Apple has confirmed that Visual Intelligence, its AI-powered camera feature, will be available on iPhone 15 Pro models through an upcoming software update. The feature, which was previously exclusive to iPhone 16 devices, lets users point their camera at objects and text to get AI-powered information and translations.
Apple representatives told John Gruber of Daring Fireball that iPhone 15 Pro users will be able to access Visual Intelligence through either the Action Button or Control Center. The announcement follows yesterday’s introduction of the iPhone 16E, which will also offer Visual Intelligence without the dedicated Camera Control button found on other iPhone 16 models.
Visual Intelligence allows users to perform tasks such as translating foreign language menus, getting book summaries, identifying dog breeds, and accessing business information by pointing their camera at objects. The feature also integrates with Google and ChatGPT for expanded search capabilities.
While Apple hasn’t specified the exact release date for the update, speculation suggests it could arrive with iOS 18.4, expected to be available publicly in early April.
The expansion of Visual Intelligence to iPhone 15 Pro models marks a shift from Apple’s previous stance, which had tied the feature to the presence of the Camera Control button introduced with the iPhone 16 series. This change suggests that the hardware button was not technically necessary for the feature to function, as demonstrated by its implementation on the new iPhone 16E and upcoming support for iPhone 15 Pro devices.
