iOS 18: Is the latest beta also the final version?
It won't be long before the iPhone 16 and iOS 18 are released. The recently released seventh developer beta may also be the last.
Overview of the functions of iOS 18.
(Image: Apple)
Has Apple already completed the beta phase of iOS 18? At least that's what a usually well-informed Apple journalist, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, claims. As he wrote on X this week, he was told that the latest iOS 18 seed – i.e. Developer Beta 7 – is "final": however, functions could still be added that are compatible with new hardware – i.e. the iPhone 16.
Not much left to do?
Apple is also likely to release at least one more release candidate (RC) before the public version. However, if Gurman's source is right, this could also be based on beta 7. Apple could then release its own build for the new devices, which includes the new hardware functions, but should not be leaked in advance.
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This year, the new iOS versions are somewhat more complex anyway: Apple is also testing iOS 18.1 in parallel with iOS 18, which includes the first Apple Intelligence functions. It is currently expected that iOS 18 will be released together with the iPhone 16 in September and iOS 18.1 in October. The iPhone event could take place comparatively early this year, at least according to some rumor mongers: possibly as early as September 3.
Release candidate still to come
However, Gurman's statement could also mean that developer beta 7 is only "feature complete", but Apple is still releasing another beta or a slightly revised release candidate to fix bugs. iOS 17 was released on September 18, 2023, one week after the iPhone 15 series was unveiled on September 12.
Apple is likely to take a little longer for iOS 18.1, with mid to late October being more likely than the beginning of the month. At the moment, it still looks like residents of the European Union will have to make do without Apple Intelligence for the time being. In the second developer beta of iOS 18.1, however, Apple softened its geo-blocking. Apple Intelligence will not be available in languages adapted for Europe until next year anyway; only U.S. English will be supported. This applies to all functions including Siri and the "Writing Tools".
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