I tried Apple Intelligence for 48 hours and liked these features the most

• I tried out Apple Intelligence on an iPhone 16 Pro Max during the first few days of launch.
• The iOS 18.1 update introduced AI tools such as writing tools and photo editing on newer iPhones.
• I found that the AI ​​tools streamlined tasks, but had limitations.

I tested Apple Intelligence for 48 hours and it’s already changing the way I use an iPhone.

To be clear, I own an iPhone 14 Pro Max – an older model that does not support Apple’s recently introduced AI features. However, I have used Apple Intelligence on my partner’s brand new iPhone 16 Pro Max since its launch on Monday, a device that Apple previously said was built for AI.

Once Apple Intelligence was enabled on his phone, the difference in functionality compared to my device was immediately apparent. Installation may take some time as there are many apps that are compatible with it, and some of them require their own tweaks in the Settings app.

Although iOS 18.1 only includes a fraction of the AI ​​capabilities that Apple has shown off since launch Global Developer Conference in June, the update will include AI-powered tweaks to the apps I use every day.

The ‘writing tools’ feature, the ‘clean-up tool’ for editing photos and email summaries in the Mail app are among the AI capabilities available on updated iPhone 15 Pro models or later.

Now that I’ve had time to try out Apple Intelligence, there are two features that I like most – and that could make communication much easier for me as someone who works in media.

A big part of my job involves texting and calling sources while I work on stories. The AI ​​features introduced in the Messages and Phone apps have streamlined that part of my news gathering process.

I can have long responses to text messages summarized without having to read them right away, and I can easily follow ongoing conversations in a group chat.

The tools aren’t perfect, and Apple has said results may vary when it comes to Apple Intelligence. Notification summaries can leave out important details that would make me want to read a message immediately, but it’s a solid starting point for Apple.

When I interview sources, I usually put my phone on speaker mode and hold it up so my laptop can record and transcribe the message. With Apple Intelligence I can record and transcribe conversations with one button.

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For those concerned about privacy, the feature lets both parties know that the conversation is being recorded. While there are some inconsistencies between the transcriptions and the audio, that is standard for most recording tools.

The communication tools may not be as flashy as the upcoming image generator or visual intelligence that Apple says it will roll out in December and over the course of next year, but they have made my daily iPhone use something less awkward.

Some analysts have said that the AI ​​rollout could be the start of one upgrade cycle for iPhones, something Apple needs as sales slow and competition increases.

However, with the lowest priced iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 15 Pro, which starts at $899, I feel like the benefits aren’t yet enough to make my iPhone 14 Pro Max feel outdated.