Apple releases iOS 18.2 with a bunch of new features

Apple released the final versions of iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 to the general public today, ending the year on a high note with a bunch of new features. Additionally, Apple has provided final builds for macOS 15.2, watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, visionOS 2.2, and HomePod OS 18.2. Let’s see together what awaits you (or not) after the update.

Contents hide

1 The main new features

1.1 Image Playground

1.2 Magic wand

1.3 Genmoji

1.4 Siri integration with ChatGPT

1.5 Visual intelligence

1.6 Writing tool improvements

1.7 The new Mail

2 Availability and compatibility

3 Install the update

4 The official list of new features from Apple

The main new features

A large part of the new features are linked to Apple Intelligence, and therefore for the moment still reserved for English speakers. France, like other countries, will be served in April 2025, while Apple complies with local directives, including the DSA in Europe.

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Image Playground

Image Playground is a new image creation tool within the Apple ecosystem. As seen previously, users can generate images from text prompts, using suggestions or concepts provided by Apple, which can draw inspiration from content in Messages or Notes. This feature allows you to create characters that look like friends or family using photos from the Photos app as reference. It offers an overview of additions and a history to undo changes. Although it’s primarily a standalone app, Image Playground also integrates with Messages, focusing on animated or illustrated styles rather than photorealistic images.

apple intelligence image playground iphone

Magic wand

Integrated into the Notes app, Image Wand complements Image Playground by allowing users to generate images from sketches or selected text using the Apple Pencil.

Genmoji

Genmoji allows the creation of custom emojis based on text descriptions, pulled from the People to Photos album for personalized touches. Currently available on iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, its deployment on macOS Sequoia is planned soon.

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Siri integration with ChatGPT

Siri now has the ability to leverage ChatGPT for responses when it cannot respond directly to a query, with user consent. This integration allows content creation without the need for an account, ensuring privacy by not storing requests.

Visual intelligence

Visual Intelligence, available to iPhone 16 users, uses the device’s camera to offer contextual information about your surroundings, like restaurant hours or product information, with options to interact further via Google search or get information from ChatGPT.

Writing tool improvements

The Writing Tools feature now supports more flexible tone adjustments, allowing users to request specific changes, like adding action verbs or turning text into poetry.

The new Mail

The Mail application now offers automatic categorization of emails into several sections (but there is a trick to access them currently in France):

Main : for important messages

Transactions : purchases and order confirmations

Updates : newsletters and notifications

Promotions : marketing emails and good deals

Availability and compatibility

These updates are available for all recent iPhones and iPads, but for the full suite of Apple Intelligence features, you need an iPhone 15 Pro or later, an iPad with an M series chip or A17 Pro, or of a Mac with an M series chip.

Install the update

To download the update, open the Settings app > General > Software Update. Take the time to make a backup beforehand, you can never be too careful.

The official list of new features from Apple

Image Playground

A new app that lets you use concepts, descriptions, and people from your photo library to create fun, playful images in multiple styles

Browse previews and make your selections as you add concepts to your playground

Choose from animation and illustration styles when creating your image

Create images in Messages and Freeform, as well as third-party apps

Images sync to your Image Playground library across all your devices with iCloud

Genmoji

Genmoji lets you create a custom emoji directly from the keyboard

Genmoji syncs to your sticker drawer across all your devices with iCloud

ChatGPT support

OpenAI’s ChatGPT is accessible directly from Siri or Writing Tools

Compose in Writing Tools lets you create something from scratch with ChatGPT

Siri can access ChatGPT when relevant to provide you with a response

A ChatGPT account is not required and your requests will be anonymous and will not be used to train OpenAI models

AI of all kinds

Image Wand turns handwritten or typed sketches and notes into images in Notes

Describing your change in writing tools allows you to suggest how you would like something rewritten, for example as a poem.

Camera control (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max)

Visual intelligence with camera control helps you instantly learn about locations or interact with information simply by pointing your iPhone at the object, with the ability to access Google Search or ChatGPT.

Camera Control’s two-stage shutter allows you to lock the focus and exposure in the camera when the light presses Camera Control.

Mail categorization sorts your messages to help you prioritize the most important messages

The view Digest groups all messages from a sender into one set for easy navigation

Pictures

Improvements to video display, including the ability to step through frame by frame and a setting to disable auto-loop video playback

Improvements when navigating Collections views, including the ability to swipe right to return to the previous view

History of recently viewed and recently shared albums can be cleared

The Favorites album appears in the Utilities collection in addition to pinned collections

Safari

New background images to personalize your Safari start page

Import and Export allows you to export your browsing data from Safari and import browsing data from another app into Safari.

HTTPS Priority upgrades URLs to HTTPS whenever possible

File Download Live Activity displays the progress of a file download in Dynamic Island and on your home screen.

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:

Voice Memos supports layered recording, allowing you to add vocals to an existing song idea without the need for headphones, then import your two-track projects directly into Logic Pro (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max).

Sharing item locations in Find My helps you locate and recover misplaced items by easily and securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with trusted third parties, such as airlines .

Natural language search in the Apple Music and Apple TV app lets you describe what you’re looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more.

Favorite Categories in Podcasts lets you choose your favorite categories and get relevant show recommendations that you can easily access in your library.