
This year, Apple went all in on Apple Intelligence. The iOS 18 update introduced advanced AI features to the iPhone 16 Series, as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Now, with iOS 18.2, the spotlight is on the debut of the much-hyped Image Playground. As an iPhone 16 Plus user, I couldn't pass up the chance to give it a whirl. Here's my unfiltered take on the results.
Image Playground: How to Use It
When you update your iPhone to iOS 18.2, the Playground app will appear on your home screen. To activate it, you’ll need to choose United States English in the Apple Intelligence & Siri segment in Settings and download the feature. I find it unfair that selecting English (United States) is a requirement, particularly for those living in other countries. This restriction may exclude users who wish to access Apple Intelligence features.
For the download to proceed, two requirements must be met: your iPhone should be plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi. It’s essentially the same process as installing a major software update.
Create Original Images with Image Playground
The Image Playground feature is super simple to use. It reminds me of OPPO’s AI Studio app, where you can transform photos from your library into animated concepts with different styles.
To generate an image, you first select a theme, costume, accessory, and location. Then, you add your description. The final image will depend entirely on how well you explain your concept.
I also experimented with creating animated versions of myself. I picked a photo from my library, and the result was an animated version that didn't look exactly like me, but it was still pretty cool. What stood out was the ability to customise my look with different accessories and costumes. For instance, I could add anything I wanted—whether it was quirky or stylish—and the results were always fun and creative. Plus, it can also create unique drawings that look awesome.
Overall, it feels like a blend of OPPO’s AI Studio and Google’s Pixel Studio apps. Like those, Apple’s Image Playground brings animated images to life, offering a mix of humour and creativity. While it's fun to experiment with, it's not something I'd use regularly in my daily life.
There's More to Explore in Apple's Intelligent Features
While Image Playground was the standout feature for me in the iOS 18.2 software update, there are other features too that deserve slight attention:
Writing Tools
The writing tools make editing a breeze, whether you're using the Notes or Mail apps. They can effortlessly adjust your tone—friendly, Professional, or even Concise. The exciting twist is that they’re now available on Instagram. I tried them out and ended up with a quirky post that hit the right vibe.

Photos App Cleanup
This feature feels like Google's Magic Eraser. It removes unwanted objects—or people—from your photos. After a fallout with my best friend, it became my go-to tool for editing her out of my picture-perfect moments. That said, it's not foolproof and occasionally leaves behind hilarious glitches that add an unintended comedic touch.

Notification Summary
This feature takes the cake for being both unnecessary and unintentionally funny. On X (formerly Twitter), the notifications can be wildly off. Case in point: I follow my friend and my favourite football team with post notifications. One day, I got an alert suggesting my friend had said something similar to the team's post. Intrigued, I checked—only to find they had posted completely unrelated things.

New Siri
Since its debut, Siri has been the least impressive voice assistant compared to Alexa and Google Assistant. But this time, Siri has received a much-needed makeover. The vibrant multicoloured halo light around the edges is a visual treat. More importantly, Siri now feels sharper, more interactive, and noticeably smarter, delivering answers tailored to your preferences through Apple Intelligence.

All things considered, while these features serve as a solid introduction to Apple Intelligence, I'm not sure they'll become part of my daily routine. That said, it's always good to keep them in mind—you never know when they'll come in handy. This has me even more intrigued by the AI innovations that brands are unveiling this year.
On the contrary, there are plenty more Apple Intelligence features I'm excited to explore. I'm still testing them to see how they perform in real-world scenarios. In the meantime, stay tuned to MySmartPrice for more in-depth, hands-on reviews and updates on these incredible features.