iOS 12 is set to be released today. The update will work on select iPhones and iPads (all the way back to iPhone 5s and iPad Air) to allow you to have new features and improvements. According to Apple, performance should be improved for keyboard display and camera swipe to open.
The promised FaceTime feature with up to 32 people has been postponed to later this fall.

With the right iPhone, you can create “Memojis” or animojis of yourself to use in Messages and FaceTime. There are also 4 new Animojis available including koala, tiger, ghost and T.rex.
Camera effects have also been improved to liven up conversations. These include filters, animated text effects, fun stickers and more.
With the right iOS devices, you will experience better Augmented Reality.
To learn more about all the available features and how to use them, check out the Apple page on iOS 12.