Highlights
- Google launched a standalone Gemini app for iPhone users.
- The app offers enhanced features like Imagen 3 and Gemini Live.
- Gemini Advanced subscriptions cost $18.99 (₹1,599) per month for premium access.
In a surprising move today, Google has fully transitioned its iPhone user community to use a standalone Gemini app. The move was announced yesterday on 18th February 2025, to provide a more “focused” AI experience for Apple users. The app offers enhanced features like Imagen 3 and Gemini Live. Users who would prefer to use the services of Gemini, now have to take the time to download a dedicated standalone Gemini app from the Apple Store.
Enhanced Features in the Standalone Gemini App
The standalone Gemini app offers a richer set of features compared to its previous integration within the Google app. These enhancements include support for Imagen 3, Google’s latest iteration of the text-to-image model, and expanded Gemini Extensions, providing users with more advanced AI capabilities.
Another prominent feature exclusive to the standalone app is Gemini Live. This allows users to engage in conversations with Gemini, with controls appearing in both the Dynamic Island and Lock Screen, enabling seamless AI interaction without needing to return to the main app.
Premium Features through Gemini Advanced Subscriptions
Google in a trend seen with most AI’s provides premium features through Gemini Advanced subscriptions, which are part of the Google One AI Premium plan, priced at $18.99 (₹1,599) per month. Subscribers will gain access to Google’s next-generation model, 1.5 Pro, priority access to new features, and a one million token context window. Gemini Advanced also enables integration with other Google apps like Search, YouTube, Maps, and Gmail.
Focused AI Experience on iOS vs. Android
The Gemini app emphasizes the iOS experience, whereas Gemini remains in deeper ties within the Android platform. On Android, Gemini acts as the default assistant and interacts with information displayed on the screen. By stripping away Gemini from the Google app, Google aims to provide users with a less convoluted yet focused experience while interacting with Google AI. The Gemini app is built to be user-friendly and centralizes everything that Google AI offers.
Google’s Vision for Smarter AI Experiences on Mobile Platforms
This pivot is part of a larger vision of Google in ushering smarter AI experiences on mobile platforms. With a dedicated Gemini app for iOS now in play, Google is seeking greater clout on one of the world’s largest mobile platforms. Though Gemini embeds deeper into Android, the standalone iOS app helps narrow the gap between the two OSs, thereby elevating Apple users’ experience with a more focused AI.
Apple’s Response: Preparing iOS 18.4 with Enhanced Siri
Looking forward, as Gemini tries to strengthen its foothold on iOS, Apple is preparing iOS 18.4, with those plans set to deliver multiple updates to Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. This includes personal context and awareness of on-screen data, thereby making Siri even more attractive to the user.
The Gemini app is available as a free download from the App Store. After signing in with a Google account, the service will be made available to users. The most recent update brings new language support for Gemini Live favorably in the app.
