December is going to be an exciting month for Apple releases for one reason only: Apple Intelligence. We got our first taste of it in iOS/iPadOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, but it was limited.
As we have mentioned before, Apple Intelligence is a gradual rollout, and some of the most exciting features are coming in the iOS/iPadOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2 releases in December. We’ll get ChatGPT integration, image generation features, Visual Intelligence on iPhone 16, Mail categories, and an expansion to additional markets.
Here’s what Apple has on the way in December.
New hardware
Apple rarely releases any new hardware in December. It’s not unprecedented for a surprise new product to arrive—Apple launched the AirPods Max in 2020 as a surprise drop—but we’re not hearing any rumors about anything that could pop up in December. Also Apple doesn’t have any announced products that haven’t released yet (like the iMac Pro in 2017) so it should be a quiet month as far as hardware is concerned.
Apps and software updates
It’s anything but quiet for software, however. More Apple Intelligence is on the way in the big December OS updates, along with a host of other tweaks and improvements.
iOS/iPadOS 18.2: Adds Image Playground, Genmoji, Image Wand in Notes, and Visual Intelligence (on iPhone 16). Plus auto-categories in the Mail app and ChatGPT integration in Siri and writing tools, AF/AE lock for the iPhone 16 Camera Control, sharing AirTag locations, and more. Apple Intelligence expands to English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK with this release.
macOS 15.2: Adds all the same features as iOS 18.2, except for those specific to the iPhone 16 (Visual Intelligence and Camera Control changes).
Services
Apple TV+
Here are the shows, series, and movies we expect to release on Apple TV+ in TK. If you want to know what’s coming later, check our full guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content.
Fly Me to the Moon: The Channing Tatum / Scarlett Johansson film finally comes to Apple TV+, almost six months after its theatrical release. December 6
Wonder Pets in the City: An animated series for kids about a trio of classroom pets. December 13
The Secret Lives of Animals: Discover the clever and creative ways animals navigate life’s most extraordinary challenges, from leaving home to finding a partner. Narrated by Hugh Bonneville. December 18
Apple Arcade
Apple releases most Apple Arcade games on the first Friday of each month. Check our Apple Arcade FAQ for a full list of Apple Arcade games and more details on the service. Occasionally, games are released with no forewarning, but you’ll usually see next month’s releases listed in the Coming Soon section.
Talking Tom Blast Park: A family-friendly runner/shooter in the Talking Tom series. December 5
Hot Wheels: Race Off+: Race Hot Wheels cars on a huge variety of crazy tracks. December 5
Boggle: Arcade Edition: The classic word-making board game comes to your iPhone. December 5
PAC-MAC 256+: One of the best mobile games of 2015, now in Apple Arcade. December 5
Barbie Color Creations: A dynamic Barbie-themed coloring book. December 5
Final Fantasy IV (3D Remake): The updated, 3D-graphics version of this classic 1991 RPG. December 9
FF IV: The After Years+: Similar to the main Final Fantasy IV 3D remake, this continues the story and was first released in 2008. December 9
