The first visual sign of the new Apple Intelligence on iPhone in iOS 18.2 is an improved Siri look — a pulsating rainbow of colors around the edge of the entire screen. But did you update your iPhone and see the same animated sphere that's been docked at the bottom of the screen for the past few years?
I ran into the same thing and was also confused.
Turns out I had to do one more step before I could try it Siri got smarter — as well as other Apple Intelligence features such as authoring tools, notification summaries and on Cleaning function in Photos.
If you're seeing the same thing, here's why.
Siri's new design is a glowing border that briefly distorts everything.
Watch this: Apple is redesigning Siri with artificial intelligence and sparkling borders
Your iPhone may not be able to run Apple Intelligence
The latest system update is for anyone with an iPhone XS or later, but that doesn't mean everyone gets Apple Intelligence. In fact, since much of the AI ​​calculations are done on the device, only a few models can use the new technologies:
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple Intelligence will also work on Macs and iPads with M-series processors, as well as the latest ones iPad Mini (which is powered by the A17 Pro chip).
If you have one of those models, you'll see the shiny new look when you invoke Siri. On the Mac, the Siri search box gets the same effect instead of the entire edge of the screen. If you have a different model, you'll see the same Siri ball.
Siri under iOS 18 looks the same as it did in iOS 17 for many people.
Maybe inactive on the Apple Intelligence waiting list
Officially, Apple Intelligence is considered a beta feature, even on supported devices. As part of this pre-release program, Apple is giving access to people who request it in waves. (For more, check out why Apple uses this waitlist approach.)
After installing iOS 18.2 (or iPadOS 18.2 or MacOS Sequoia 15.2), you need to go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and tap Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist > Join the Waitlist. The new Siri effect only appears after you ask for it and is assigned approach.
Reports online and from friends suggest that people can start using Apple Intelligence after just a few hours of waiting. That will no doubt fluctuate as Apple balances the demand on its network of Private Cloud Compute infrastructure.
For more, here the right way to backup your iPhone before installing iOS 18.2 and eight settings you want to change first in iOS 18.2.