If you've downloaded the iOS 18 public beta, you've likely spotted a lot of new features like the customizable home screen, redesigned Photos app and other assorted updates. You won't see any of the Apple Intelligence features Apple previewed during WWDC 2024 — but now that's chaning.
Apple has put out additional developer betas — iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 — with each one bringing some of the initial Apple Intelligence features to iPhones, iPads and Macs. While it Apple made it clear that the rollout schedule for Apple Intelligence would be a bit different from its main software updates, the separate betas essentially mean that the full versions of software updates for Apple devices coming this fall won't necessarily feature those same Apple Intelligence features. And when Apple Intelligence becomes available to a wider audience,it will still carry a beta label.
The release of Apple Intelligence features in developer betas for various Apple devices adds some clarity on release dates, though dates for the public beta versions remain up in the air. Here's what we know so far about the Apple Intelligence rollout, and what that means for future releases.
Apple Intelligence device compatibility
As a reminder, even if your Apple device can run the upcoming software — iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia — you may not have a device with the hardware muscle to support Apple intelligence. Among current iPhones, only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max fit the bill. Any M1-powered Mac will do the trick, as will M1-powered iPad Pro or iPad Air tablets.
In other words, if the hardware you have doesn't meet those requirements, you won't be able to try out Apple Intelligence, whether it's during the software beta process this summer or when the full software updates come out in the fall.
It's safe to presume that any additional hardware Apple releases this year will support Apple Intelligence. The company is expected to launch new phones in September, for example, and you'd imagine that any iPhone 16 model will have the necessary chipset.
Apple Intelligence — when will it hit iOS, iPadOS and macOS betas?
There's no need to guess when Apple Intelligence will wind up in some users' hands. On July 29, Apple released developer betas of iOS 18.1 for iPhones, iPadOS 18.1 for iPads and macOS Sequoia 15.1. Those developer betas — which are separate from the existing iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia betas currently available to the public — contain some, though not all, of the Apple Intelligence features Apple previewed at WWDC 2024.
Assuming Apple sticks to its usual way of doing things, the developer beta with Apple Intelligence features will eventually be made available to the public once Apple decides it's stable enough to release to a wider audience. Apple hasn't given any guidance on how long that will take. If we had to guess, we'd imagine it would at some point in August.
Meanwhile, betas for the standard iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia update will continue to roll out sans Apple Intelligence features.
Apple Intelligence — what features are currently available
The developer betas for iOS 18.1 contain the following features:
- Writing Tools: On the iPhone, iPad and Mac, you'll get access to tools that can make suggestions on tone and content, proofread your writing or summarize highlighted text. Writing tools work in Apple's built-in apps as well as any third-party apps with that support standard text input.
- Siri improvements: A new design for Siri is now live, so the edge of your device's screen will flash when the digital assistant is listening. Siri now understands context in your commands, so you can make back-to-back requests and the assistant will be able to follow along. Siri now has more extensive knowledge of Apple products and can answer trouble-shooting questions. When you'd prefer to type out your Siri queries and commands, just double-tap the bottom of your iPhone or iPad display to launch the new Type to Siri feature.
- Mail improvements: Apple's Mail client will move priority messages that are timely or require action on your part to float to the top of your inbox. Instead of the first few lines of an email, you'll see summaries of the message in your inbox, and Smart Replies to messages are now available.
- Notification Summaries: Notifications from Mail and Messages will now highlight key information in summaries.
- Photos additions: You can use natural language to search for photos that meet specific criteria. You can also create Movie Memories in which Photos will generate movies with chapters and narrative arcs using your images and videos and based on prompts you provide.
- Summaries of transcriptions: Both the Phone and Notes app have built-in recording features that generate transcript when you record a phone call, lecture or meeting. Apple Intelligence will summarize those transcripts.
Other noteworthy Apple Intelligence features like the Image Playground and the ability to generate your own emoji based on text prompts are not part of the initial developer betas. Some of Siri's more complex changes, like the ability to understand what's on your phone's screen and act on that information, will roll out much later in the year.
Apple Intelligence — when will it arrive with the full iOS, iPadOS and macOS releases?
We're expecting full releases of iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia in the fall, with the iPhone and iPad software almost certain to launch in September ahead of the anticipated iPhone 16 release date. (macOS Sequoia may arrive a little later, based on Apple's past pattern of releasing its Mac software update a little after the iPhone and iPad software drops.)
Because Apple Intelligence is being tested in a separate beta, we wouldn't anticipate those features appearing in the initial iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia releases. Rather, they'll be part of the x.1 update, which generally comes out a few weeks after the initial release. Apple hasn't officially confirmed this, but it's been widely reported that the company's plan is to launch Apple Intelligence later in the fall.
Apple Intelligence — when will it be completely released?
If you're the sort of person who likes definitive timelines, we've got some bad news. It's unclear how long it will take all of the promised Apple Intelligence features — specifically, the one related to Siri and its ability to better understand context — to reach your Apple device. Apple has indicated that the process will continue beyond the software release date later this year. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the upgrades to Siri to continue into next year.
In other words, when Apple says that Apple Intelligence remains in beta, best believe that the company isn't kidding.
More from Tom's Guide
