iOS 18.5 has been in beta testing for nearly a month, with a public launch expected in May. So far though, its new features are limited to a pair of Apple Mail enhancements. Per a couple sources, however, iOS 18.5 may ultimately include two additional new features that haven’t yet been revealed.
Apple Intelligence in China and Pride wallpapers likely coming in iOS 18.5
We’re only about six weeks away from Apple’s big WWDC unveiling of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and more.
For this reason, it’s not too unusual that iOS 18.5 seems light on new features so far.
The vast majority of Apple’s iOS engineering resources are hard at work preparing for the big iOS 19 reveal.
That said, there are indications that two not-yet-seen features could arrive in iOS 18.5 before its public launch.
- Apple Intelligence support in China
- and new Pride wallpapers
The former could prove especially key for helping turn around Apple’s struggling iPhone sales in China.
Currently, China is the only region in the world where Apple Intelligence is not yet available.
The EU was on that list too until recently, but iOS 18.4 brought AI to the region last month.
When Apple last reported quarterly earnings, it sought to ease concerns about its iPhone sales decline in China in several ways.
One explanation Cook used was that AI hadn’t launched there yet, and Apple consistently saw higher iPhone sales in parts of the world where it was available.
Apple hasn’t officially announced that iOS 18.5 will bring AI to China, but Mark Gurman reported at Bloomberg that the company was “aiming for a launch as early as May”.
Finally bringing Apple Intelligence to one of the iPhone’s biggest markets would be a strong tentpole for an otherwise underwhelming iOS 18.5 release.
As for new Pride wallpapers, Apple tends to refresh its Pride wallpapers, Apple Watch bands, and watch faces around May each year.
Not only that, but Aaron Perris discovered evidence of the new wallpapers in iOS 18.5’s code.
iOS 18.5 new features: wrap-up
Even if iOS 18.5 does launch Apple Intelligence in China, and include new Pride wallpapers, it will still prove one of the smallest iOS updates in the past year.
But not every update can be packed full of new features. And with iOS 19 around the corner, Apple will undoubtedly have a lot of new iPhone features coming in the months ahead.
Have you noticed any additional new features in iOS 18.5 so far? Let us know in the comments.
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