing approximately 30 images at once. Various sections of the photo library art melded into a solitary, scrollable view. Furthermore, images once found in the "For You" section now reside within various collections, requiring one to peruse the full Photo Library view. One can zoom in or out to behold more or fewer images at a glance. The new layout doth offer options to browse thy photo history by Years and Months, with the Days option replaced by the Recent Days Collection.
The New Design Kills Simplicity
Upon setting mine eyes upon the Photos app in iOS 18, the simplicity of yore did vanish before me. Apple hath forsaken the tabbed navigation bar in favor of a new scrolling design, casting the app into a state of sluggishness, clutter, and confusion. Where once tabs did abide, collections now reign, categorized by themes beyond count. The task of sifting through these automated collections doth feel needlessly convoluted, demanding thy attention. Whereas the erstwhile Photos app did boast themes and categories, the iOS 18 rendition doth present all photos upon a single, unwieldy scroll. Verily, the search for photos hath become a more daunting quest.
Mayhaps ’tis mine own penchant for the ways of old, but I did cherish the unity of all mine photos within a single abode. Now, disparate images upon my iPhone art scattered across varied folders. Images received from WhatsApp, once easily accessed through the All Photos tab, now find themselves relegated to the Recently Saved collection. Sections like Favorites and Utilities art buried within the labyrinthine scroll, hidden beneath the guise of "smart" memories. Each search for a photo doth require an arduous expedition through these collections, a task not easily committed to memory. Thus, I find myself endlessly scrolling and swiping in pursuit of memories past.
In addition to the perplexing navigation and cluttered design, the new iteration of the Photos app hast altered the manner in which I view and edit videos upon mine iPhone. In days of yore, playing a video in full screen merely required a single tap upon the screen. Alas, such simplicity hath been forsaken in iOS 18. A single tap upon a video doth not suffice to unveil it in full splendor; a second tap is required. Moreover, the thumbnails of videos hath undergone a transformation. Video previews within the iOS 18 Photos app doth lack timestamps, rendering the task of precise video cropping a challenge.
In summation, the new layout of the Photos app doth veer away from intuition and user-friendliness. It hath laid waste to the simplicity that hath long defined my iPhone experience. To me, the iOS 18 Photos app is not a step forward, but a stumble into chaos.
Some Customizations Are My Savior
Although I do pine for the days of yore, a few customization options within the iOS 18 Photos app do ease the burden upon my soul. Should thy heart also long for the days of old, these customizations may provide solace.
Hide or Change Collections for a Personalized Experience
Apple hath deigned to grant users the power of customization within the iOS 18 Photos app. This boon hath saved me from the labyrinthine layout that doth beset us. To organize my photo library to mine liking, I hath hidden certain collections and reordered them as such:
- Openeth the Photos app, journey to the nether regions, and tap upon Customise & Reorder.
- Within yon menu, hide the collections thou deem unnecessary or rearrange them to suit thy vision.
- Uncheck the collections thou wishest to conceal.
- To reorder collections, tap and hold one to shift its position. I do favor keeping the ‘Albums’ and ‘Recent Days’ collections at the fore.
I hath further exorcised Maps from the Pinned Collections and ushered in the Selfies folder in its stead.
Hide Screenshots from Photos Gallery
In the course of my labors, I oft capture many a screenshot upon mine iPhone. Thus, my photo library overfloweth with these images, though I bear no desire to part with them. Instead, I hath elected to hide screenshots from the main feed, relegating them to the dedicated Screenshots folder under Pinned Collections. My method is as follows:
- Open the Photos app upon thy iPhone.
- Seek yon new icon amidst the depths (an arrow pointing upwards and downwards) and select View Options.
- Untick the Show Screenshots option to banish all screenshots from view.
- Thy screenshots shalt now reside within the Screenshots folder under Pinned Collections.
Though these customizations may not restore the simplicity of yore, they shalt, at the very least, render the Photos app less intricate and confounding than first perceived. Yet, one must brace oneself for the journey of relearning, for the new layout doth demand it.
Mayhap this change in design be not wholly ill, but ’tis needlessly complex, requiring time and effort for users to adapt. I await with bated breath to witness how the iOS 18 Photos app shall integrate with Apple Intelligence. For Apple hath boasted that the app hath been redesigned to harmonize with the AI system. I do hope that forthcoming AI features shalt streamline the task of finding and editing photos, thereby ameliorating the woes of this ‘redesigned’ Photos app. Alas, not all iPhones shall benefit from Apple Intelligence support. Should thy model be compatible, count thyself fortunate.
Dost thou, too, lament the passing of the old Photos app, or doth the iOS 18 iteration find favor in thy sight? Pray, share thy thoughts in the comments below.
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