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Apple is set to release iOS 18.1 in October, bringing the first set of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update marks a significant step forward in Apple's AI integration, offering a new Siri contextually-aware experience and a range of additional capabilities powered by on-device machine learning and large language models. There are a couple of handy new feature controls coming, too.

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While not all Apple Intelligence features will be available immediately, iOS 18.1 introduces several enhancements that aim to make your iPhone smarter and more intuitive. Below, we've listed 15 new things your iPhone will be able to do when the update rolls out next month.

Reset Your Control Center

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With iOS 18, Apple made the Control Center thoroughly customizable, but there's no way to roll back your changes if things get messy. Fortunately, iOS 18.1 introduces a simple way to start fresh. In Settings ➝ Control Center, you'll find a new option to reset your Control Center to its default layout. This feature is perfect if you've made too many customizations and want to return to a clean slate without manually rearranging everything.

Take Selfies With Camera Control

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Camera Control gets a selfie upgrade in iOS 18.1. Now, you can switch to the front-facing camera without touching your screen. Simply open the Camera app with a press of the Camera Control button, then swipe on the button to cycle through lens options. Look for the person icon at the top to activate the selfie camera, making it easier to capture that perfect self-portrait.

Proofread Your Text

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Embarrassing typos could be a thing of the past. iOS 18.1's new Writing Tools feature includes a powerful proofreading function. It not only checks for spelling and grammar errors but also suggests improvements in word choice and sentence structure. You can accept all suggestions with a single tap or review them one by one, complete with explanations.

Rewrite Your Text

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Need to change the tone of your message? The new Rewrite tool is capable of doing just that. Whether you want your text to sound more friendly, professional, or concise, this feature can adjust your writing style without altering the core content. It's like having a personal editor at your fingertips, helping you communicate more effectively in any situation.

Summarize Long Emails

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If you frequently suffer from inbox overload, this should be a welcome feature. When you receive a lengthy email, you'll now see a "Summarize" button that lets Apple Intelligence create a concise overview. Choose from options like a brief paragraph, key points, or even a bulleted list. This tool makes it easier to quickly grasp the essence of important messages without reading every word. Plus, your inbox now displays a brief AI-generated summary instead of the first few lines of each email, helping you prioritize your responses more efficiently.

Answer Apple Product Questions

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Your iPhone becomes a knowledgeable Apple expert with iOS 18.1. Siri can now tap into a vast database of product information, helping you understand device features, locate settings, and even provide tutorials on how to complete tasks. It's like having Apple Support built right into your device, available whenever you need it.

Offer Smart Replies to Emails and Messages

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Communication gets a boost with Smart Reply in iOS 18.1. When you receive an email or message, your iPhone will analyze the content and suggest contextually relevant responses. These quick-tap options make it easy to reply promptly and appropriately, saving you time and effort in your daily correspondence.

Summarize Multiple Message Notifications

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Catching up on group chats is set to get a lot easier. iOS 18.1 can summarize multiple message notifications on your Lock Screen, giving you a quick overview without the need to open the app. This feature helps you stay on top of conversations without getting overwhelmed by notification overload.

Create Memory Movies From a Short Description

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Relive your favorite moments with ease using the new Memory Movie feature. Simply provide a description like "My cat in 2024" or "Orlando in the summer," and your iPhone will automatically select relevant photos and choose appropriate music. You can further customize the mood and add specific scenes, turning your memories into beautiful short films with minimal effort.

Remove Unwanted Objects From Photos

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Perfect your photos with the new Clean Up tool. This feature allows you to easily remove unwanted objects from your images. Whether it's a photobomber or a distracting element in the background, you can now tap, circle, or brush over the object to make it disappear. The tool is smart enough to preserve important elements, ensuring your main subjects remain intact.

Summarize Your Audio Transcripts

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Turn long recordings into digestible content with the new transcription feature. When you record audio in apps like Notes, your iPhone can now provide a tra... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: 15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.1
 

GeoStructural

macrumors 65816
Oct 8, 2016
1,194
4,088
Colombia
The clean up feature works incredibly well.

