With the release of iOS 18.2, Apple has rolled out a completely revamped Mail app. This update brings features such as email categorization, a refreshed interface, profile pictures or business logos for chat threads, a new email grouping system, and more. While these features seemed promising during their announcement at WWDC, my experience using the app has led to some concerns.
Email Categorization
A standout addition in the new Mail app is the email categorization system, which organizes your emails into distinct categories: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions.
This feature seems beneficial in theory, as it can help declutter your inbox and keep essential communications in the Primary tab. However, in reality, many emails were miscategorized, prompting me to frequently switch to the “All Mail” tab to view all my messages without navigating through inaccurate sorting.
While you can reclassify senders if you disagree with Apple’s categorization, I find this process somewhat cumbersome compared to simply opting out of categorization altogether.
How to Turn It Off
Apple recognizes that not all users may appreciate this categorization feature and offers a straightforward option to disable it.
To switch from Categories to List View, click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the inbox. This will give you an “All Mail” layout while still retaining the profile images and design elements of the new Mail app.
This setting can be applied individually for each inbox, allowing you to maintain categorization for some inboxes while opting for list view in others.
Priority Notifications
On the plus side, Apple has introduced Priority Notifications in the Mail app, which effectively highlights important messages without the risk of missing essential emails due to inaccurate categorization. This feature has proven useful for me on several occasions. It’s worth noting that this feature requires a device capable of Apple Intelligence (such as iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPad mini 7, and M1 and later Macs/iPads) – making it my preferred way to stay on top of important communications.
Apple plans to extend Priority Notifications to all Apple Intelligence capable devices in an upcoming iOS 18 update, which will help users manage their most important messages across various applications—not just Mail. However, this feature is not available yet.
What are your thoughts on the new Mail app in iOS 18.2? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below.
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