Today, I accessed the App Store in search of an emulator I had heard about. A new prompt caught my eye below the search bar, inviting me to “search the way you talk.” This was my first time encountering this prompt on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, and I had overlooked the iOS 18.1 update note mentioning it.
According to Apple’s October update, “App Store search lets you use natural language to find what you’re looking for more easily.” This feature has been added not only to the App Store but also to Photos, Music, and Apple TV on iOS 18.
Although some users had seen a splash screen back in October, I had only come across the standard search prompts. When I inquired at The Verge, several others hadn’t seen it either. However, in at least one case, closing and reopening the app triggered the appearance of the message, and there have been a few social media posts from users noticing it for the first time.
The prompt suggested trying searches like “Apps that help me work out,” so naturally, I decided to give it a shot.
Screenshot: iOS App Store
When I searched for “emulators that feature multiple consoles,” the top result was the multi-console Delta app. Another search for “Apps that only emulate single consoles” provided results like the PS Remote Play, PlayStation, and Xbox apps followed by Gamma, a PS1 emulator app. The search for “Video games that can help me work out” didn’t yield exactly what I expected, but it led me to unexpected discoveries.
In my opinion, the natural language search feature is an improvement. While Twerk Race 3D isn’t a workout app, the search engine seems to be functioning as intended. Previously, I found the App Store search useful only for apps I already knew. Using natural language prompts offers a more diverse range of results than traditional one or two-word searches.
