Highlights
- iOS 18.1 introduces Apple Intelligence with enhanced AI features.
- Siri receives a visual update and minor improvements in responsiveness.
- Writing Tools help proofread and rewrite text, but with mixed results.
- The Clean Up tool can remove photo objects but struggles with accuracy.
- Search improvements make it easier to find specific images and videos.
- Control Center is now customizable with dedicated connectivity controls.
- New hearing health features arrive for AirPods Pro 2, acting as hearing aids.
Apple’s latest iOS 18.1 update has launched with much-talked-about “Apple Intelligence.” These AI-powered features were meant to revolutionize the iPhone experience, but after hands-on testing, the results seem mixed.
Though Apple introduced various tools to improve Siri, photos, text, and accessibility, the changes feel incremental compared to competitors like Google and Samsung.
Siri Is Smarter, But Still Not Perfect
In iOS 18.1, Siri’s visual design is more modern—a colorful shimmer around the screen edge instead of the old orb. It also has better listening skills, now recognizing corrections and word stumbling.
When asked questions about Apple products, Siri can generate step-by-step instructions, like rebooting an iPhone. However, testing revealed that Siri still struggles to provide consistent instructions, often defaulting to web searches for more complex queries.
AI Writing Tools: Helpful But Imperfect
A new feature called Writing Tools in iOS 18.1 lets users proofread, summarize, and reword text anywhere within the operating system.
The Proofread option is particularly useful for fixing errors, while the Rewrite feature often results in flat and dull content.
Apple’s tone-changing options include Friendly, Professional, and Concise, but the changes can feel unnatural.
Summarizing, while handy in apps like Safari, sacrifices the original tone, missing out on crucial details.
Basic Photo Edits and Limited Search Improvements
iOS 18.1 also introduces a new Clean Up tool that helps remove objects from images. While this AI-based feature can clear out unwanted items, it’s not always accurate.
Edits often leave behind odd distortions or smears, especially in complex photos. Similar features from Google and Samsung still outperform Apple’s efforts in this area.
The enhanced search capabilities can pinpoint specific images or video sections using detailed queries like “Max Eddy looking angry.”
However, more complex or vague queries, such as “last time Max Eddy was in Ann Arbor,” still yield inconsistent results.
New Memories Feature Adds Sweet Touches
Apple’s Memories video feature lets users create videos using a set of photos based on a date range or location. Although it meets specific criteria, it’s still not as powerful or personal as manually curated collections.
Control Center and Camera Updates
The revamped Control Center is now customizable and lets users add connectivity controls like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and VPNs. It also features a new shortcut to quickly access it from the home screen.
The Camera app gains a Spatial mode on the iPhone 15 Pro, 16, and 16 Pro, allowing users to shoot 3D-like photos and videos, but only on these specific models.
Hearing Health Features in AirPods Pro 2
iOS 18.1 introduces hearing health functions for AirPods Pro 2, including a hearing test, on-by-default noise protection, and over-the-counter hearing aid features.
This update aims to normalize wearing earbuds as hearing aids, addressing the stigma around traditional devices.
