Apple has solved an issue travels face when heading abroad.
Tucked inside the latest iOS 18 update is a little-known feature in the Calculator app that instantly converts currency.
Users just open the app, tap the icon that looks like a physical calculator and turn on Convert.
There are two arrows, one up and another down, which scroll through different units and currencies. Then enter a value in either field to see conversions as you type.
The feature also converts lengths, time, speed and weights, making it easier for those traveling to a foreign country.
Expert traveler Bianca Montalvo shared the trick in a TikTok video, saying: ‘f you’re traveling internationally this next year, you need to know this new iPhone trick that will make your next trip so much easier.’
The updated Calculator app converts 105 currencies and 110 measurement units.
‘I’m headed to France in March….this is the sweetest tip I never knew about!’ a user commented on the video. While another called the feature ‘genius.’
A little-known iPhone feature is being hailed a game changer by travelers
Montalvo also revealed that an iPhone does not need to be connected to a cellular network using data or to a Wi-Fi network to access the conversion feature.
As exchange rates are perpetually changing in real-time 24 hours a day, this led to some confusion reflected in the comments.
‘How does it not use data when the exchange rate constantly fluctuates?’ A commenter asked.
An exchange rate is how much of a nation’s currency you can buy with another nation’s currency.
A currency’s value is subject to change due to many factors that often overlap.
Replying to the comment directly within the public thread, Montalvo said, ‘It’ll update the rate whenever you connect to data or use Wi-Fi again.’
In the comments of Montalvo’s video, a user wrote, ‘It also converts other things like Miles to Kilometers and pounds to kilos! Also helps with international travel.’
‘Yes!! So useful!’ Montalvo replied.
Tucked inside the latest iOS 18 update is a little-known feature in the Calculator app that instantly converts currency. Users just open the app, tap the icon that looks like a physical calculator and turn on Convert
As these types of conversions never change, this feature has the potential to be much more useful for travel activities such as hiking when not connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network in a remote area.
Changing the type of conversion can be accessed in the same way as changing the foreign currency that is being converted.
Double tapping on either of the conversion factors will bring up a scrolling horizontal list of units for conversions available.
Found within this list are many more conversion factors to choose from.
These factors include units of angle, area, currency, data, energy, force, fuel, power, time and volume.
Additionally included in the iOS 18 calculator update are the features Math Notes and Calculation History.
Math Notes allow users to write or type math expressions on the screen and provides the answer to an expression.
Calculation history saves calculations made with basic or scientific calculators.
Both of these features are accessible from the calculator icon used and found in the same list as the conversion calculator.
