Updates to Apple’s Photos app
Apple is making significant adjustments to its Photos app as part of the iOS 18 update. Indeed, following user complaints, the electronics giant has decided to “pump the brakes” on some of its new features, as indicated in the fifth beta for developers, available today.
Remove the carousel from the Photos app
The most notable change is the elimination of the carousel from the Photos app. This feature of iOS 18, which relied on the device’s “embedded intelligence” to select and present your best content in a scrolling row, was one of the innovations that generated the most reluctance. Originally located to the right of the photo grid, the carousel is now completely gone, contributing to a cleaner interface.
A redesigned interface for a better user experience
In addition, Apple has revamped the app’s interface by displaying more of the photo grid in the overview view. The company has also introduced a “Recently Recorded” section in the “These Last Days” collection. Finally, it has improved the visibility of albums for users who have more than one, a difficulty repeated in the testers’ remarks.
Changes driven by user feedback
These adjustments follow a slew of criticism from users on different platforms, such as Reddit. Some explain it by putting it into perspective: “I just want a camera roll and maybe the ability to sort the photos by location. Everything was fine before, maybe a little crowded, but now it’s an unprecedented mess,” comments one user under the pseudonym Thiskillstheredditor.
It remains to be seen whether today’s updates are enough to improve the user experience of the Photos app ahead of the official launch of iOS 18 this fall. These changes are not yet available in the public beta, but they should be very soon.