Apple's Mail app in iOS 18.2 introduces automatic email categorization with four sections: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. The feature aims to declutter inboxes by sorting messages on-device using machine learning. It arrives years after Apple first planned it, delayed until Apple Intelligence could handle processing locally.

The Primary category surfaces personal emails and time-sensitive alerts, while the other three group newsletters, receipts, and promotional content. Users can train the system by re-categorizing senders, creating a more personalized filter over time. For those who prefer manual control, Apple provides a simple toggle in the Mail app's menu to revert to a standard List View.

This update reflects Apple's broader push for on-device AI, a strategy designed to protect user privacy while competing with cloud-based services like Google's Gmail. While the feature requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer for full Apple Intelligence integration, basic categorization works on all devices running iOS 18.2.