Break the boundaries: Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16 Pro Max has amazed everyone!

Surprisingly, Apple has caught us off guard again. The iPhone 16 lineup, including the iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, has now been unveiled, complemented by a public beta of Apple Intelligence to enhance your iPhone's capabilities right from the start.

The public beta isn't as reliable as the highly anticipated iOS 18.1 update rolling out next month, yet I opted to put it on my pristine iPhone 16 Pro Max. The outcome has been quite satisfying thus far.

Initially, I loaded the iOS 18.1 developer beta 1 on my iPhone 15 Pro Max in July. Post-evaluation of Apple Intelligence for a few days, the system's instability led me to remove it, reinforcing why developer betas should remain off primary devices.

Fast-forward to September 20, and equipped with the premium iPhone 16 Pro Max in Desert Titanium, I have reinstalled iOS 18.1, given the surprise public beta release by Apple. Public betas are transitional, often presenting more stability than their developer counterparts. So far, the experience has been smooth.

After unboxing my 16 Pro Max, I promptly updated to the iOS 18.1 public beta (for installation instructions, refer to our iOS 18.1 public beta guide) and joined the Apple Intelligence waitlist. Minutes later, my device was sporting Apple Intelligence, putting to rest my concerns about the messy initial launch.

Be reminded, iOS 18.1 public beta, being a beta version, could surprise users with unforeseen functionality glitches. While personally, my experience on the main device hasn't posed bugs or performance obstacles, your mileage may vary based on applications in use.

Returning to Apple Intelligence, expect to discover features my colleague, Lance Ulanoff, highlighted in his iPhone 16 Pro Max review, such as text proofreading and summarization tools, smart Messages replies, a redesigned Siri, an innovate Clean Up function in Photos, and the creation of Movie Memories, alongside the noteworthy Reduce Interruptions Focus mode.

Future-Ready: A Sneak Peek of What's to Come

Despite the AI functionalities not being entirely mature, Apple Intelligence's preview unveils promising potential, enough to stir anticipation for future updates during the lifespan of my iPhone 16 Pro Max. As it stands now, Apple's Intelligence brings an AI-driven upgrade lifting my device beyond a simple hardware enhancement from my excellent 15 Pro Max of last year.

If you're on the border, testing the iOS 18.1 public beta with Apple Intelligence might be a worthwhile endeavor. However, keep in mind that it's beta software.