Apple's iOS 18.5 Update May Bring AI Features to China, Potentially Boosting iPhone Sales

iOS 18.5 may bring two new features not yet revealed - 9to5Mac

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. 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. 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. 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.

A Major Feature Could Give Apple A Much-Needed Edge To Reignite Sales And Capture More Market Share In China With iOS 18.5

Despite Apple's decision to delay Personalized Siri, iOS 18 is still a significant update, considering the number of features it brings to the iPhone. Apple Intelligence, specifically, plays a vital role in bringing the industry's key features to the platform. Apple still appears to be struggling in China regarding smartphone shipments, and there are a few reasons for that. iPhone users in China do not have access to Apple Intelligence at this stage and iOS 18.5 will possibly bring support for Apple's AI features in the region. We have previously reported that Apple has been consistently falling behind Xiaomi, Huawei, Vivo, and Oppo in China, as local smartphones are offering various designs and feature upgrades. Apple's shipments in China took a massive hit in the first quarter of this year, which resulted in a 9 percent dip compared to the competition. This was the seventh time the company saw a downward trajectory for iPhone shipments in the region, and it should be very concerning for Apple. China is a massive market for Apple, unlike the North American market, where the company took the top spot in smartphone sales. In China, Apple is being left behind by local companies that are innovating in terms of design and features. Apple, on the other hand, is sticking with the same design and not offering any foldable or significant changes, which is causing users to seek innovation elsewhere. Moreover, the lack of Apple Intelligence features is another reason why the iPhone 16 feels like any other older model. There are indications that two unseen features could make their way to iOS 18.5, which could have an impact on iPhone sales in China. It is being reported that the iOS 18.5 update will enable Apple Intelligence in the region, resulting in sales that have been stagnant for a while. The publication also notes that new Pride wallpapers are also coming with the update. The EU also did not have Apple Intelligence until recently, as Apple enabled the service for the region with its iOS 18.4 update. Apple has noticed the trend that Apple Intelligence availability and iPhone sales had a directly proportional relation, suggesting that sales were higher in regions where the service was available. While Apple has not officially announced the availability of Apple Intelligence in China, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg claims that the company was "aiming for a launch as early as May." Apple will release iOS 18.5 in May, so be sure to keep an eye out.