From the very first iPhone, users could turn their device into a flashlight using third-party apps. However, it wasn’t until iOS 7 in 2013 that Apple integrated the flashlight feature directly into the phone, accessible through the control center and later the lock screen.
This was one of the best additions to the iPhone, and Apple even included brightness control. Since then, not much has changed with the flashlight—until now. The iOS 18 update is bringing a significant upgrade to the iPhone flashlight.
Currently, you can adjust the flashlight brightness between four levels, which is somewhat limited. In the iOS 18 developer beta, you’ll have more control over both the brightness and the width of the light beam.
Holy shit! You can change light focus on Flashlight in iOS 18! Dynamic Island looks amazing #iOS18 pic.twitter.com/T1M1Xejg6Q
— Willydoo (@wilson_boi_101) June 10, 2024
When you tap the flashlight icon in the control center, a new user interface appears in the Dynamic Island. Here, you can adjust the brightness through many levels, not just the basic four. Swiping up and down changes the brightness, but now it offers more fluid control.
You can also adjust the width of the light beam. Swipe left and right to change it from a narrow beam to a wider spread, covering more area.
So, swipe up and down for brightness and left and right for beam width.
This new feature is intuitive and makes the flashlight much more useful. Instead of just using it for quick lighting in dark places, you can now use it for more focused tasks. The ability to concentrate the light in a specific spot is incredibly helpful.
This is just a small part of the iOS 18 update, but it’s a very cool one.
