We’ve been hearing about Apple Intelligence since June but only now has it become real. With iOS 18.2, just released, Apple has unleashed a deluge of improvements to make the iPhone (and iPad and Mac) more useful. But is the new release good to go or should you hold back?
Note that I’ll be updating this post over the coming days and will make a final assessment on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Who Is It For And How Do You Get It?
Apple iOS 18.2 works with all iPhones that can run iOS 18, which is the same list of devices which could handle iOS 17. This means all iPhones from the iPhone XS onwards, including the second- and third-generation iPhone SE models.
Apple Intelligence is the marquee feature here, but it only works on six iPhones: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
What It’s About
Two words: Apple Intelligence. That’s not to say there isn’t more to this update, but Apple Intelligence is key. Not only is it the biggest upgrade to Apple Intelligence so far, it’s the entire delivery of the new features for users in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa, which haven’t had any Apple Intelligence features until now.
Apple iOS 18. 2 Security
There are several security issues which are addressed by iOS 18.2, such as solutions to problems in both WebKit which is key to the Safari browser and the iPhone Kernel. Forbes colleague Kate O’Flaherty has more details on the security aspects to this big update here. Note that while the last iOS 18 update was accompanied by an iOS 17 update for those users who didn’t want to get onto the iOS 18 bandwagon, there are far fewer options this time around. Apple is saying you should upgrade to iOS 18. Indeed, those were CEO Tim Cook’s words to me when the update was happening, saying users should do it “in a rush”.
First Reactions
There have been some comments pertaining to issues not being solved or (the usual) worries about battery life. However, battery worries are almost never borne out in the hours or days after an update lands, so check back for a final update on that.
Overall, though there have been plenty of positive comments, such as one user who said, “Huge upgrade from 18.1.1. Fixes all the problems of previous releases of iOS 18. I think this is it. No need for anymore updates. Even Apple intelligence works as promised. Even Siri responds to all my questions perfectly!”
Apple iOS 18.2 Initial Verdict: Update
There are so many feature updates in iOS 18.2 that updating always seemed the most likely thing to do unless it all fell over dramatically. That hasn’t happened, so unless you’re dead against Apple Intelligence, this seems a great time to upgrade to iOS 18 if you’ve previously held back.
