Daring Fireball: Checking In on the iOS Continental Enjoyable-Hole Drift

Yours really, in September 2024, expressing skepticism that “European iPhones are more fun now”:

Meanwhile nobody within the EU will get Apple Intelligence or iPhone
Mirroring, each of which options are very helpful, and, dare I
say, fairly enjoyable. Should we choose how a lot enjoyable either side of the
continental divide is having by how a lot enjoyable they theoretically
might be having, or by how a lot enjoyable they are having?

As it stands, the enjoyable facet isn’t the EU. But hope springs
everlasting.

Here we’re two years later and I feel the reply is extra clear than ever which facet of the continental divide is extra enjoyable. It’s not the EU. EU customers nonetheless don’t have iPhone Mirroring and till and until the European Commission modifications its interpretation of the DMA, they probably by no means will. It’s an incredible function.

Apple Intelligence, as we knew it till final week, finally came to the EU, about six months after it shipped for the remainder of us. One can moderately argue that EU iPhone and iPad customers didn’t miss a lot throughout these six months. And that there hasn’t been that a lot to take pleasure in since Apple Intelligence debuted within the EU in iOS 18.4. That modified final week with the introduction of the primary beta launch of iOS 27. Siri AI is admittedly good, really helpful, and genuinely enjoyable. And it’s not on tempo to come back to the EU six months after iOS 27 ships this fall. It is at present on tempo to come back to the EU by no means.

★ Tuesday, 16 June 2026