Apple confirmed that iOS 18 will be available for download on September 16th, just a few days before the iPhone 16 series launch. The update will reach all compatible iPhones on the same day while the iPhone 16s will ship pre-installed with it.
The headline feature of iOS 18, Apple Intelligence, won’t be available immediately, though. Users will have to wait for iOS 18.1 (or iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1) to experience it, the rollout of which is expected in October.
Also, the first batch of AI features will be limited to US English. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and UK will get their regional English support in December. Whereas, other major languages like Chinese, French, and Spanish will get support next year.
Apple Intelligence promises a range of features designed to enhance productivity and communication. October’s update will introduce system-wide Writing Tools, enabling users to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text across various apps, including Mail, Notes, and Pages.
iOS 18.1 also brings AI-powered improvements to the Photos app. Users will be able to create short movies based on descriptions within the Memories feature, search photos using natural language queries, and pinpoint specific moments within videos. Additionally, the update introduces a “Clean Up” function that removes unwanted objects or people from photos.
The Notes and Phone apps will benefit from AI-powered recording transcription and summarization. Similarly, emails will be condensed into summaries, while Mail receives a revamp with Priority Messages and Smart Reply functionalities.
Siri is receiving a significant overhaul with iOS 18.1. The virtual assistant will now support on-device typing for queries, alongside a more “natural” and “flexible” conversational style. Notably, Siri will be able to answer “thousands of questions” about Apple device features and settings.
It’s important to note that Apple Intelligence requires a relatively recent device. The AI features will only be available on the newly launched iPhone 16 lineup, iPhone 15 Pro, and Pro Max models, as well as iPads and Macs equipped with M1 chips or later.
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