Apple is set to release its new iOS 18 in September packed with updates, but it will be missing one major feature, according to reports.
An expert has claimed that the tech giant’s artificial intelligence platform, known as Apple Intelligence, could be delayed until at least October, a month after the iPhone 16 hits the market.
The missed date means the new smartphone will lack a revamped Siri, custom emojis and new photo-editing capabilities.
The delay is reportedly due to Apple’s concerns about the stability of AI-powered features and is providing developers with enough time to test the software.
An expert has claimed that the iOS 18 system that accompanies the new iPhone 16 may not include some essential Apple Intelligence features, including ChatGPT integration and writing improvement tools.
Apple announced its new iOS 18 operating system at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, which was touted as the company’s “biggest” update yet.
Apple launched beta testing of the software on July 15 and it will be widely released in late September, but final intelligence updates might not be available until mid-2025, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
However, Gurman said that iOS 18 will have several delayed features, including Siri, which will not be able to use device data to answer questions.
Users also reportedly won’t be able to prioritize key notifications, get web page summaries and voice notes, access writing improvement tools, or use OpenAI’s ChatGPT integration software.
This means that the iPhone 16 will be the first model that will not have all the new features that normally come with iOS software and users will have to install an update a few weeks after purchasing the phone.
The second iOS 18.1 update is expected to be released in October, Gurman said, but some key features will still be missing, though he did not specify which ones.
According to Gurman, software updates will continue to be rolled out from late 2024 through the first half of next year.
Other new iOS 18 features will include home and lock screen customization, a revamped control center, Messages updates, and a dedicated Passwords app.
DailyMail.com has contacted Apple for comment on the software delay.
The iPhone 16 will also receive a design update that will offer a new five-color palette of white, black, blue, green, and pink, ditching the yellow and purple options it was originally rumored to have.
The iPhone 16 is also believed to be getting a design refresh that will offer a new five-color palette of white, black, blue, green, and pink, ditching the yellow and purple options it was originally rumored to have.
Apple is also rumored to be making a major tweak to the iPhone 16’s camera, marking the first redesign since 2013.
While Apple has yet to reveal any details about its upcoming smartphone, new leaks claim that the device will have a dual-camera setup, one dedicated to wide and ultra-wide fields of view.
The delay comes after Apple on Monday issued an urgent update to its iOS 17 system to combat 35 bugs that could allow hackers to access your iPhone by installing malicious software and using apps to access your location and other personal data.
This update applied to all iPhone Xs, Xs Max, and XR phones released in 2018 or later.
One of the security patches addressed a flaw in the iPhone’s operating system that allowed hackers to cause the software to crash and a separate bug that allowed apps to ignore user privacy preferences.
There is reportedly no evidence yet that hackers have exploited these back-end issues, but experts warned that users should take steps to update their systems now.
