Apple Intelligence just arrived in the iOS 18.1 iPhone update, so there will be a lot of interest in this new software. How stable is it? How long do I have to wait for Apple Intelligence to grant me access? And should I upgrade to it in the first place? Find answers to all these questions below.
Please note that we will be updating this post over the next few days and will have a final review on Tuesday, November 5th.
Who is eligible and how do they get it?
Apple iOS 18.1 runs on any iPhone that can run iOS 18. This is the same list of devices that can handle iOS 17. This means all iPhones starting with the iPhone XS, including 2nd and 3rd generation iPhone SE models.
Content
While there are some fixes and security issues, this big update is primarily about the debut of Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence is only available on four phones: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, so this may not apply to all users. .
Apple Intelligence introduces new ways to improve your writing on iPhone and smart ways to adjust your photos and remove unwanted elements instantly and seamlessly.
Other elements include a fix for an annoying bug that caused iPhone 16 handsets to frequently reset suddenly and unexpectedly (if this is bothering you, you’ve probably already upgraded) ). This is also the first time you can record calls on your iPhone. This is not limited to Apple Intelligence models. The phone can also transcribe what it records. To protect your privacy, iPhone makes an automatic announcement that lets all parties know that a recording is occurring.
Apple iOS 18.1 security
There are WebKit flaws, iPhone kernel issues, and more. The good news is that these issues are fixed in this update. Even better news is that these flaws are less likely to be exploited. Forbes contributor Kate O’Flaherty discusses these security issues in detail here.
initial reaction
Initial reactions to this update focused primarily on one thing: the Apple Intelligence waitlist. If you want to sign up for Apple Intelligence, you have to apply and Apple will put you on a waiting list until you’re ready. This appears to be due to the complexity of registering with Apple Private Cloud Compute. For example, requests sent to ChatGPT are sent there. The waiting list seems to vary between 10 minutes and 3 hours, but I’ll report back if that changes.
One user complained that the Apple Intelligence feature was only in beta, while another said that since Apple Intelligence was added, “the battery drained faster when I turned on AI.” Ta. I think indexing your phone might take a little longer because of the AI and updates. ”
As always, there were complaints about battery drain, but it’s normal right after the update, so we’ll keep an eye on this in the coming weeks. There are some new bugs emerging, but at least for now they seem to be very few and far between.
Apple iOS 18.1 Initial Verdict: Update
Handy security updates and the lure of Apple Intelligence for supported phones, along with relatively rare complaints about battery drain and new bugs, make this upgrade easy to recommend. . The final verdict will be delivered next week, Tuesday, November 5th.