Apple has begun rolling out Apple Intelligence to those with eligible iPhones through the latest iOS 18.1 update. Apple Intelligence was originally shown off during WWDC 2024 in June and has been available to those on the developer and public betas. However, as of today, iOS 18.1 is available to everyone, though Apple Intelligence is only available for the iPhone 15 Pro models and the entire iPhone 16 lineup.
With iOS 18.1, those users can now access several Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools, a more natural and capable Siri, summarize notifications, a smarter Photos app, and priority messages in Mail. Be aware that these are just a fraction of Apple Intelligence features — there are even more AI tools coming in iOS 18.2, which is currently in beta.
First, the Writing Tools. These are integrated into iOS 18.1 systemwide and allow users to rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in pretty much any app. This includes Mail, Messages, Notes, Pages, and even third-party apps.
Rewrite adjusts the tone of the message to different versions for the task at hand. Proofread checks the grammar, spelling, word choice, and sentence structure while also providing suggestions and explanations that can be reviewed. Summarize allows users to select text and get a summary in the form of an easy-to-read paragraph, bulleted key points, a table, or just a list.
Siri should be smarter than before, as it now can understand natural language and is more flexible and integrated into the overall system experience. With Apple Intelligence, Siri gets a new design interface with a glowing light that wraps around the edge of the screen. Siri can understand speech when users stumble over their words and maintain context from one request to the next. You can even type to Siri at any time. Apple also gave Siri extensive product knowledge, so you can ask Siri for support with other Apple products.
The Photos app has also gained some new superpowers. It now features natural language search, which also works on videos, not just photos. By natural language, it means Siri will be able to understand requests like “Maya skateboarding in a tie-dye shirt.” For videos, it will jump to that specific moment in the clip that matches your inquiry. Siri will even offer smart completion suggestions.
Photos now has the Clean Up tool. With Clean Up, you can remove unwanted objects or people in a photo. There is also the new Memories feature that lets users create movies by typing in a description.
Priority Messages in Mail is a new section that sits at the top of your inbox. This Priority Messages section will show you the most urgent emails, such as same-day invitations or a boarding pass. Across the entire inbox, you can get summaries of messages without having to open it, as well as summarizations of long threads. There is also Smart Reply, which provides suggestions for quick responses to your messages by identifying questions in an email.
Notifications will also be prioritized and summarized. Reduce Interruptions is also a new Focus mode that will only show notifications that may need immediate attention.
The Summarization tool also works in the Notes and Phone apps. For Notes, users can record, transcribe, and summarize audio. The Phone app now lets you record calls, and participants will automatically be notified, so you’re not impeding on any privacy concerns. Once a recorded call ends, Apple Intelligence gives you a summary of key points.
These are just a few of the Apple Intelligence features that are now available for everyone on iOS 18.1 who has a compatible device. Apple will add more Apple Intelligence features in December and the coming months with iOS 18.2 and beyond. These upcoming features include Genmoji creation, Image Wand, ChatGPT, Visual Intelligence, and more.
You can get iOS 18.1 now on your iPhone by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Once you have updated, you must enable Apple Intelligence by going to Settings > Apple Intelligence and Siri > Join Waitlist.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.