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iOS 18.4 Beta 1 Coming as Soon as Next Week

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The first beta of Apple's upcoming iOS 18.4 update could be released as soon as the middle of next week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iOS-18.4-Apple-Intelligence-Color-Palette-Feature.jpg

Next week may be busy with the launch of Apple's new Powerbeats that have a heart rate sensor and the iPhone SE 4, but we could still get the new beta on February 12 or February 13. If Apple waits until the week after that, the software could come on February 18, as February 17 is Presidents' Day, a U.S. a holiday.

Apple often follows software releases with new betas, but there has been a delay between iOS 18.3 and the iOS 18.4 beta. Apple released iOS 18.3 11 days ago on Monday, January 27, and we'll be at the two week mark on February 10.

It's not unheard of for Apple to take some time between software updates and betas, especially when an update has a lot of new features. Rumors suggest that iOS 18.4 will bring major Apple Intelligence Siri changes, which Apple outlined earlier this year.

Siri is set to gain personal context, onscreen awareness, and the ability to do more in and between apps. With Siri's history of performance issues and questionable responses compared to other personal assistants, Apple likely wants to ensure that it gets this new feature set right.

The new Siri abilities are one of the major Apple Intelligence features that Apple has already been highlighting in advertising and information about AI, so there are a lot of expectations.

The update will also likely bring new emoji characters, some changes to default app options in the European Union, and an expansion of Apple Intelligence to new languages and countries.

Apple has already said that Apple Intelligence will expand to additional countries in an April update, so we are expecting iOS 18.4 to be in beta testing through March ahead of an April launch.

Article Link: iOS 18.4 Beta 1 Coming as Soon as Next Week
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/07/ios-18-4-launching-soon/
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I can’t keep up with all these OS updates. Thankfully I’m not a beta tester as I would never get any work done.
 
Here’s hoping they don’t pull another 18.3 and introduce zero new features until the RC build magically unlocks them in the final days before release. What’s the point of being a beta tester if there is nothing to actually test?
 
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Apple Mac Daz said:
Sounds like a big update it be one to hold off for a day let the guinea pigs try it out first 😁
Click to expand...
I have two laptops for testing that OS, so will try the 16” Max MBP first as it has far less storage utilization, if that works then will use it for a day before the M4 Pro 14”. All is backed up for dev seeds. But your right something that amounts to Part 2 of this years implementation of iOS/iPadOS/MacOS is not typical risk. I also have 2 recent iPhones and will do the same. :)
 
Last edited:
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Out of curiosity, what's the highest decimal number of updates for any iOS? We're already getting ready for .4 now, and it's only February. We've got another seven months with iOS 18 (assuming you're not a beta tester).
 
Realityck said:
I have two laptops for testing that OS, so will try the 16” Max MBP first as it has far less storage utilization, if that works then will use it for a day before the M4 Pro 14”. All is backed up for dev seeds. But your right something that amounts to Part 2 of this years implementation of iOS/iPadOS/MacOS is not typical risk. I also have 2 recent iiPhones and will do the same. :)
Click to expand...

Mine are main devices so waiting for any reported issues
 
iamgalt said:
Out of curiosity, what's the highest decimal number of updates for any iOS? We're already getting ready for .4 now, and it's only February. We've got another seven months with iOS 18 (assuming you're not a beta tester).
Click to expand...
X.8 is the highest it’s ever gone up to.
There has been a pretty consistent schedule for the last five years or so…
September: X.0
October: X.1
December: X.2
January: X.3
March/April: X.4
May (shortly before WWDC): X.5
July: X.6
September (alongside new version): X.7
September of the following year: X.8
 
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MacRumors said:


The first beta of Apple's upcoming iOS 18.4 update could be released as soon as the middle of next week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iOS-18.4-Apple-Intelligence-Color-Palette-Feature.jpg

Next week may be busy with the launch of Apple's new Powerbeats that have a heart rate sensor and the iPhone SE 4, but we could still get the new beta on February 12 or February 13. If Apple waits until the week after that, the software could come on February 18, as February 17 is Presidents' Day, a U.S. a holiday.

Apple often follows software releases with new betas, but there has been a delay between iOS 18.3 and the iOS 18.4 beta. Apple released iOS 18.3 11 days ago on Monday, January 27, and we'll be at the two week mark on February 10.

It's not unheard of for Apple to take some time between software updates and betas, especially when an update has a lot of new features. Rumors suggest that iOS 18.4 will bring major Apple Intelligence Siri changes, which Apple outlined earlier this year.

Siri is set to gain personal context, onscreen awareness, and the ability to do more in and between apps. With Siri's history of performance issues and questionable responses compared to other personal assistants, Apple likely wants to ensure that it gets this new feature set right.

The new Siri abilities are one of the major Apple Intelligence features that Apple has already been highlighting in advertising and information about AI, so there are a lot of expectations.

The update will also likely bring new emoji characters, some changes to default app options in the European Union, and an expansion of Apple Intelligence to new languages and countries.

Apple has already said that Apple Intelligence will expand to additional countries in an April update, so we are expecting iOS 18.4 to be in beta testing through March ahead of an April launch.

Article Link: iOS 18.4 Beta 1 Coming as Soon as Next Week
Click to expand...
Hopefully Apple will update their Canon R5 Mark2 RAW INTEGRATION into Apple Photos! This Camera has been popular and issued in August of 2024……still no Apple Photos support for RAW.🙄
 
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