The latest beta for Apple’s upcoming iOS 18 platform for iPhones is now available to the public. With this, you can try out the new features ahead of time, though note that not all are immediately available. Sadly, those who are clamoring to try out the new Apple Intelligence functions will be disappointed to know that they’re not available just yet.
But before we guide you on how to install the beta, bear in mind that not all iPhones are supported by iOS 18. As announced by Apple during WWDC 2024 in June, eligible models include the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, XS, XS Max, XR, and the iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). Unfortunately, any model from the iPhone X below is not supported.
How To Get The Update?
To gain access to the iOS 18 public beta, you first need to sign up to the Apple Beta Software Program with your Apple ID. The good news is that the process is immediate, so you won’t have to wait for an approval of any sort.
Once that’s done, open up the Settings app on your iPhone, tap General, and then Software Update. As it is, you won’t see the option to download the firmware update just yet. For that, you’ll need to enable Beta Updates by tapping on it and selecting iOS 18 Public Beta. Apple recommends that you backup your iPhone first before installing the update.
Being a significant firmware overhaul, the download size will be massive. For our iPhone 15 Pro, the update comes in at close to 7GB, so make sure you’re connected to a WiFi network before getting it. And it goes without saying that both downloading and installing will take a while too.
What’s New In The iOS 18 Beta?
To say there are plenty of new things in this update is an understatement. To keep things short and sweet, we’ll highlight only the noteworthy ones in this article. For other features not mentioned here, do check out our previous coverage on iOS 18.
Control Center
- Full control over layout and organisation.
- Multiple pages in Control Center, swipe between them.
- New API allows certain third-party apps to be included.
Change Lock Screen Controls
- Customise the two controls on Lock Screen.
- Replace flashlight and camera buttons with new Control Center controls.
- Include third-party controls.
- Assign controls to the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro.
iPhone Mirroring (requires macOS Sequoia device)
- Access iPhone via Mac, interact with iPhone, receive push notifications, move files.
SharePlay Upgrades
- Enhanced screen sharing.
- Draw on shared screens, control others’ screens.
All-New Photos App
- Unified layout, no more tabs.
- Organised by theme: Recent Days, People & Pets, Trips, etc.
- Highly customisable: rearrange and pin Collections, filter content.
- Revamped search functionality.
- New Recovered section to find and restore deleted images.
New Machine Learning Features In Safari
- Summary: Review article summary.
- Location: See location details.
- People: Expand knowledge about people.
- Music: Listen to music.
- Movies and TV shows: Check out or add to watch list.
New Passwords App
- Dedicated Passwords app in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and visionOS 2.
- Easy access to passwords, passkeys, and login information.
- Stores Wi-Fi passwords.
New Features for Apple Notes
- In-line maths support: solve expressions instantly.
- Collapsible sections: hide and simplify text.
- New highlight style: mark up notes easily.
Gaming Improvements
- Game Mode: minimises background activity, sustains high frame rates.
- Reduced audio latency with AirPods, responsive game controllers.
Apple Wallet Upgrades
- New Tap to Cash feature: send money instantly.
- Tap to Provision feature: add new cards by tapping.
- Apple Pay on Chrome and other third-party browsers.
New Privacy Features
- Lock any app behind Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode.
- Support for hidden apps: accessible via hidden apps folder in App Library.
- Improved Contacts sharing: choose specific contacts to share.
- Accessory Setup Kit: pair Bluetooth accessories securely.
- Redesigned Privacy & Security interface in Settings.
Phone Features
- Record phone calls with notifications and saved transcriptions (caller permission required).
- Call history search.
- Automatic Mic Mode selection.
Calendar Features
- Redesigned month view.
- Create, view, edit, and complete reminders directly in Calendar.
Miscellaneous
- Emergency SOS live video.
- New Math Notes calculator, new features like unit conversion and history.
- Dynamic wallpaper option changes colours automatically.
- iPhone flashlight now lets you adjust the brightness and width.
For those willing to wait, iOS 18’s stable release is expected to arrive sometime in Fall this year. The AI-powered Apple Intelligence features, on the other hand, will still take a while as it is only scheduled to be available by late this year, with certain features only arriving sometime in 2025.
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