These New Apple Intelligence Features Are Coming in iOS 18.4

iOS 18.4 was supposed to bring new Apple Intelligence Siri features, but Apple ended up needing to pull those capabilities from the update to continue testing. There are fewer new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ additions now, but there are still some new features that will make the update worth installing when it comes out in April.

apple intelligence black

Priority Notifications

Apple introduced Priority Notifications back at the June 2024 WWDC, and it's another ‌Apple Intelligence‌ feature that we've been waiting on since the September iOS 18 release.

Apple Intelligence Priority Notifications
With Priority Notifications, Apple analyzes your incoming notifications and highlights the ones that are important, based on context and time. If you've ordered food and your order is approaching, Apple will highlight that notification as a priority, placing it above other notifications. The same goes for anything that has a time-based component, or something else that needs immediate attention.

Priority Notifications is opt-in in the iOS 18.4 beta, so it needs to be turned on by going to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications.

When turned on, Priority Notifications show up first in your list of notifications on the Lock Screen, in a separate box with an icon that stands out. You can still see all of your other notifications by swiping.

Image Playground

When the Image Playground app launched, it only had Animation and Illustration styles to choose from for the images you make, but there were always meant to be three options.

ios 18 4 image playground
With the iOS 18.4 beta, the third "Sketch" option is available as well. Sketch is a style that looks more like a hand drawn image, and it is distinct from Animation, which is a 3D style, and Illustration, a simpler 3D image.

Apple describes Sketch as a "highly detailed and academic" style that "produces gorgeous drawings on stark backgrounds," while the illustration style features strong outlines, bold colors, and simple shapes. Apple says the animation style has a "whimsical, 3D cartoon look."

New Languages

iOS 18.4 adds ‌Apple Intelligence‌ support for new languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified), plus localized English for Singapore and India.

iOS 18.4 Release Date

Apple has seeded one beta of iOS 18.4 to developers and public beta testers so far. A second beta will come next week, and it will be beta tested through the month of March.

Apple plans to release iOS 18.4 in early April.

Apple Intelligence Siri Features

There's a chance that we could still see the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ‌Siri‌ features implemented in a later beta of iOS 18.4, but that's looking unlikely given that there's just a month until the update is set to come out.

Instead, Apple will likely add the ‌Siri‌ capabilities in an iOS 18.5 update. It is unusual for major new features to come in a .5 update as those updates often come out around the time when Apple transitions focus to a new version of iOS, but it's not unheard of. Apple has been releasing ‌iOS 18‌ features gradually, and we'll probably see a similar tactic with iOS 19. Rumors already suggest ‌iOS 19‌ development is being pushed back so that Apple can continue to work on ‌iOS 18‌.

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

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Top Rated Comments

AppleTO Avatar
7 weeks ago
I find it odd that something like priority notifications requires full Apple Intelligence, yet for a long time, and on much less powerful hardware, FaceID has been able to construct and compare a 3D map of your face using machine learning in a second.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Johnny907 Avatar
7 weeks ago
Meanwhile people are having entire conversations on the history of piracy in the Atlantic in the 17th century with their six year old 40 dollar Amazon Echo, while I can't even get Siri to start an outdoor workout without "I'm sorry, you have to unlock your iPhone first."
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scrapesleon Avatar
7 weeks ago
apple intelligence always coming soon in the next update and the update after
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macdaddy43 Avatar
7 weeks ago
18.4 will be perfect for the iPhone 16 that was built for Apple Intelligence... Maybe by the fall they might have it ready so they can say the exact same thing for iPhone 17 - 'Built for Apple Intelligence'
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
7 weeks ago
"Siri, how do I disable Messages “Smart” Replies without having to disable Apple Intelligence in its entirety?"

"I don't know what you mean by disable Messages “Smart” Replies without having to disable Apple Intelligence in its entirety... here's what I found on the web..." ;)

...but soon(er or later... or much later)...

"A.I. Siri, how do I disable Messages “Smart” Replies without having to disable Apple Intelligence in its entirety?"

"I don't have information on that <your name here>, but I could help you place an order for the magical, new, incredible iPhone <next> in one of 6 beautiful colors. Would you like my help ordering today? And can I tell you how an iCloud subscription upgrade can enhance your life too? You have enough in your Apple Pay credit line to do both with $3 to spare... so… would you like to know 3 popular songs available for 99¢ each that seem to match your musical tastes, based upon your library?" ;)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mikey918 Avatar
7 weeks ago
That's great. I disabled it and haven't looked back.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)