When Apple said that iPhone owners in the EU would be able to set new default apps like calling and messaging, it sounded like this: only People in the EU will get that choice.
But that’s not the case. A note on Apple’s developer website states that all users worldwide will be able to set new default apps for calls and messaging in iOS 18.2. The continental iPhone disparity between the US and EU may not be that great after all.
The first iOS 18.2 developer beta is available today. 9to5 mac To find new options. The settings menu has a brand new section dedicated to managing default apps. This includes defaults that you can already reassign, such as your browser or email app. Other options include call filtering, passwords, keyboard, and more. Importantly, US users who download the beta will also see this same list of options.
But important things like support for alternative app stores and browser engines are mostly limited to within the EU. As a side effect, iPhones in Europe started to look quite different than iPhones in the US, which was weird. But by spreading some of these new options across borders, Apple will maintain better consistency in its products. At least it’s a little more fun.
