iOS 18.2 release date rumors predict when Apple Intelligence upgrades will arrive on your iPhone

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• New rumor predicts that iOS 18.2 could arrive on December 9

• Software update will finally bring some Apple Intelligence features

• Rumors contradict previous speculation about a December 2 release

Since Apple Intelligence was unveiled at Apple’s WWDC 2024 event in June, the rollout has been very slow, with many features still not in the hands of iOS 18 users. That will all change when iOS 18.2 gets the green light – and two sources have now indicated exactly when that could happen.

The first hint appears to have been inadvertently leaked by British mobile carrier EE (as spotted by MacRumors). According to forum posts, EE has warned users that it will stop offering a service called “Wi-Fi Calling on Other Supported iCloud Connected Devices” on December 9. This feature allows you to make calls from an iPad or a Mac when your iPhone is out of reach.

How does this compare to iOS 18.2 and Apple Intelligence? Well, eagle-eyed sleuths have noticed that the second developer beta of iOS 18.2 (which launched last week) included new carrier settings specific to EE.

This update removed a toggle in the Settings app called “Add Wi-Fi calling for other devices,” which is very similar to the feature that EE says will be retired on December 9. Since most carrier updates are bundled with full public iOS releases, this suggests that iOS 18.2 will come out of beta on the date specified by EE.

Another date for your calendar

However, these new rumors may not have predicted the exact date. That’s because Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman believes iOS 18.2 will actually release a week earlier. In his recent Power On newsletter, Gurman explained that iOS 18.2 will likely roll out sometime in the week starting December 2, bringing him into conflict with the EE leak.

Gurman has a very strong track record and is considered one of the most trusted Apple leakers in the industry, so his words carry a lot of weight. But at the same time, iOS x.2 releases usually fall in the second week of December, which seems to support the EE theory. Anyway, what seems certain is that iOS 18.2 is almost upon us.

When released, iOS 18.2 will bring a number of Apple Intelligence features to compatible devices, including the Image Playground, Visual Intelligence, custom emoji known as Genmoji, and an integration with ChatGPT.

We’ll have all the details on how to get the most out of them when they arrive – whatever date that will be.

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