Apple Seeds First iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia Public Betas With Apple Intelligence

Apple today released the first public betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its October launch.

apple intelligence black
Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program can download the iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1 updates by opening up the Settings app, tapping into the Software Update section and selecting the Public Beta option.

iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1 are the first updates that includes Apple Intelligence features. Not all AI capabilities have been added, but the beta features Writing Tools, Siri changes, summaries, and smart replies. Note that to use ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features, you need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, or M-series Mac or iPad.

Writing Tools are available whenever text can be selected and edited, and the feature can be used for spell checking, correcting grammar, rewriting your work with a new tone, and summarizing text.

‌Siri‌ has been overhauled with a new design that includes a subtle glow around the display, and Type to ‌Siri‌ means you don't have to speak to ‌Siri‌ to get answers. ‌Siri‌‌ can follow along if you stumble over your words, and can maintain context between requests. Safari can summarize articles, and there's a new Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode that intelligently highlights only important notifications.

Smart replies are available in Messages and Mail, plus the Mail app surfaces priority time sensitive messages and puts them at the top of your inbox. Photos has a Memory Movie feature for creating slideshows based on text descriptions, and there is a Clean Up tool for unwanted objects in your photos.

All iOS 18.1 users can now access phone call recording and transcribing, with recorded calls saved in the Notes app, but summarizing phone calls from those transcriptions is an ‌Apple Intelligence‌ feature. Today's update also brings spatial photo capabilities to the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro and Pro Max.

More on all of the features that are available in the betas right now can be found in our Apple Intelligence guide. Image Playground, Genmoji, and other new ‌Siri‌ features have not yet been implemented.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

Popular Stories

Generic iOS 18

Apple Announces iOS 18.2 Launching Today With These New Features

Wednesday December 11, 2024 5:23 am PST by
Apple has announced that iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 will be released today following more than six weeks of beta testing. For the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, the update introduces additional Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji for creating custom emoji, Image Playground and Image Wand for generating images, and ChatGPT integration for Siri. There is also ...
Generic iOS 18

Apple Seeds Second Release Candidate Versions of iOS 18.2 and More With Genmoji, Image Playground and ChatGPT Integration

Monday December 9, 2024 10:06 am PST by
Apple today seeded the second release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS 15.2 updates to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, a week after releasing the first RCs. The first iOS 18.2 RC had a build number of 22C150, while the second RC's build number is 22C151. Release candidates represent the final version of beta software that's expected to see a ...
iPhone SE 4 Single Camera Thumb 3

iPhone SE 4 Said to Feature 48MP Rear Lens, 12MP TrueDepth Camera

Monday December 9, 2024 4:48 am PST by
Apple's forthcoming iPhone SE 4 will feature a single 48-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera on the front, according to details revealed in a new Korean supply chain report. ET News reports that Korea-based LG Innotek is the main supplier of the front and rear camera modules for the more budget-friendly ~$400 device, which is expected to launch in the first quarter of...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

MacBook Pros With OLED Displays Won't Have a Notch, Roadmap Shows

Monday December 9, 2024 7:36 am PST by
Apple plans to remove the notch from the MacBook Pro in a few years from now, according to a roadmap shared by research firm Omdia. The roadmap shows that 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models released in 2026 will have a hole-punch camera at the top of the display, instead of a notch. It is unclear if there would simply be a pinhole in the display, or if Apple would expand the iPhone's...
vipps nfc tap to pay iphone

World's First Apple Pay Alternative for iPhone Launches in Norway

Monday December 9, 2024 1:28 am PST by
Norwegian payment service Vipps has become the world's first company to launch a competing tap-to-pay solution to Apple Pay on iPhone, following Apple's agreement with European regulators to open up its NFC technology to third parties. Starting December 9, Vipps users in Norway can make contactless payments in stores using their iPhones. The service initially supports customers of SpareBank...
New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

20 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2

Friday December 6, 2024 4:42 am PST by
Apple is set to release iOS 18.2 in the second week of December, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. There are a handful of new non-AI related feature controls...
Apple Watch Series 10 lineup 240909 feature

Apple Watch Could Get Blood Pressure Monitoring in 2025

Tuesday December 10, 2024 11:51 am PST by
Apple is ramping up work on a blood pressure monitoring feature for the Apple Watch and it could be ready as soon as 2025, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Blood pressure monitoring is a health addition that Apple has been working on for the last several years, and based on rumors, Apple wanted to debut it in 2024. The feature would not provide exact systolic and diastolic blood pressure...
macOS Sequoia Night Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.2 With New Apple Intelligence Features

Wednesday December 11, 2024 10:02 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.2, the second update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that was released in September. macOS Sequoia 15.2 comes over a month after the release of macOS Sequoia 15.1. Mac users can download the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. macOS Sequoia 15.2 adds Image Playground, an app that lets you create...

Top Rated Comments

vertsix Avatar
12 weeks ago
Kind of embarrassing how the headlining feature of the new iPhones is not shipping with the new iPhones.

Just wait until you have to explain that to the normies who saw the new Siri glow and other marketing.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
12 weeks ago

Sucks for all of us with unsupported phones. We're probably going to get next to nothing new for the foreseeable future as everything they release is going to be Apple Intelligence based. Just watch as every new feature going forwards is going to "require" Apple Intelligence.

It's a pretty **** move to all of us that purchased 14 Pros. I would have held off another year if I would have known the phone was going to essentially be cut off after two years.
Hogwash. Why do you think you’re entitled to new features?
Your 14 will continue to do everything the same as the day you bought it, with all features that were announced/available and you’re getting new features too, eg password app, RCS support just to name a couple
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
outz Avatar
12 weeks ago

You bought your phone based on its feature set at the time. If you base your decision on what software will be available in 2 years, the only person to blame is the one staring back at you in the mirror.

Apple Intelligence is one of the few "heavy" features that requires minimum hardware specs to run well. Would it run on your 14 Pro? Probably, but with compromises that would fuel even more complaints.
I understand the point about buying a device for its current features, I respectfully disagree with the overall sentiment.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is a high end device that's only two years old. Many consumers invest in premium products with the reasonable expectation of continued software support and feature updates. Apple has traditionally been good about supporting older devices with new features when possible.

Regarding the hardware requirements, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has the A16 Bionic chip, which is still a very capable. Without real concrete information regarding the specific hardware needs for Apple Intelligence, it's a bit premature to assume it couldn't run well on this device.

The timing of the feature release compared to new hardware announcements feels like it could be more about marketing strategy than technical limitations. Releasing a new phone before the feature is even available, then restricting the feature to only the newest models, seems to push consumers towards unnecessary upgrades.

No one is entitled to every new feature indefinitely, but I think it's fair for consumers to express disappointment when relatively recent, high end devices are excluded from significant software updates. It's not just about what was promised at purchase, but also about perceived value and longevity of premium products.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleTO Avatar
12 weeks ago
Sucks for all of us with unsupported phones. We're probably going to get next to nothing new for the foreseeable future as everything they release is going to be Apple Intelligence based. Just watch as every new feature going forwards is going to "require" Apple Intelligence.

It's a pretty **** move to all of us that purchased 14 Pros. I would have held off another year if I would have known the phone was going to essentially be cut off after two years.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Devyn89 Avatar
12 weeks ago

Very weird. Launch day tomorrow so why isn’t an RC out yet? Crazy.
18.1 doesn’t come out for the public until October, likely late October. There won’t be a RC for sometime and iOS 18.0 is already out for the public.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
12 weeks ago
By the time my iPhone 16 Pro arrives, iOS 18.1 probably won't be in beta anymore. ?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)