Apple revamps the Mail app – here's what you need to know

Apple has released a new beta version for macOS 15.4 and iPadOS 18.4, which includes a revised version of the Mail app. While iPhone users have been benefiting from the new features since iOS 18.2, the Mac and iPad versions have remained unchanged until now. That is now changing: With the current betas, the Mail app on these devices is getting a new user interface and improved functions for organizing the inbox.

Emails are still a central means of communication, both privately and professionally. At the same time, the number of messages that land in the inbox every day is increasing. Apple has recognized this trend and revised the design of the Mail app to make it easier to keep track of things. New functions were already introduced on the iPhone with iOS 18.2, including automatic categorization of emails (in German from iOS 18.4). These features are now also coming to the Mac and iPad. The aim is to make the Mail app clearer without losing the usual functionality. If you don't want to use the new features, you can deactivate them in the settings.

New design and updated user interface

Visually, the new Mail app is significantly different from the previous version. Apple now highlights the sender's profile pictures, similar to what is already done in the Messages app. This should make it easier to identify emails at a glance. In addition, various UI elements have been updated to make the design more modern and consistent with the other Apple apps. Overall, the app now looks tidier and clearer.

New inbox categories for more order

One of the biggest functional changes concerns the organization of emails. Apple introduces an automatic categorization that divides the inbox into four areas:

Important: This is where all important emails end up, including messages from contacts or personal emails.
Transactions: This area collects transactional emails, order confirmations, invoices and similar messages.
News: This is where emails with status updates, app notifications, or other automatic updates appear.
Advertising: Newsletters, advertising emails and offers are stored in this folder.

This new structure is designed to help you find the most important messages faster and spend less time sorting emails. If you prefer the classic view, you can also turn off automatic categorization.

New “All Mails” view for a complete overview

In addition to the new categories, there is now an "All Mail" view. This shows all messages in a list, regardless of their category. This option is aimed at users who want to keep an eye on their entire inbox without having to switch between the individual areas.

Improved navigation and new features

In addition to the visual and organizational changes, Apple has also worked on the usability. Navigation between different categories has been optimized so that emails can be found and managed more quickly. Another improvement concerns the ability to manage emails directly from the notification. Users can now respond more quickly to incoming messages by archiving them directly, deleting them or moving them to another category.

The update compared to the iPhone version

The beta version that has now been released brings Mac and iPad users up to the same level as the iPhone. However, there are some differences in the implementation. On the Mac, the new structure is integrated into the already familiar Mail app interface, so that the functions fit in seamlessly. The larger display also allows a better overview of several categories at the same time. On the iPad, the Mail app benefits from optimized multitasking support. The new organization of the inbox works just like on the iPhone, but is optimized for use with a touchscreen.

Mail app: A useful update for Mac and iPad users

With the introduction of the new design and improved organization, Apple is making the Mail app more modern and efficient. The automatic categorization in particular should help many users to organize their inbox more clearly. Since the functions have been available on the iPhone since iOS 18.2, it was only a matter of time before Mac and iPad followed suit. If you don't want to use the new features, you can deactivate them in the settings and continue to use the Mail app as usual. The betas of macOS 15.4 and iPadOS 18.4 are already available, and the official update should be released in early April. It's worth trying out the new features and seeing if they improve your email workflow. Looking for the best accessories? Visit our Amazon Storefront and discover a variety of products from top providers, including for HomeKit! (Image: Apple)