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Visual Intelligence, which is essentially Apple’s take on Google Lens, has so far been exclusive to the iPhone 16 series, thanks to its reliance on the Camera Control button. But now, it looks like Apple is ready to bring it to more iPhones.
Visual Intelligence Is Reportedly Coming to iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
In apost on Daring Fireball, well-known Apple blogger John Gruber noted that Apple representatives said iPhone 15 Pro users will soon be able to access Visual Intelligence via the Action Button. The feature will arrive in a future software update, though Apple didn’t provide a timeline. Gruber believes the update Apple referred to is iOS 18.4.
This news comes shortly afterApple announced its new budget-friendly iPhone 16e, which, like the iPhone 15 series, features the Action Button. While it lacks the Camera Control button (currently used to launch Visual Intelligence on the iPhone 16 series), Apple confirmed that the iPhone 16e’s Action Button will support Visual Intelligence. It’s also accessible via Control Center.
Given this, it makes sense that Apple is also extending Visual Intelligence to the iPhone 15 Pro, since it, too, has an Action Button. Apple representatives further confirmed that iPhone 15 Pro users will also be able to launch the feature from Control Center.
Why Didn’t the iPhone 15 Pro Get Visual Intelligence Earlier?
Now, I can see why Visual Intelligence is only coming to the iPhone 15 Pro models and not older ones. After all, Apple Intelligence features are limited to iPhones with the A17 Pro chip or newer. Aside from the iPhone 16 series, only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max fall into that category.
What doesn’t quite add up is why Visual Intelligence wasn’t available on the iPhone 15 Pro from the start, when other Apple Intelligence features were. Since the iPhone 16e supports it via the Action Button, which the iPhone 15 Pro had first, it’s clear the hardware was already capable.
So why did Apple initially limit the feature to the iPhone 16 lineup and tie it to the Camera Control button? It could’ve been a classic Apple move to push iPhone 15 Pro users to upgrade, or perhaps they simply wanted to wait for the iPhone 16e’s launch first. Regardless, Apple will be, well, Apple!
While iOS 18.4’s developer beta could drop any day now, the public beta likely won’t arrive until April. In the meantime, why notcheck out these Apple Visual Intelligence alternatives for older models?
