The iPhone Duo may be the talk of the town, but Apple Intelligence also got its time in the sun. Yep, Apple’s long-awaited Surprise and Shine event just happened, and Cupertino showed off new hardware and software that’s equally impressive.
But what are the new Apple Intelligence features, and how does Apple’s AI stack up against Gemini?
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In Safari, Notify Me now allows you to get notifications on the pages that are most important for you. The feature immediately gives you updates about changes, making it easier to stay updated.
Apple Intelligence also lets you get personalized automations using natural language via Shortcuts. For instance, you can get quick calendar updates after receiving an important work-related e-mail.
In the Phone app, Apple Intelligence can surface relevant information when you contact a business. This may sound like a rather unnecessary feature, but if you've ever had to look up details on your next flight while talking to your airline, you'll immediately realize just how useful and timesaving the feature can be.
Do you think Apple Intelligence still misses something?
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Apple Intelligence boosts the camera performance
Alongside the Extend feature Apple announced during WWDC 2026, Apple Intelligence is helping you make the most out of your camera. New features like the upgraded Clean Up tool let you remove objects while preserving the high quality of your photos.
New AI features are landing on the latest wearable lineup as well. | Images by Apple
Beyond iPhones, Apple Intelligence is making its way on the new Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. With the Insights tab, you can now get a generated summary of vital stats, like your latest sleep details.
Beyond that, Apple's new wearables support personalized intelligence, giving you timely cues to help you get the most out of a workout. As if that's not enough, the smartwatches support Audio Intelligence, helping users with hearing problems get alerts when loud sounds like sirens are detected.
Audio Intelligence also allows users to go back in time (not literally, of course). The Live Rewind feature lets you get transcriptions of what was said 15 seconds ago by simply double-pressing the digital crown. Apple Intelligence is also included in the Longevity tab to give you more in-depth insights.
Availability of the new Apple Intelligence features
Apple Intelligence features on the new iPhones will be available in 16 supported languages with the next OS launch. Some of the features may not be initially available in the EU.
As for the new Apple Watch smart features, they will be exclusive to the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4, with features like Live Rewind initially available in English. The wearables' new smart features require an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone 16 or later and will not initially be available in the EU.
To me, it's now (almost) a tie
While I'm not a huge fan of comparing one approach to AI with another, I'm starting to feel like Apple Intelligence and Gemini are now pretty evenly matched.
If I have to be honest, I'm still leaning slightly toward Gemini, purely because Google's AI assistant has been a step ahead for longer, giving it a bit more time to mature and become genuinely useful in my everyday life.
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Polina Kovalakova, a News and Affiliate Content Writer, has nurtured a passion for mobile technology since the era before smartphones. With a history of exploring a variety of devices, her insights into the mobile world are both broad and nuanced. Polina's non-partisan view extends to appreciating nearly every smartphone brand, a reflection of her open-minded approach to technology. Polina is equally passionate about uncovering the best online deals, tirelessly working to ensure her readers snag top-tier tech at unbeatable prices.
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