It is odd that they'd have it in the beta channel at all, if the intent is not to release it as final. I'm going to give it a go - the build being same as public version so that would mean its not in beta anymore.
Apple is intentionally cutting off access to the "previous-year" iOS around Xmas season. The have been doing this for years now.so the lack of iOS 18.7.3 being available to devices capable of updating to iOS 26 seems like a mistake.
It’s strange the way it’s presented, iOS 26 is displayed, but if you cancel out of that screen then the 18.7.3 shows up. Am updating my iPad nowNot yet visible on SE2 currently running 18.7.2 (in Canada) iOS 26.1 still showing.
Edit: 26.2 now showing on SE 2 but not yet on my wife's 13 Mini also running 18.7.2; hopefully 18.7.3 will be available soon. Apple servers must be busy!
I thought I'd see this update on iPhone 14 but I only see 26.2. Maybe I need to wait for a little while longer.It’s strange the way it’s presented, iOS 26 is displayed, but if you cancel out of that screen then the 18.7.3 shows up. Am updating my iPad now
It’s strange the way it’s presented, iOS 26 is displayed, but if you cancel out of that screen then the 18.7.3 shows up. Am updating my iPad now
Summary:
18.7.3 is released but update is visible to only all iPads and the iPhone XS/XR
For all other iPhones, must select iOS 18 beta channel for update to show. 18.7.3 RC build number same as public release
That's the way it worked for me when 26 was first released. You either hit 'Back" from the update to 26 page, or scrolled down the update to 26 page where the update to 18.n.n (whatever it was then) was hidden.It’s strange the way it’s presented, iOS 26 is displayed, but if you cancel out of that screen then the 18.7.3 shows up. Am updating my iPad now
That worked! Thank you!You can enroll in the iOS 18 beta program and install 18.7.3
https://beta.apple.com
Thread https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/end-of-the-line-for-ios-18-updates.2473964/