iOS 18 arrives today but the best Apple Intelligence feature could be delayed until March

iOS 18 arrives today, but those looking forward to trying Apple Intelligence will need to wait a bit longer.

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, but there will be a glaring omission (cough* Intelligence cough*) when you install the next generation of iPhone software on your device. The new software update brings color customization to app icons, a new Photos app redesign, and a better calculator app, just to name a few of the new features. However, the biggest addition will be , which is expected to launch in October in US English as part of .

While you’ll be able to install later today on all compatible devices including last year’s , the iPhone 15 Pro, you won’t see the true power of the new until later this year when become available. One of those upcoming features is the major overhaul to Siri, with the much-maligned voice assistant set to be upgraded with on-screen awareness, personal context, and integration in the coming months. Frustratingly, though, it looks like you won't get access to the full version of this new-and-improved Siri until next year.



Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports, in his , that "if you want the new Siri digital assistant to actually be useful, you’ll have to wait until a software update around next March." Yes, you read that right: March. Apple Intelligence's March glow up That’s a long wait for owners of the new and , aka the "first iPhones built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence," as so purposefully hammered home at Apple’s last week.

iOS 18 without Apple Intelligence is a far less appealing software update than you’d be led to believe. Yeah, color-matching your app icons to your wallpaper is cool, and yeah, Control Center’s redesign is nice, but it’s not what everyone is excited about. Just take a look at Apple’s and you’ll quickly realize Apple Intelligence is the major selling point heralded as the standout feature.

But it’s not even ready yet, and you’ll need to wait even longer than the upcoming 2024 launch window to get your hands on the most important of Apple’s AI tools..