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Apple has launched a new app dedicated to “bringing people together for life’s special moments”.
Invites allows iPhone users to create custom invitations for events like birthdays, baby showers, or even that friend group holiday that’s been in talks for years but never seems to come to fruition.
“With Apple Invites, an event comes to life from the moment the invitation is created, and users can share lasting memories even after they get together,” Brent Chiu-Watson of Apple said in a statement.
“Apple Invites brings together capabilities our users already know and love across iPhone, iCloud, and Apple Music, making it easy to plan special events.”
Users start by choosing an image from their gallery for the event’s background. Then, they can add a title, date, time, location, and description before sending it off to friends and family – who will be able to RSVP even if they don’t have an Apple device.
You can even curate an event soundtrack that guests can access, but this requires a subscription to Apple Music.
The app also features integrations with Maps and Weather so all guests have directions to the event and know what the forecast will be.
“With Apple Intelligence, creating unique event invitations is easy. Users can tap into the built-in Image Playground experience to produce original images using concepts, descriptions, and people from their photo library,” Apple said. “And when composing invitations, users can use Writing Tools to help find just the right turn of phrase to meet the moment.”
The tech giant adds that attendees have complete control over how their details show up to others, and have the ability to “leave or report an event at any time”.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) swathes of iPhone users raved about the app, with many branding it a “great idea”. “This is really cool,” one user wrote. “I’ve made a test and it seems to get the job done.”
Another agreed, hailing: “Awesome! Thank you, Apple,” while a third commented: “Oh, I’m definitely using this.”
However, others were less welcoming of the launch – and argued the features could have easily been included in a Calendar upgrade.
“Another gimmick to go along with stickers and emojis,” one sceptic fumed. Another scathed: “Yeah, and like always Apple wants your money on a subscription to use it.”
How to download Apple Invites
Apple Invites launched on the App Store on 4 February and is compatible with all iPhone models running iOS18 or later. However, Apple Intelligence features will only be accessible for those with an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max running iOS 18.2 and later.
The other catch is that the app is only available to iCloud+ subscribers, meaning you’ll have to fork out a monthly fee to access its features. Plans start from just $0.99.
