Earlier this week, Apple officially launched the iPhone 16 series lineup, which includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The new iPhones came with several upgrades, including bigger displays for the Pro models, an action button across the series, a new capture button, and more. The entire iPhone 16 lineup also focuses heavily on Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features aimed at enhancing productivity and user experience. The iPhone 16 series will be available for pre-order in India starting September 13, with shipping starting September 20.

Although Apple Intelligence is considered one of the key selling points of the new iPhones, it is not ready for release yet. Therefore, users who buy the iPhone 16 immediately after the launch will not get access to the capabilities of Apple Intelligence for a few months.

Apple Intelligence Release Timeline

Apple said the iPhone 16 series features Apple Intelligence at its core. But despite the excitement over the iPhone 16’s AI capabilities, tech enthusiasts and Apple fans eager to experience Apple Intelligence were somewhat disappointed when Apple announced that Apple Intelligence would not be available immediately on the iPhone 16 series. Instead, the advanced AI tools will be rolled out in stages, starting with a public release in the US in October, where they will initially be available in English.

Following the US launch, the features will also be available in other English-speaking countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK by December. For non-English languages ​​like Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish, the AI ​​features are set to release sometime next year, while no specific dates have been provided for other regions, including India.

This means that if you are one of the early buyers of the iPhone 16, you will not get access to Apple Intelligence anytime soon and will have to wait until later this year or next year for a fully functional AI experience depending on your region and language preferences. What is even more disappointing is that Apple has not even revealed when these features will be available in India, leaving Indian users unsure about when they can access Apple Intelligence in their preferred language.

But why is Apple Intelligence delayed?

The delay in the launch of Apple Intelligence is linked to the gradual rollout of iOS 18.1, which is currently in beta. The initial release of iOS 18, scheduled for September 16, will not include the full suite of Apple Intelligence tools. However, iPhone 16 users will have the option to upgrade to the iOS 18.1 beta immediately after receiving their devices, which will provide access to some early AI features. However, downloading the beta carries the risk of unstable features.

If you’ve backed up your data, the iOS 18.1 beta includes early versions of Apple intelligence capabilities, such as advanced writing tools, a new look for Siri, and the first implementation of AI-powered features in the Photos app. Although Apple has indicated that the public release of iOS 18.1 will happen in October, additional features will be added in subsequent updates, including iOS 18.2, which is expected to arrive later this year.

Apple Intelligence features coming to iPhone 16 series

Once fully rolled out, Apple Intelligence is set to bring several new AI features that aim to revolutionize the way iPhone users interact with their phones by integrating advanced AI capabilities directly into iOS. Here’s a closer look at what Apple Intelligence will bring:

Writing instruments: Apple Intelligence will introduce a number of writing enhancements, including Text Rewrite, which can turn email drafts into more polished versions with options to adjust the tone. The Proofread feature will suggest grammar and style improvements, while Summarize Text will provide a quick overview or bullet points for longer content. Smart Reply will provide context-aware responses in apps like Mail.

The new and improved Siri: Siri will also get a significant upgrade, including a new visual design and improved functionality. The updated Siri will be capable of contextual understanding, allowing it to provide more relevant responses based on the app or task at hand. Users will also be able to type commands to Siri, providing a cool alternative to voice interactions.

Photo and Visual Intelligence: The new AI-powered photo tools will include a Clean Up feature, similar to Google’s Magic Eraser, which can remove unwanted objects from photos. Users will be able to search their photo libraries using natural language descriptions, making it easier to find specific images. Visual intelligence will allow users to take photos of objects or text, such as menus or event posters, to get instant information or actions, such as adding events to their calendar.

Zenmoji and Image Playground: These creative tools will enable users to create custom emojis and images from text prompts, adding a personal touch to messaging and visual content creation. Zenmoji allows for the creation of unique emojis, while Image Playground lets users create entire images based on detailed prompts.

Calls & Voice Transcription: Apple Intelligence will include features like call recording and transcription, which will automatically notify participants that the call is being recorded. In addition, users will be able to record voice notes directly within the Notes app, with transcriptions provided automatically.