TheiOS 18 betais out now ! It ’s tantalizing to race out and download it . Now that you do n’t even need a paid developer write up to catch the Developer Beta , there ’s nothing but a dyad bit of sate out shape remain firm between you and an former look at the big Io update coming this dip .
But you may not want to look sharp out and grab it powerful away . be given beta operating systems always carry some risk , and early iOS betas especially so . Plus , all the features you may want to try out are n’t in it yet .
Here ’s what you need to know to decide whether to try out theiOS 18beta or not , based on the best available current selective information . We ’ll update this clause throughout the beta test as the situation changes .
Updated August 7 : We’re well into the beta test schedule now , but the iOS 18 genus Beta has been joined by a less - stableiOS 18.1 betafor developers .
Current version and features
The current variant of theiOS 18beta is : Beta 5 , available for developer and public beta testers .
There is also aniOS 18.1 betaavailable for register developers who have an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max and foregather regional / language requirements .
The iOS 18 beta has a lot of the young features , like the new home filmdom customization , new Control Center , RCS , Passwords app , newfangled Photos app , and more , but it ’s missing some of iOS 18 ’s most exciting Modern stuff ..
Notably , noneof theApple Intelligencefeatures are present , and that include the new Mail app categorization , notice summaries , text peter , Image Playground app , and so on . Testing the first round of AI features is what that new iOS 18.1 beta is for .
Bugs and problems
It ’s not uncommon for iOS beta – especially other developer betas – to be full of bug . That ’s the point of genus Beta - testing after all .
compare to some years , these first developer beta sacking are actually middling stable , but that ’s not to say they are remotely hemipterous insect - liberal . There are occasional clangour when running everyday apps like Apple Music , Control Center ’s layout sometimes freak out out , and we ’ve see the distinctive report card of increase battery drain .
The latest iOS 18 beta is certainly not bug - free , but the universal consensus is that most apps work well enough and there are n’t any major showstoppers . Your experience may not be quite as unruffled as with a final official release , but genus Beta testers are by - and - heavy having a comparatively smooth experience .
The iOS 18.1 genus Beta is a little rougher . It ’s missing some of the burnish of the iOS 18 beta and is n’t always up - to - date with the latest changes . Only a special readiness of users can lead it anyway ( developer accounts with iPhone 15 Pro model ) but it ’s not recommended for most , anyway .
Macworld recommends: OK to test iOS 18, WAIT on iOS 18.1
We always think it ’s a full idea to run any iOS beta exit on a junior-grade equipment , or at least have a subaltern equipment up - to - day of the month with the latest iOS 17 dismissal and all your apps so you may practice it to access anything you may need .
In the cause of iOS 18 , you do n’t reallyneedto start the beta right now unless you ’re a developer who really needs to embark on testing your app or update it to use unexampled framework and APIs . The latest release does offer plentifulness of new features , but the smarter Siri and new Apple Intelligence poppycock is not present at all . If those are the thing you are most excited to try , you might as well wait .
But the genus Beta has been quiet sailing with only minor hiccups for most who have try it , so adventurous users with a fresh support should feel gift to jump out in .
The iOS 18.1 beta is a different story . Available only to those with developer accounts ( including free story ) in supported area , and limited to U.S. English language and iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max telephone set , it probably should n’t be run by curious enthusiasts just yet . It ’s tempting to hold back out the first Apple Intelligence features , but many of the most exciting ones are n’t there yet , and there are more bugs to debate with .