In iOS 18.2, you'll be able to select standard apps like in Android

It's been possible to set a third-party browser or email client as the default since iOS 14, but it's not exactly a convenient or popular feature. However, this situation may change.

On 28 October, the iOS 18.2 developer beta release was released, where a new category in the settings was noticed. Now in Settings, the Default Apps option will appear in the Apps section. In addition to the browser and email client, you will now be able to choose your own apps: a Calling app, a separate app for filtering unwanted calls, a Messaging app, a password manager, and a keyboard.

This somewhat explains why the Keychain was moved to a separate app in iOS 18, as the company probably didn't have time to implement all the planned features before the release.

At the moment, this list does not include Apple Pay contactless payment methods, but this may change in the future. For now, this feature is still limited to the EU versions of iOS.

It's also interesting to see the ability to finally change the default calling app. It should be noted that the function of filtering unwanted incoming calls was previously implemented simply in the settings, but now it will be a separate function, which will clearly contribute to the flourishing of applications such as GetContact, TrueCaller, CallApp and others. And it may even happen that Google's Phone with its artificial intelligence will someday become popular on the iPhone.

Presumably, this "liberalisation" is related to the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires users to have the freedom to choose many OS features. Currently, there are no requirements to change these particular applications, but Apple probably just decided to get ahead of the curve.

Source: idropnews.com