I hate that in the new control center it now takes two clicks/touches to activate Bluetooth, why?…

They then added an extra standalone Bluetooth toggle, now there are two, one that takes two steps and another that takes one, and you cannot remove the other. It is stupid, you should have only one in a simple touch like before.
 

adrianlondon

macrumors 603
Nov 28, 2013
5,491
8,300
Switzerland
These cutting-edge features are borderline worthless. I just want a more capable, less infuriating Siri, just like I have for the past decade.
Agreed. Less AI, more Logic needed.

I have a Chinese friend called Xi. It doesn't matter the context, Siri is totally unable to say that name, despite the mixed case and some semantic clues.

Take this calendar event:
"Meet my friend Xi for coffee".

Siri:
"You have one event today. Meet my friend eleven for coffee".
 

Sasparilla

macrumors 68020
Jul 6, 2012
2,019
3,455
While 18.0 had lots of neat little stuff I actually use, most of 18.1 is a shrug for me with the photo object removal being something I'd probably use (if I had a 15 Pro or 16), it'll be interesting to see how much the AI stuff is actually used by people with phones that measure up.
 
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nuff_said

macrumors member
Sep 23, 2021
90
203
Agreed. Less AI, more Logic needed.

I have a Chinese friend called Xi. It doesn't matter the context, Siri is totally unable to say that name, despite the mixed case and some semantic clues.

Take this calendar event:
"Meet my friend Xi for coffee".

Siri:
"You have one event today. Meet my friend eleven for coffee".
I know what you mean and it’s one of the reasons I don’t use Siri. Not saying it’s a viable solution but have you tried this field to see if it helps?
 

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carrrrrlos

macrumors 6502a
Sep 19, 2010
945
1,674
PNW
I actually just returned mine. First Apple product i’ve ever returned, and I’ve had a lot of Apple products. The Quadra was my first Mac. My iPhone 14Pro works just great and has everything I could possibly want in its form factor. The 16Pro just felt extra for no reason. The photo button reminded me of the touchbar on those MBPs. Kinda missing the less is more Apple.
 

CarAnalogy

macrumors 601
Jun 9, 2021
4,873
8,824
Would those 15 things go down to 1, for those who own something lesser than the 15 Pro?

I'd find it useful to know which features require AI that all the other phones are seemingly too useless to handle.

You can still record phone calls (apparently, haven't tried it) and get web summaries in Safari (for what they're worth, which in my experience is not much.)

All I really want is better Siri but it's already much faster and more usable (on the iPhone, still laggy and bad on HomePod.)

ChatGPT can already read Apple's documentation (and everyone else's) and do a good job of quickly answering specific questions about it.
 
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CarAnalogy

macrumors 601
Jun 9, 2021
4,873
8,824
15 things…
IF you have a 15 pro or 16. And IF you live in the US. 🤷‍♂️

I mean this is really more about Apple, how else could it be? Just look at their videos, the only reality Apple acknowledges is Californians with the newest devices.
 
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B-Mc-C

macrumors 6502
Jan 12, 2017
255
787
Irvine, California
Agreed. Less AI, more Logic needed.

I have a Chinese friend called Xi. It doesn't matter the context, Siri is totally unable to say that name, despite the mixed case and some semantic clues.

Take this calendar event:
"Meet my friend Xi for coffee".

Siri:
"You have one event today. Meet my friend eleven for coffee".
Try adding the pronunciation field to the contact card.
 

calliex

macrumors 6502
Aug 16, 2018
481
231
Pittsburgh, Pa
The clean up feature works incredibly well.

I hate that in the new control center it now takes two clicks/touches to activate Bluetooth, why?…

They then added an extra standalone Bluetooth toggle, now there are two, one that takes two steps and another that takes one, and you cannot remove the other. It is stupid, you should have only one in a simple touch like before.
does this only work on 15 pro. I do not see it on my 15
 
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MilaM

macrumors 65816
Nov 7, 2017
1,160
2,603
I tend to be a LLM/AI sceptic. But I am intrigued by the proofreading and summaries features. It would have to support many more languages though, not only English.
 
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