Kenyan iPhone Users Get iOS 18, But RCS Support is Missing on Safaricom and Airtel

Apple has officially rolled out iOS 18 globally, bringing a wide range of new features and enhancements to iPhone users. The update introduces more powerful customization options, a complete redesign of the Photos app, and Apple Intelligence, Apple’s take on AI-powered personal assistance. However, Kenyan iPhone users on Safaricom and Airtel will miss out on one of the major upgrades: RCS (Rich Communication Services), the modern messaging protocol that is still not supported by these local carriers.

RCS Support on iPhones not yet available in Kenya:

For years, messaging between iPhone and Android users has been plagued by limitations. iPhone’s iMessage works seamlessly within Apple’s ecosystem, but communication with Android devices, marked by the infamous green bubbles, often meant loss of features like typing indicators, media quality, and read receipts. Group chats between iPhone and Android users were also disrupted, with Android users being excluded from the full iMessage experience.

RCS was expected to revolutionize cross-platform messaging by bridging these gaps. Though the green bubbles remain for non-iMessage users, RCS brings richer features such as typing indicators, high-resolution media sharing, and rich text formatting between iPhone and Android devices. Despite these advancements, the absence of RCS support from Safaricom and Airtel leaves Kenyan users stuck with the same old issues. Both local telcos have yet to adopt the RCS protocol, meaning the full potential of iOS 18’s RCS capabilities remains untapped in the Kenyan market.

What iOS 18 Brings:

While RCS support remains a gap in Kenya, iOS 18 still delivers a range of exciting new features for Kenyan iPhone users. Here’s a breakdown of what users can expect:

1. Home Screen and Control Center Customization

iOS 18 offers more ways than ever to personalize the iPhone’s interface. Users can rearrange app icons and widgets across the Home Screen, choosing between light, dark, or tinted themes for their icons. The Control Center also gets a major overhaul, offering customizable groups of controls, including third-party app options. Users can even access key functions through the Action button or modify their Lock Screen controls.

2. Redesigned Photos App

The Photos app has undergone its biggest redesign yet, making it easier or harder (depending on who you ask) for users to organize and relive special moments. New collections like Recent Days, People & Pets, and Trips use on-device intelligence to group photos, helping users find memories quickly without manually creating albums.

3. Messages Via Satellite – U.S. & Canada only

iOS 18 introduces Messages via satellite, enabling users to send and receive texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS even without cellular or Wi-Fi. However, this feature is limited to iPhones with satellite capabilities and is currently available only in select regions such as the U.S. and Canada.

4. Advanced Privacy Features

iOS 18 enhances privacy with new tools like hidden and locked apps, allowing users to hide sensitive apps or lock them with Face ID for additional security. Users can also manage which contacts an app can access and control how third-party accessories connect to their devices.

5. Passwords App and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Apple introduces a brand-new Passwords app in iOS 18, consolidating passwords, passcodes, and verification codes in one place. The app, built on the foundation of Keychain, now handles 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication), making it easier to store and retrieve verification codes for enhanced security.

6. Apple Intelligence: Coming Soon

Although Apple Intelligence is integrated into iOS 18, many of its features will be arriving with iOS 18.1, expected in October 2024. This update will bring smarter capabilities to Siri, as well as advanced writing tools for rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text. Users will also see improvements in photo and video searches, and the ability to remove distracting objects from images with the new Clean Up tool.

7. New Calculator App

The redesigned Calculator app introduces a host of new features, including a history function, easier deletion of recent inputs, and the ability to take smart math notes, making it easier to perform and track calculations.

8. iPhone Mirroring on macOS Sequoia

With iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, Apple introduces seamless iPhone mirroring on MacBook devices. This feature allows users to cast their iPhone’s display directly onto their MacBook, further enhancing the integration between iPhone and macOS for those who work across devices.

RCS Update coming later on?

While the rollout of RCS worldwide promises to enhance cross-platform communication, Kenyan users must wait for Safaricom and Airtel to adopt the protocol. Until then, messaging between iPhone and Android users will continue to face the same issues. Without RCS, Kenyan users won’t benefit from:

• Typing indicators
• Full image and video quality in shared media
• Rich text formatting (bold, italics, etc.)
• Improved group chat experience

Like with 5G support, which came later on, Kenyans must wait a while before integration of RCS. Perhaps an iOS 18.1 or 18.2 update in the future. Let’s just hope it does not take forever.