Mannat Saini, Pune
The wait is finally over for all iOS users as Apple has released the first Public Beta Versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18. The public beta versions are now available to download and offer a peek into the fine-tuning and new potential of iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, and Apple TVs. It is important to understand that this release is not the general release of the iOS 18 Beta and thus “Apple Intelligence ” and AI features are still on the horizon.
What are the features?
The iOS 18 has addressed long-standing user demands by introducing significant updates to the iPhone experience. The version has introduced a home screen customization, alongside tinting options for all icons and widgets which adds an element of personalization to the user experience.
The Control Center has also been updated, finally having introduced an option for ‘dark mode’ icons. The Photos app has also been redesigned for a fresh look. The iPadOS 18 has more or less the same updates with the addition of a Calculator app that was earlier not part of the system.
The Beta versions provide a good feel to the updated iOS user interface. However, the beta versions with Apple Intelligence, the AI-powered features will be launched later this year exclusively for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, as well as Macs and iPads powered by Apple silicon (M1 and later versions).
The watchOS 11 also has been updated with the inclusion of the tracking of “rest day” and a ‘Vitals’ app which provides an on-glance review of health metrics.
In order to facilitate seamless interaction between devices, macOS Sequoia now offers a screen mirroring that can be used to ‘mirror’ or display your iPhone screens directly onto your Mac device.
For the tvOS 18 beta, Apple has launched “InSight, which is an addition to the Apple TV Plus content, offering trivia and behind-the-scenes information for available content.
Wondering if your device is compatible with the latest updates? Here is the list of compatible devices-
For iPhone users –
iPhone 15 Series: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14 Series: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13 Series: iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Series: iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11 Series: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS Series: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
For iPad Users –
iPad Pro (M1 chip or later): This includes iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later) and iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)
iPad Air (M1 chip or later): iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
iPad (7th generation and later)
iPad Mini (5th generation and later)
How to access the update?
To download the iOS 18 beta, follow these steps-
Check Compatibility: Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘General’ > ‘About’ to make sure that your device is currently running at least iOS / iPadOS 16.4.
Join the Apple Beta Program: Sign up for the Apple Beta Program using the same Apple ID you are using on the device that you wish to update.
Download Software Update: On your device, access ‘Settings’ > ‘General’ > ‘Software Update’ to download the update.
Enable Beta Updates: If you have not accessed Beta updates earlier, you may need to select the ‘Beta Updates’ option from your registered Apple ID.
Select Update: Choose iOS 18 Public Beta from the drop-down menu.
Initiate the Update: Go to the option of ‘Software Update’ and tap on the option to ‘Update Now’.
Voila! Once the update finishes, you will have access to the iOS 18 Beta. Note that these updates may have bugs and glitches so back-up your data on a secondary device for safety.