Apple’s latest operating system betas have finally brought the new Mail sorting and redesign features to iPad and Mac. While we’ve had time to experience these features on iPhone, their arrival on all platforms gives us a complete picture of Apple’s vision for email management.

The response has been interesting. Power users generally aren’t impressed, arguing that web-based mail sorting tools and services like SaneBox offer far more sophisticated features. They’re right. However, I’ve noticed something different among casual users who have never experienced mail sorting before: they like Apple’s new email sorting.

I decided to experiment with this myself. I turned off all my fancy email sorting rules for my personal account and switched to Apple Mail’s new system. After some initial training, I’ve found it works surprisingly well. Sure, my MacSparky email still requires more advanced sorting that’s beyond what Apple offers, but for personal correspondence, this new system hits a sweet spot. Plus, there’s the added benefit of privacy.

This update represents a shift in Apple’s Mail development strategy. For years, they focused primarily on infrastructure improvements, making the app more stable and secure. It’s refreshing to see them adding new features again, even if they aren’t targeting power users. Not every feature needs to cater to the most demanding users, and sometimes simplicity, combined with privacy, is probably where Apple should be aiming.