Device showing on WiFi in iPadOS 18

I just noticed that change also.

I like the change. It doesn't bother me because it just says iPhone or iPad and doesn't give the actual name from Settings > General > About (e.g. Susan's iPhone). I have multiple family members iPhones and iPads and they aren't identifiable (all listed as just iPhone and iPad).

I don't know of any way to change this new behavior.

Also note that the following has not changed: Wi-Fi privacy - Apple Support

See what the following reports for your particular device’s IP address (198.51.100.237 shown), from another computer on the local network with nmap installed:

nmap 198.51.100.237 -O -osscan-guess.  # maybe mix in -sV for some testing, too

Bonjour usually provides information about network-connected devices, as well. If you have a Mac available, the (free) Discovery app from another locally-connected Mac can sometimes be enlightening.

It wouldn’t surprise me there are other ways to indirectly leak identifying or distinguishing data, such as (maybe!) detecting a network connection to a server used only for Wi-Fi calling, or some other distinguishing attribute.

Also realize that connecting into the web server allows it to detect and even track your device characteristics from its HTTP / HTTPS responses. (It would not surprise me to see this data cached on some routers, particularly given MAC randomization doesn’t vary the MAC on the same network short of a reset. This is probably the easiest and most reliable detection here, too.) Some background on browser fingerprinting and related tracking: https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/

Semi-related: TCP and UDP ports used by Apple software products - Apple Support

My WiFi router always showed iPad or iPhone.

Weird that your router didn’t.

Mine hasn't shown it for awhile either -- maybe the last couple of iOS versions.

I think it stopped showing "iPhone" or "iPad" on my router with the release of iOS 14 when Apple started using the unique random MAC addresses described in Wi-Fi privacy - Apple Support