With iOS 18.2, Apple is undoing annoying changes to video playback

A comparison: video playback in iOS 18.1 (left) vs. iOS 18.2 (right).

The updated video player still retains the new scrollbar and playback controls, but the annoying white or black borders around videos are a thing of the past. Now a simple tap on the screen is enough to show or hide the interface buttons, just like before iOS 18.

When I first updated iOS 18 I have to admit seeing the new look in the Photos app – it was pretty frustrating. I remember thinking, “Wait, seriously, why would they do that?” So I’m definitely relieved that Apple is taking it back. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who found this change a bit annoying if Apple is now abandoning it.

Since iOS 18After the first beta version dropped, Apple made some tweaks to the Photos app based on feedback from users and developers. Now the app is fully customizable and the entire navigation layout has been given a major overhaul – which, as it turns out, some people are less than thrilled about. Some people just find it confusing, but for me it’s not about confusion; it just feels way too cluttered.

If you really want to go back to the old video player layout, you’ll need a little more patience – Apple is stable iOS 18The .2 update is not expected to be available until early December.

In others iOS 18 News, the latest iOS 18.2 beta contains some interesting changes. Apple has removed the Image Playground sketch style, added a Live Activity feature for tracking Safari downloads and introduced some convenient Apple Intelligence tools in the Notes app.