Apple’s iOS 17.5 update, released in May, brought some exciting new features to iPhones, including an upgrade for privacy-conscious users: the ability to detect third-party trackers.
However, the update also introduced a delightful surprise for word game enthusiasts among Apple News Plus subscribers – a daily word game called Quartiles.
You may have played or seen these games in the New York Times, but they are not just for having fun or killing time.
These games offer a surprising number of cognitive benefits that can keep your mind sharp and improve your overall well-being.
If you’re looking for a new way to protect your mental health from the negative effects of news and expand your knowledge base, you should definitely try Quartiles.
How to Find Quartiles
To find Quartiles, you need to subscribe to Apple News+, which gives you access to premium sources and magazines such as National Geographic, TIME, Entrepreneur, FORTUNE, and more.
You can get a free 3-month trial when you buy any eligible devices or a 30-day free trial as a welcome gift for new subscribers. Remember to update your iPhone to iOS 17.5.
If your device is compatible with iOS 17.5, you can upgrade by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
After you’ve updated your iPhone and subscribed to Apple News+, follow these steps to access Quartiles.
1. Open the Apple News app on your iPhone.
2. Tap “Following” in the menu across the bottom of your screen, and tap “Puzzles” at the top.
3. From the Puzzles page, you can find today’s Quartiles under “Today’s Puzzles.”
4. To explore all the latest Quartiles, tap “Quartiles” at the top of the Puzzles page, next to Crossword and Mini options.
How to Play Quartiles
When you first open the game, you’ll find a series of screen tutorials that teach you how to play.
If you accidentally closed it and need a refresher, you can access it at the top right corner of the screen. Tap the three dots and select “How to Play” from the dropdown menu.
Anyway, here’s how to solve a Quartiles puzzle:
- Tap any tile on the grid to choose it. Then, tap other tiles to form a word.
- Once you’ve built a word, tap the “✓” button to see if it’s valid.
- If you need to start over, tap the “×” button to clear the current word.
Like any game, Quartiles has its own set of rules. They’re quite simple to follow.
You need to find five specific words, each using four unique tiles, known as Quartiles. These five Quartiles will use all 20 tiles exactly once, meaning no tile is repeated across the Quartiles.
For instance, if you use the letters “gi” to form the word “exchanging,” those letters won’t appear in any other Quartile, though they can still be used for other, shorter words like “caging” or “changing.”
After you solve a Quartile, those letters stay put while the other tiles shuffle around, giving you a fresh set of possibilities.
Tips to Get the Most Of Quartiles
To maximize your experience with Quartiles, here are some practical tips and strategies to help you get the most out of the game.
Whether you are a beginner or looking to refine your skills, these suggestions will enhance your gameplay and make discovering words even more enjoyable.
- Start Small: Don’t worry about finding Quartiles right away. Begin with shorter words and build upon them.
- Sort Tiles: The button in the bottom right corner helps organize. Tap it to sort found words to the bottom, making it easier to focus on undiscovered ones. You can tap it again to disable sorting.
- Shuffle Tiles: If you’re feeling stuck, tap the bottom left corner button to shuffle the tiles on the board for a fresh perspective.
- Review Progress: Tap the “Words Found” bar at the top to see a complete list of discovered words and their points.
- Menu Options: Tap the ⋯ menu for additional features. Here, you can redo the tutorial, give up and see all possible words, or access other settings.
- Saving Progress: Tap the Back button in the top left corner to save your progress and return to the puzzle later.
How to Score and Win in Quartiles
The goal of Quartiles is to create as many words as possible from your 20 tiles, each contributing to your total points.
Words formed from single tiles, like “art” or “car,” earn one point each, while Quartiles, such as “imperfection,” bring in eight points each. If you manage to find all the Quartiles, you receive a bonus of 40 points.
The game assigns ranks to your point score, ranging from Novice to Expert. Here’s the minimum score you need to achieve each rank:
| Rank | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Expert | 100 |
| Wordsmith | 50 |
| Artisan | 30 |
| Builder | 15 |
| Apprentice | 5 |
| Novice | 0 |
You win the game when you score 100 points. Even after reaching 100 points, there are usually more words to discover, keeping the challenge alive and ensuring that there’s always something more to strive for.
If you struggle to uncover more words, tap the three dots (…) in the top right corner of your screen and then select “Reveal All Words.”
But keep in mind that revealing the words will end your game for the day. So use it only when you’re truly stuck and ready to wrap up.
Competing with Friends
Quartiles also offers a social aspect, allowing you to compete against friends and others by sharing your score through the Game Center.
Here’s how to enable this feature:
- Open Settings.
- Tap News.
- Tap the toggle next to Game Center.
You can also use Quartiles with others on the same screen, making it a fun and interactive way to share with friends and family.
Wrap Up
With its blend of challenging gameplay and the thrill of discovery, Quartiles has quickly become a standout feature in Apple News Plus’s puzzle lineup.
Whether you’re a seasoned wordsmith or just looking for a new way to pass the time, this game offers endless entertainment. Give it a try and see how many words you can uncover.
