I tried iPhone 16’s Visual Intelligence and now I understand why Apple added Camera Control

Trending 1 month ago
Visual Intelligence connected iOS 18.2 developer beta connected an iPhone 16 Pro Max
(Image credit: Future / Apple)

I person been waiting to effort Visual Intelligence since Apple first unveiled nan iPhone 16 successful September. After all, there’s a caller fastener (Camera Control) connected my iPhone, and I haven’t been utilizing it for photography.

Camera Control hasn't clicked pinch maine aft a period pinch nan iPhone 16 Pro Max. I return a decent magnitude of photos pinch my iPhone, but immoderate clip I effort to usage nan dedicated button, it feels cumbersome and confusing – truthful overmuch truthful that I’ve resorted backmost to my trusty touchscreen and Lock Screen shortcut.

Enter iOS 18.2 Developer Beta, and I must emphasize: Developer Beta. Please do not effort this connected your superior instrumentality arsenic it’s very overmuch truthful still successful improvement and not fresh for nan public. Anything I constitute astir successful this article is related to nan characteristic itself, not nan performance. Further, if you want to effort Visual Intelligence for yourself, I urge waiting until nan charismatic merchandise of iOS 18.2 later this year.

I digress, backmost to Visual Intelligence. iOS 18.2 is now installed connected my iPhone 16 Pro Max, and truthful far, I’m a large instrumentality astatine nan imaginable of what Visual Intelligence tin become.

What is Visual Intelligence? I perceive you ask. Well, it’s an Apple Intelligence characteristic exclusive to nan iPhone 16 lineup and takes afloat advantage of Camera Control. You motorboat it by long-pressing Camera Control and past threat a photograph of immoderate you’re looking at. From there, you tin inquire ChatGPT for information, hunt Google, aliases item immoderate matter successful nan photo. Think of Visual Intelligence arsenic Apple’s type of Google Lens pinch its ain hardware fastener to entree connected nan fly.

My first impressions of Visual Intelligence

iOS 18.2 developer beta Visual Intelligence photograph of Game Boy Camera

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

You tin motorboat Visual Intelligence from anywhere, moreover nan Lock Screen, which makes it incredibly useful whenever you want to do a speedy search. My first trial was taking a image of my Game Boy Camera connected my desk. As mentioned above, ocular Intelligence gives you a fewer options, truthful I first utilized Google Search to find nan product. Then, I asked ChatGPT for information, and it was capable to show maine each astir nan Game Boy Camera’s history. From there, you tin inquire follow-up questions, truthful I asked, “When did nan Game Boy Camera motorboat successful Europe?” ChatGPT obliged pinch nan correct answer.

While it’s still successful development, Visual Intelligence worked a dainty pinch a recognizable merchandise for illustration nan Game Boy Camera - I’m not judge really often I’d usage it to hunt for an item, but considering it’s conscionable a elemental agelong property away, it mightiness go my go-to measurement of searching nan web for things.

Another awesome usage for Visual Intelligence is erstwhile you’re retired and astir and want to spot accusation astir a shop, cafe, bar, aliases restaurant. I tested it pinch a section java shop, and while it didn’t activity for illustration Apple showed disconnected successful its demo, I deliberation that’s much down to nan early beta type I’m testing than nan characteristic itself.

In that demo, Apple showed that Visual Intelligence could find a canine breed. I tried this pinch my French Bulldog, and while I could hunt Google for akin dogs, it couldn’t springiness maine a straight-up answer.

Visual Intelligence connected an iPhone 16

(Image credit: Apple)

That benignant of sums up Visual Intelligence successful its existent form. It has immense potential: I emotion nan measurement it gives Camera Control a genuine purpose, and erstwhile it works, it’s fantastic. But it’s successful very early development, and there’s a batch that, arsenic expected, needs ironing out.

One point is for sure, however: Visual Intelligence makes full consciousness to maine now, and I yet understand why Apple added Camera Control to nan caller iPhones. It’s nan benignant of Apple Intelligence feature that I tin spot group turning to erstwhile they request a speedy answer, arsenic agelong arsenic it useful smoothly, and nan ChatGPT and Google integration make it multi-faceted.

I emotion testing caller iOS features, each twelvemonth my iPhone’s lifespan is mostly spent successful a beta state, and nan iOS 18.2 developer beta feels for illustration nan astir breathtaking 1 yet. After conscionable a fewer hours pinch nan package and without entree to Genmoji aliases Image Playground yet (I’m connected nan waitlist), I tin still confidently opportunity that iOS 18.2 feels for illustration nan iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence we were waiting for.

I’ve conscionable had a glimpse of what Visual Intelligence has to offer, and I’m incredibly excited to spot nan vanished merchandise later this year. Exclusive to nan best iPhones, this could beryllium nan logic to bargain an iPhone 16 - who would’ve thought it could beryllium Camera Control?

You mightiness besides like...

  • I can't hold for this underrated Apple Intelligence feature
  • I installed nan Apple Intelligence nationalist beta
  • My parents iPhone is not getting Apple Intelligence and they're not happy astir it

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, apical tech deals, and more.

John-Anthony Disotto is TechRadar's Senior Writer, AI, ensuring you get nan latest accusation connected Tech's biggest buzzword. An master successful Apple, he was antecedently iMore's How To Editor and has a monthly file successful MacFormat. Living successful Scotland, wherever he worked for Apple arsenic a technician focused connected iOS and iPhone repairs astatine nan Genius Bar, John-Anthony has utilized nan Apple ecosystem for complete a decade and is an award-winning journalist pinch years of acquisition successful editorial.

More
Source Technology
Technology