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Apple Intelligence is already available in many languages and marks an important step in Apple's AI strategy. But while users worldwide have access to the new feature, China remains out of the picture. Although Apple originally announced that it would launch Apple Intelligence in China in April 2025, there are now indications that the launch will not occur until iOS 18.6—and therefore not before June.
If you live in China and are waiting for Apple Intelligence, you're probably looking ahead to April 2025. With the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple announced it would release the feature in several new languages, including Simplified Chinese. Shortly thereafter, Tim Cook confirmed that iOS 18.4 would bring Apple Intelligence to additional language versions. This has indeed happened – language support has been expanded. However, the availability of the language does not automatically mean that you can use the AI feature in your country. In previous beta versions of iOS 18.5, Apple Intelligence was still disabled in China – despite the existing language support.
Apple Intelligence comes later – despite language release
A recent report from the Bloomberg newsletter "Power On" dated May 5th suggests that Apple Intelligence will not be available in China until the update to iOS 18.6. This means that there will be no launch before June – i.e., before the developer conference WWDC. Why this delay? The real hurdle lies not in the technology or the language version, but in the legal and regulatory requirements that Apple must meet in China. While Apple could theoretically have obtained the necessary approvals itself, according to Bloomberg, this process would have been lengthy and uncertain – with no guaranteed approval. To avoid this effort, Apple has entered into a partnership with the Chinese tech giant Alibaba. Alibaba is supporting Apple in implementing the legal and infrastructural requirements in the country. But even with this support, there are apparently still obstacles that are further delaying the launch (via Bloomberg).
- Another point: The version of Apple Intelligence that will be launched in China will be censored. This is part of the regulations Apple must comply with in order to even offer the feature in the country. Which content or features will be restricted is not known in detail—but it is certain that the Chinese version of Apple Intelligence will not be identical to the one in the US or Europe.
Apple Intelligence in China: Wait until iOS 18.6
If you're in China, you'll have to be patient. Although Apple Intelligence has long been language-ready and is already running in many regions, it's not expected to be released in China until iOS 18.6 – that is, after WWDC in June 2025. The delay isn't Apple's fault, but rather due to local conditions. With its Alibaba collaboration, Apple has chosen a pragmatic approach to bringing Apple Intelligence to the Chinese market. However, this approach has led to a censored version – and apparently also to longer waiting times than originally expected. Keep your iPhone up to date and keep an eye on iOS 18.6. Only then can Apple Intelligence finally be expected to launch in China – albeit with restrictions. (Image: Shutterstock / Primakov)
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