SMART APPLE
Millions of iPhones blocked from Apple’s big AI iOS 18 upgrade – list reveals if you’re a lucky owner getting it
It's not just iPhones getting the upgrade
APPLE is about to roll out major upgrades to millions of iPhones – but not all models will get it.
The new AI-powered Apple Intelligence features are coming as part of the soon-to-arrive iOS 18 update.
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But not all phones will get iOS 18 – and even fewer will be able to access Apple Intelligence.
Here's what you need to know...
WHAT IS APPLE INTELLIGENCE?
Apple Intelligence is a group of sweeping AI upgrades for the (and several of the company's other gadgets).
It's part of iOS 18 – which lands in September – although we're not expecting it until at least iOS 18.1, which may arrive a month later.
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The upgrade will make Siri smarter and conversations with the assistant should feel more natural.
It'll be able to help you write text or summarize content, create images from scratch, and even generate custom emoji called Genmoji.
Apple is integrating OpenAI's ChatGPT into the iPhone so you can ask it questions too.
But if you want these new features, you'll need a very recent model.
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WHAT DEVICES SUPPORT IOS 18?
Firstly, Apple has limited iOS 18 to a select list of devices.
The good news is that iPhone models that supported iOS 17 will also get iOS 18.
Free iPhone update coming to millions – iOS 18 supported devices list, release date prediction and trick to get it early
That list includes:
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPhone SE (3rd generation)
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
Sadly, barely any of those devices will get Apple Intelligence.
That's because even with iOS 18, only a select few handsets will offer Apple Intelligence.
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best...
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
- Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen, then tap in the bar and type a currency (like €200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
- Check if you’re due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you’re down to 80% capacity. If you’re below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
- Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
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WHICH DEVICES SUPPORT APPLE INTELLIGENCE?
The only iPhone models currently listed as supporting Apple Intelligence are the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
They were Apple's most expensive handsets from the 2023 roster.
However, we'd be very surprised if at least two of the four iPhone 16 models expected to land in September didn't also support Apple Intelligence.
They haven't been formally announced yet though, so there's no guarantee.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a new artificial intelligence tool
ChatGPT, which was launched in November 2022, was created by San Francisco-based startup OpenAI, an AI research firm.
It’s part of a new generation of AI systems.
ChatGPT is a language model that can produce text.
It can converse, generate readable text on demand and produce images and video based on what has been learned from a vast database of digital books, online writings and other media.
ChatGPT essentially works like a written dialogue between the AI system and the person asking it questions
GPT stands for Generative Pre-Trained Transformer and describes the type of model that can create AI-generated content.
If you prompt it, for example ask it to “write a short poem about flowers,” it will create a chunk of text based on that request.
ChatGPT can also hold conversations and even learn from things you’ve said.
It can handle very complicated prompts and is even being used by businesses to help with work.
But note that it might not always tell you the truth.
“ChatGPT is incredibly limited, but good enough at some things to create a misleading impression of greatness,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in 2022.
But it seems almost certain that at least some of the new iPhone 16 models will offer Apple Intelligence.
If you want it on a non-iOS device, you have some options:
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- iPad Pro (M1 and later)
- iPad Air (M1 and later)
- MacBook Air (M1 and later)
- MacBook Pro (M1 and later)
- iMac (M1 and later)
- Mac mini (M1 and later)
- Mac Studio (M1 Max and later)
- Mac Pro (M2 Ultra)
So you've got a chance of getting Apple Intelligence even without the latest iPhone.
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