Over the years, plenty of iPhone users have switched from Apple’s built-in Mail app to its rivals. After all, Gmail delivers your incoming emails a split second faster thanks to push notifications, which can make all the difference in a busy office. Meanwhile, and Outlook plays nice with Microsoft 365, giving productivity hounds an added boost.
Apple has clearly taken note of the competition because it’s getting ready to launch an upgrade that could give Mail quitters serious FOMO. In the coming weeks and months, Mail will be getting a raft of new AI features (powered by Apple Intelligence for iPhone 15 Pros and iPhone 16) and a noticeable facelift to go with them.
Here’s what you need to know about the changes and what they mean for your inbox.
What’s new in Apple Mail in iOS 18?
With the launch of iOS 18.1 next week, Apple is introducing a set of new AI perks specifically for Mail ahead of a major redesign this winter.
The new AI-powered priority section at the top of your inbox
Apple
One of the standout features gives you blurbs of the messages in your inbox. By tapping the “summarise” button above an email, you’ll receive an AI-generated snapshot of its contents, saving you the hassle of reading lengthy treatises and unwieldy email threads.
Another time-saver, Apple’s AI will write your email replies for you, allowing you to respond quickly without drafting a full response yourself. Keep an eye out for the AI-generated options highlighted at the top of your keyboard. The end result is reminiscent of Gmail’s smart replies, but with added context.
Time-sensitive messages, from flight check-ins to meeting invites, will be bumped up to the top of your inbox in a new Priority section.
Priority notifications will surface the most important emails and messages
Apple
Priority notifications and summaries
Instead of rifling through a stack of email notifications, you’ll be able to see a summary of several messages on your lock screen, with the most pressing ones rising to the top. Hopefully, this way you won’t have to keep checking your inbox for crucial info.
Although the AI updates are limited to the latest and greatest iPhones, the broader Mail redesign will be available to everyone on iOS 18 come December, and it’s arguably better than the Apple Intelligence add-ons.
Soon, your emails will be split across four main categories, making your inbox more organised and easier to navigate as a result.
Apple Mail will split your emails across four distinct categories, including primary, transactions, updates, and promotions
Apple
The most important messages will be in the priority section, Amazon and other purchases (along with deliveries) in “transactions”, newsletters and social media notifications in “updates”, and everything else shopping-related (from deals to vouchers) will be in “promotions”.
Each category will have its own button on the top of your inbox, with its own icon and special colour. Apple is also making it easier to quickly delete multiple messages by adding a new “select” button. Going forward, you won’t have to highlight an email in order to select others to bin or archive.
Finally, you can expect to see logos next to emails from brands as Apple expands its Business Connect customisation options. So, it will be even easier to spot those Amazon delivery reminders, bank statements, and eBay receipts.