iPadOS 18.5 vs iPadOS 18.4: Should You Update? A Complete Guide

Apple’s iPadOS updates always bring new features and improvements, but it’s natural to wonder: Is the latest version worth installing?

In this guide, we’ll break down iPadOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.4 in details. Whether you’re a student, parent, or casual user, we’ll help you decide which update is right for your iPad.

Table of Contents

1. iPadOS 18.4: Key Features
2. iPadOS 18.5: What’s New?
3. Side-by-Side Comparison
4. Performance & Battery Life
5. Security Updates
6. How to Update Safely
7. FAQs
8. Conclusion

1. iPadOS 18.4: Key Features

iPadOS 18.4 arrived with several practical upgrades. Let’s explore them in detail:

1.1 Smarter Mail App

What Changed:

• Email Categories: Automatically sorts emails into tabs:
  • Primary: Important emails (e.g., messages from contacts).
  • Promotions: Sales, deals, and ads.
  • Transactions: Receipts, shipping updates, and bills.
  • Updates: Newsletters and social media alerts.

How to Use It:

1. Open the Mail app.
2. Tap the three dots (•••) in the top-right corner.
3. Select Categories to enable/disable tabs.

Why It’s Useful:
No more digging through a cluttered inbox! Categories help you focus on what matters.

1.2 Apple News+ Recipes

What Changed:

• 70,000+ Recipes: News+ subscribers get access to step-by-step cooking guides.
• Interactive Timers: Built-in timers for baking, boiling, or roasting.

How to Use It:

1. Open the News app.
2. Tap the Food tab.
3. Select a recipe (e.g., “Chocolate Hazelnut Dessert”).
4. Tap Cook to start guided instructions.

Pro Tip: Save recipes to your library for quick access later.

1.3 Control Center Upgrades

What Changed:

• Ambient Music: Play calming tracks (Sleep, Chill, Productivity) directly from Control Center.
• Volume/Brightness Animations: Sliders change color (white → blue/yellow) as you adjust them.

How to Use Ambient Music:

1. Swipe down to open Control Center.
2. Long-press the Music widget.
3. Select Ambient and choose a playlist.

Why It’s Useful: Perfect for studying or relaxing without opening Apple Music.

1.4 New Emojis

iPadOS 18.4 added 7 emojis:

• Tired Face (for late-night homework sessions).
• Harp (music lovers rejoice!).
• Shovel (gardening or Minecraft fans).
• Leafless Tree (winter vibes).
• Fingerprint (science projects).
• Rooted Beet (healthy eating).
• Splatter (art class essentials).

1.5 Robot Vacuum Support

What Changed:

• Control Matter-compatible robot vacuums (e.g., Roborock) via the Home app.

How to Set It Up:

1. Open the Home app.
2. Tap + > Add Accessory.
3. Scan the vacuum’s QR code.
4. Assign it to a room (e.g., “Living Room”).

Why It’s Useful: Start cleaning with a single tap—no need to find the remote!

1.6 Safari Security Upgrades

What Changed:

• Certificate Viewer: Check if a website is safe by viewing its SSL/TLS certificate.

How to Use It:

1. Open a website in Safari.
2. Tap the URL bar > ••• > Connection Security.
3. View details like issuer and expiration date.

Why It’s Useful: Avoid phishing scams on sketchy sites.

2. iPadOS 18.5: What’s New?

iPadOS 18.5 builds on 18.4 with parental controls, security fixes, and more. Let’s dive in:

2.1 Parental Control Alerts

What Changed:

• Screen Time Passcode Alerts: Parents get notified if kids bypass time limits.
• Usage History: See when the passcode was last used in Settings > Screen Time.

How to Enable It:

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time.
2. Select your child’s device under Family.
3. Toggle on Notify When Passcode Is Used.

Why It’s Useful: No more secret TikTok marathons after bedtime!

For more ways to manage screen time, check out our guide to iPadOS 18.5’s parental tools.

2.2 Mail App Improvements

What Changed:

• Contact Photos Toggle: Show/hide profile pictures in your inbox.
• “All Mail” Shortcut: Swipe left in Categories view to see every email.

How to Hide Contact Photos:

1. Open the Mail app.
2. Tap ••• > Show Contact Photos (toggle off).

Why It’s Useful: Cleaner inbox for those who prefer simplicity.

2.3 Pride Wallpapers

What Changed:

• Dynamic Wallpapers: Rainbow-themed designs that shift colors when unlocked.

How to Get Them:

1. Go to Settings > Wallpaper.
2. Tap Add New Wallpaper > Pride.
3. Choose a design and tap Add.

Why It’s Useful: Celebrate Pride Month with vibrant backgrounds.

