Android clearly inspired these leaked iOS 18 features

The extended dark mode in iOS 18 affects the appearance of home screen apps by adding shades of darkness to the icons, making them visually consistent with the dark mode interface. Previously, enabling dark mode in iOS would darken the Home Screen background, but the app icons would remain unchanged. With iOS 18, not only will the icons themselves become darker, but users will also have the ability to change the app icon colors, providing a more customizable and cohesive visual experience. This feature is expected to be initially available for built-in Apple apps, with potential future support for third-party apps.

The app locking system in iOS 18 is expected to be more straightforward and user-friendly compared to the current method of locking apps on iPhones. Currently, locking apps on iPhones requires creating a shortcut to the app, which can be a complex process for many users. With the upcoming app locking system in iOS 18, users will be able to access a built-in feature for locking sensitive apps such as Messages, Notes, and Photos directly from the app settings2. This new feature eliminates the need for creating shortcuts and provides a more secure and user-friendly way to protect your data.

In addition, the iOS 18 app locking system will reportedly allow users to put the built-in iPhone apps behind a security wall, with access only possible via Face ID authentication. Users might also be able to use Touch ID or passwords to lock their apps. While the current method of locking apps on iPhones does offer some level of security, the new app locking system in iOS 18 aims to simplify the process and offer greater security options, such as Face ID, Touch ID, or password authentication6.