Apple Intelligence in India: The Complete Guide (2026)

The Consensus: Apple Intelligence is live in India. After months of anticipation, Indian users finally have access to Apple's AI suite. Here's exactly what works, what doesn't, and how to get started.

When Did It Arrive?

Apple Intelligence officially launched in India on March 31, 2025 with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4. The rollout included localized English (India) support, making AI features feel more natural for Indian users.

For those keeping score: India got Apple Intelligence about six months after the US launch. The wait was frustrating, but the localization makes a difference.

Current Status (January 2026): With iOS 26.x, all core Apple Intelligence features are stable and widely available across India.

Device Compatibility

Not every Apple device makes the cut. Here's the reality:

The Bottom Line: You need an A17 Pro chip or M-series silicon. Anything older is out of luck. Apple claims the Neural Engine in older devices cannot handle on-device AI processing.

Features Available in India

Day 1 Features (Live Now)

Writing Tools

1. Rewrite text in different tones (professional, friendly, concise)
2. Proofread grammar and spelling
3. Summarize long documents, emails, web pages
4. Smart Reply suggestions in Mail and Messages
5. Works across Mail, Notes, Pages, Messages, and third-party apps

Image Playground

1. Generate AI images in Animation, Illustration, or Sketch styles
2. Create images from text descriptions
3. Use photos of friends and family as references
4. Built into Messages, Freeform, and standalone app
5. All processing happens on-device

Genmoji

1. Create custom emoji from text descriptions
2. Generate emoji based on photos of people
3. Share as stickers or inline reactions
4. Integrated into iOS keyboard

Clean Up in Photos

1. Remove distracting objects from photos
2. Identify and erase unwanted elements
3. Preserve image quality

Enhanced Photo Search

1. Natural language search ("Maya dancing in red dress")
2. Search works across videos too
3. Smart completion suggestions

Notification Summaries

1. AI-generated summaries of notification stacks
2. Priority notifications highlighted
3. Customizable by app

Siri Improvements (Current)

1. New glowing light design around screen edges
2. More natural conversation flow
3. Switch between voice and text input
4. ChatGPT integration for complex queries
5. Answers thousands of Apple product questions

Visual Intelligence (iPhone 16 Series + iPhone 15 Pro)

1. Point camera at objects for instant information
2. Create calendar events from posters/flyers
3. Translate text between languages
4. Identify plants, animals, landmarks
5. Summarize and copy text from real world
6. Access via Camera Control button (iPhone 16) or customized Action button

Coming Later (2026)

LLM Siri (Expected Late 2026) Apple is building "Campos" - a complete Siri overhaul that transforms it into a conversational AI chatbot. Key features:

1. Longer, more complex conversations
2. Personal context awareness (access emails, messages, photos, calendar)
3. Actions inside apps without launching them
4. Google Gemini integration for enhanced capabilities

Apple delayed this from Spring 2025 due to reliability concerns. CEO Tim Cook confirmed it's on track for 2026.

On-Screen Awareness Siri understanding what's on your screen and taking action. Example: Friend texts new address, you say "Add this to their contact" - Siri handles it.

Personal Context Siri finding information across your device. "Did Maya share that recipe in a text or email?" Siri searches everything locally.

NOT Available in India

Hindi Language Support Apple Intelligence does not support Hindi. No timeline announced. You're limited to English (India) and other global languages like French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified).

Other Regional Languages No Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, or Gujarati support for AI features. However, iOS 18.4 added system-wide support for 10 Indian languages for general navigation (Settings, Calendar, etc.) - just not for AI features.

China-Specific Restrictions If your Apple Account region is set to China mainland and you're physically in China, Apple Intelligence won't work regardless of device.

How To Enable

Step 1: Update Your Software

1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update
2. Install iOS 18.4 or later (currently iOS 26.x available)
3. Keep device connected to Wi-Fi and power during download

Step 2: Enable Apple Intelligence

1. Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri
2. Toggle "Apple Intelligence" ON
3. Most devices auto-enable after iOS 18.4 update

Step 3: Wait for Model Downloads

1. On-device AI models download automatically
2. Requires 7GB+ free storage
3. Keep device on Wi-Fi and power for fastest download

Step 4: Download Feature-Specific Content

1. Open Image Playground app - additional models download
2. First use of Genmoji triggers extra downloads
3. Takes 15-30 minutes depending on connection

Requirements Checklist:

1. iOS 18.4+ / iPadOS 18.4+ / macOS 15.4+
2. 7GB free storage minimum
3. Device language set to supported language
4. Siri language matching device language
5. Compatible device (A17 Pro or M1+)

Language Support

Full Apple Intelligence Support:

1. English (India, US, UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa)
2. French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil)
3. Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), Vietnamese
4. Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Turkish

NOT Supported:

1. Hindi
2. Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam
3. Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi
4. Any other Indian regional language

Writing Tools adapt automatically when you switch between supported languages mid-sentence.

The Siri Upgrade

What's Changed: The new Siri design wraps a glowing light around your screen edges when active. It looks better. It works better. But it's not the revolution Apple promised.

Current Capabilities:

1. More natural phrasing in responses
2. Context retention across follow-up questions
3. Seamless voice-to-text switching (type when you can't speak)
4. ChatGPT integration for complex questions (with permission)
5. Product support knowledge dramatically improved

What's Still Missing: The "LLM Siri" that understands your personal context and takes actions across apps was delayed. Craig Federighi admitted internal testing showed unacceptable error rates. Expected late 2026 with iOS 27.

The ChatGPT Integration: When Siri can't handle a request, it asks permission to forward to ChatGPT. Works for:

1. Complex analysis and explanations
2. Creative writing assistance
3. Problem-solving from images (diagrams, notes)
4. No separate ChatGPT account needed

What Reviewers Say

The Good:

1. Writing Tools genuinely useful for emails and long-form content
2. Image Playground fun for personal use, avoids deepfake concerns
3. Privacy-first approach (on-device processing) appreciated
4. Clean Up in Photos works surprisingly well
5. Visual Intelligence on iPhone 16 feels like the future

The Bad:

1. Image Playground output described as "shallow and soulless" by some
2. Only two visual styles feels limiting
3. No Hindi support is a major gap for India
4. Siri still behind Google Assistant and Alexa for complex queries
5. The big Siri upgrade keeps getting delayed

The Verdict: Apple Intelligence is useful but not transformative. It's a solid foundation that Apple is building on methodically. If you have a compatible device, it's worth enabling. If you're buying a new iPhone specifically for AI features, temper expectations.

Quick Troubleshooting

Apple Intelligence not appearing in Settings?

1. Verify device compatibility (A17 Pro or M1+ required)
2. Check software version (iOS 18.4 minimum)
3. Ensure 7GB+ free storage

Features not working after enabling?

1. Wait for on-device models to download (can take 30+ minutes)
2. Keep device on Wi-Fi and power
3. Restart device after download completes

Image Playground showing "Content Unavailable"?

1. Open app and wait for additional downloads
2. Requires extra storage space
3. Patience - first download takes time