Apple is bringing its Google Lens-like Visual Intelligence feature to the iPhone 15 Pro in an upcoming iOS update. Originally introduced with the iPhone 16 lineup, Visual Intelligence enables users to learn more about objects, places, and text by simply pointing their camera at them. The feature will soon be accessible on the iPhone 15 Pro via the Action button or Control Center, marking an expansion of Apple Intelligence features beyond the latest hardware.
Apple first introduced Visual Intelligence with the iPhone 16 lineup, where it was accessible through the new Camera Control button. The feature lets users look up businesses, translate text, summarize content, read text aloud, and even search with Google or ChatGPT. When the iPhone 16e was announced, Apple confirmed that Visual Intelligence would be available on the device despite its lack of a Camera Control button. Instead, the feature can be activated using the Action Button or a Control Center toggle.
This raised the question of whether Visual Intelligence could work on the iPhone 15 Pro, which also has an Action Button. Now, Apple has confirmed to Daring Fireball’s John Gruber that Visual Intelligence is indeed coming to the iPhone 15 Pro in a future software update. Users will be able to launch it using the Action Button or through the Control Center, similar to the implementation on the iPhone 16e.
While Apple has not specified which iOS update will enable Visual Intelligence on the iPhone 15 Pro, Gruber speculates that it could arrive with iOS 18.4. The update is expected to enter beta testing soon, with a public release anticipated in early April. Given that the iPhone 16e is set to launch on February 28, it makes sense for Apple to roll out Visual Intelligence support around the same timeframe.
Apple Intelligence is designed to enhance the user experience across supported devices, and bringing Visual Intelligence to the iPhone 15 Pro aligns with Apple’s history of gradually expanding exclusive features to slightly older hardware. While iPhone 15 Pro users may have missed out on Visual Intelligence at launch, they won’t have to wait much longer to gain access to this powerful AI-driven tool.
