After much waiting, Apple finally released iOS 18.5. It comes with some new additions and a couple of bug fixes. One of the most notable features bundled in the new iOS 18 update is the Satellite Messaging feature for the iPhone 13 lineup. Here is everything new in the iOS 18.5 update and the devices compatible with it.
iOS 18.5 New Features
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As mentioned above, iOS 18.5 brings the Satellite Messaging feature to the iPhone 13 series. However, it is available as a carrier-powered feature. This means that iPhone 13 users will still not be able to use the Emergency SOS feature offered by Apple. On iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max, users with T-Mobile will be able to use Starlink-powered features, which are currently available for free until July. Emergency SOS and other Apple-powered features are still exclusive to iPhone 14 and above.
Apple has also included a new Pride Harmony wallpaper. Additionally, there is a new feature that notifies parents when a child uses the Screen Time passcode on their device. iOS 18.5 also brings ‘Buy with iPhone’ option when you try to purchase content on the Apple TV app on a 3rd party device.
The mail categorization feature in the Mail app now brings the option to view ‘All Mails’ to the forefront, which was previously hidden in the list of categories.
Among bug fixes included in iOS 18.5, the most notable is the fix for the issue that sometimes leads to a black screen on the Apple Vision Pro app.
iOS 18.5 Size and Compatible Devices
iOS 18.5 is available for all iOS 18-compatible devices , which means users with iPhone XR and above can install the iOS 18.5 update by visiting Settings > General > Software Update. The update is 1.58GB in size and has the build number 22F76.
With seven years of experience in digital media, including more than three years as an editor, I have successfully transitioned from tech to the vibrant world of entertainment. I previously served as a Senior Tech Writer at Fossbytes Media, but my passion for movies and television led me to pivot. As an Entertainment Editor at Beebom, I manage and create content covering movies, TV shows, and anime across major streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+. I’m an avid fan of timeless classics and modern hits, with a particular love for the horror genre.
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- Apple and Google have officially confirmed their team-up for the next-gen Siri AI.
- The Cupertino Giant will be using Google’s Gemini for a more personalized Siri model as well as Apple Intelligence features.
- We can expect the next-gen Siri to come out with iOS 26.4, sometime in March or April.
Apple has officially confirmed joining forces with Google to use its Gemini AI model to power the next-generation Siri. It will offer a more personalized experience and will be coming out with the iOS 26.4 update. Apple also plans to leverage Gemini’s capabilities for other Apple Intelligence features as well, later down the line.
The Next-Gen Siri will be powered by Google’s Gemini AI
Apple officially confirmed that it will be partnering with Google in a statement to CNBC . Here’s what it stated, “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models, and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.”
Later, Google also shared a post on X confirming the tie-up, “Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.”
Image Credit: X/@NewsFromGoogle
Both statements clearly mention that the Cupertino Giant will be using Gemini to power its assistant Siri. This was already rumored, as Apple’s attempts to acquire Perplexity went nowhere. With Gemini, Siri will get a major AI update . It will be able to handle more nuanced conversations and provide better results. Something long-time Apple users have been asking for years.
The next-gen Siri will arrive with the iOS 26.4 update, which will launch sometime in March or April. And it is only going to be available for Apple Intelligence-supported devices .
Something else worth noting is how Google’s statement mentions that Gemini will power Apple Intelligence features. This leads us to believe that Apple could use Gemini’s multi-modal capabilities for its Writings tools , Image Playground , and Message summaries, too.
Elon Musk Not Happy With Apple and Google Tie Up
xAI CEO Elon Musk also responded to Google’s announcement post on X, sharing his thoughts on the matter by saying, “This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that they also have Android and Chrome.” Though we don’t expect either Apple or Google to respond to Elon, we will update the situation as it progresses.
It is worth noting that xAI is the company behind Grok, which is in hot water currently due to its inappropriate image generation fiasco , and has been getting backlash from multiple news outlets, X users, and even government authorities.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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- Apple is close to finalizing a $1 billion deal with Google to use Gemini to power the next-gen Siri.
- It will use a custom version of Gemini AI, which will be used temporarily until Apple develops its own powerful AI model.
- The new AI-powered Siri is slated to launch sometime next spring.
Apple is reportedly set to close an estimated $1 billion annual deal with its rival, Google, to use a custom version of the Gemini AI model to power the next version of Siri. Apple is lagging behind major companies in the AI race so this might help the Cupertino giant to make a comeback.
Apple Turns to Gemini to Power Its AI-Powered Siri
This detail comes from Bloomberg , which reports that Apple is turning to Google’s Gemini as a temporary solution until its own AI model catches up with the rest of the industry. Once ready, it will be used to power a host of new Apple Intelligence features which the company has in the pipeline.
For context, the custom version of Google’s Gemini AI model has about 1.2 trillion parameters , which far exceeds Apple’s current cloud-based AI model which are trained on 150 billion parameters. This shows that Gemini can handle far complex tasks and commands compared to Apple’s in-house model.
Image Credit: Beebom
Typically, the Cupertino Giant prefers to make things on its own, but it has been lagging in the AI race behind several major companies and startups. Apple had plans to acquire Perplexity , and even held talks with OpenAI , but it seems like Gemini is the best fit the company has found for its AI-powered Siri , which is scheduled to come out sometime next spring.
However, there is still some time till then, and Apple’s plan could still change if the deal doesn’t go through.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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