2.4 Apple TV Purchase Approvals

What Changed:

• Approve movie rentals on Samsung/LG TVs using your iPad.

How It Works:

1. Rent a movie on your TV’s Apple TV app.
2. A notification pops up on your iPad.
3. Tap Approve to confirm.

Why It’s Useful: Skip typing passwords on clunky TV remotes.

2.5 Battery Life Boost (M4 iPads)

What Changed:

• Light Use: Up to 12 hours for web browsing, videos, or Zoom calls.
• Heavy Use: ~9 hours for gaming, video editing, or 3D modeling.

For iPados 18.5 tips to extend your iPad’s battery life, read our optimization guide.

2.6 Security Fixes

What Changed:

• Apple patched vulnerabilities to protect against hackers (details undisclosed).

Why It’s Important:

• Prevents unauthorized access to your data.
• Fixes bugs that could crash apps or drain battery.

3. iPadOS 18.5 vs 18.4: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here’s a detailed breakdown of both versions:

4. Performance & Battery Life

4.1 Speed Test Results

We tested both versions on a 2022 iPad Air (M1 chip):

Verdict: iPadOS 18.5 is marginally faster, but most users won’t notice a difference.

4.2 Battery Drain Issues?

• iPadOS 18.4: Stable for most users.
• iPadOS 18.5: Improved efficiency for M4 iPads. Older models (e.g., iPad Air 4) report similar battery life to 18.4.

Tip: Close unused apps and lower screen brightness to save power.

5. Security Updates

5.1 iPadOS 18.4 Vulnerabilities

• Fixed 12 security flaws, including:
  • Safari Exploits: Blocked malicious websites from stealing data.
  • Wi-Fi Crashes: Patched bugs that caused random disconnects.

5.2 iPadOS 18.5 Improvements

• Addressed 9 critical issues, such as:
  • Mail App Flaws: Stopped hackers from sending harmful attachments.
  • Bluetooth Attacks: Prevented unauthorized device access.

Why Update?
If security is a priority, 18.5 is a must.

6. How to Update Safely

6.1 Before You Update

1. Back Up Your iPad:
   • Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now.
2. Free Up Space:
   • Delete unused apps or photos (you need 12–15 GB free).

6.2 Step-by-Step Guide

1. Connect to Wi-Fi.
2. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
3. Tap Download and Install.
4. Enter your passcode.

Note: The update takes 20–30 minutes. Don’t restart your iPad during installation!

6.3 Troubleshooting

• Stuck on Apple Logo? Force restart:
  1. Press and release Volume Up.
  2. Press and release Volume Down.
  3. Hold the Power Button until the Apple logo appears.
• Update Failed? Reset network settings:
  Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

FAQs About iPadOS 18.5 vs. 18.4

1. Is iPadOS 18.5 worth installing over 18.4?

A: Yes, if you want better parental controls, security fixes, or own an M4 iPad Pro for improved battery life. However, if you’re happy with iPadOS 18.4’s features (like recipe guides and email categories) and don’t need new tools, staying on 18.4 is fine. For a full breakdown, read our detailed iPadOS 18.5 review.

2. Will iPadOS 18.5 drain my iPad’s battery faster?

A: No! iPadOS 18.5 is optimized for all supported models. Tests show M4 iPads get up to 12 hours of light use, while older devices (like the iPad Air 4) perform similarly to 18.4. For tips to maximize your battery life, check our optimization guide.

3. Can I turn off the new Pride wallpapers if I don’t like them?

A: Absolutely! The Pride wallpapers are optional. Go to Settings > Wallpaperto choose a different background. You can still use older wallpapers or download new ones from the web.

4. Do I need Apple News+ to use the recipe catalog in iPadOS 18.5?

A: Yes. The 70,000+ recipe library is exclusive to Apple News+ subscribers ($12.99/month). If you don’t subscribe, you’ll see a prompt to sign up when opening the Food section.

5. How do parental controls in iPadOS 18.5 improve on 18.4?

A: iPadOS 18.5 adds Screen Time passcode alerts. Parents get notified if their child bypasses time limits, and you can check the last time the passcode was used in Settings > Screen Time. This is a big upgrade from 18.4’s basic time limits.

Conclusion

iPadOS 18.5 is a solid update for families, security-focused users, and M4 iPad Pro owners. It adds practical tools like parental alerts and “All Mail” shortcuts, while 18.4 remains a stable choice for those who love its recipe guides and email categories.

• Explore hidden tricks for iPadOS 18.5 to unlock its full potential.
• Check our iPadOS 18.5 vs. 18.4 comparison for a deeper dive.