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When to Expect iOS 18 on Your iPhone as Beta Testing Wraps Up

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iOS 18 has been in beta testing for nearly three months, and the software update should finally be widely released later this month.

Generic-iOS-18-Feature-Real-Mock.jpg

Below, we outline when to expect iOS 18 to be available on all compatible iPhones.

iOS 18: Beta Testing Wraps Up

In his Power On newsletter last weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said iOS 18 beta 8 will likely be the final developer beta version for the update. This is a reasonable prediction, as previous updates like iOS 17, iOS 16, and iOS 15 each had a total of eight developer betas. iOS 12 was the last update with at least nine developer betas.

If history repeats itself, Apple should release the iOS 18 Release Candidate immediately following the iPhone 16 event on September 9. Apple considers a Release Candidate to be a "near final" version of an upcoming iOS update.

iOS 18: Release Timing

Apple will likely announce a release date for iOS 18 during its September 9 event. The update is most likely to be released on Monday, September 16, but Tuesday, September 17 and Wednesday, September 18 are also possibilities.

Gurman said Apple has already been installing iOS 18 on iPhone 16 models at factories. Those devices will likely be released on Friday, September 20.

iOS 18: Compatible iPhones

iOS 18 is compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17 is:
  • iPhone 15
  • iPhone 15 Plus
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14
  • iPhone 14 Plus
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
iOS 18 will be available in the Settings app under General → Software Update.

Article Link: When to Expect iOS 18 on Your iPhone as Beta Testing Wraps Up
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/09/04/when-to-expect-ios-18/
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stars_fan said:
iOS 18 public beta isn't ready for anyone to use daily. ...
Click to expand...

That hasn't been my experience. I've been using Apple's public betas for many years (I'm not quite adventurous enough to run the more buggy developer betas, these days) so I've likewise been running the public iOS 18 beta more recently. Personal opinion: It seems to me that this has been one of the least buggy iOS public beta releases, to date.

Of course, you and I likely use a completely different combination of apps, so the old "YMMV" disclaimer obviously applies.
 
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fhamadeh said:
Probably a dumb question, but if we are on the beta, how do we transition to the final release version?
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Not a dumb question at all: if memory serves, when you receive the final "release candidate" version during the usual update cycle, you'll effectively be on the same version that everyone else will be receiving as the "final" release, with no further action required on your part. That last release candidate typically arrives at least a week or three before the final release becomes generally available.

What's perhaps more important is that I believe your agreement to participate in the beta program basically concludes with that release; if you want to participate in the iOS 19 betas when they start to become available, you'll have to specifically select that release option in the automatic update settings, just as you did for the iOS 18 betas.
 
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zarmanto said:
That hasn't been my experience. I've been using Apple's public betas for many years (I'm not quite adventurous enough to run the more buggy developer betas, these days) so I've likewise been running the public iOS 18 beta more recently. Personal opinion: It seems to me that this has been one of the least buggy iOS public beta releases, to date.

Of course, you and I likely use a completely different combination of apps, so the old "YMMV" disclaimer obviously applies.
Click to expand...

Same. iOS 18 has more polish than my previous experiences.
 
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fhamadeh said:
Probably a dumb question, but if we are on the beta, how do we transition to the final release version?
Click to expand...
You’d just go into where you normally check for updates, and toggle the “get beta updates” to off. If you do this before they release, you should be able to download over the air without any issue. That’s assuming that the release candidate has a new build number.
 
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zarmanto said:
That hasn't been my experience. I've been using Apple's public betas for many years (I'm not quite adventurous enough to run the more buggy developer betas, these days) so I've likewise been running the public iOS 18 beta more recently. Personal opinion: It seems to me that this has been one of the least buggy iOS public beta releases, to date.

Of course, you and I likely use a completely different combination of apps, so the old "YMMV" disclaimer obviously applies.
Click to expand...
I've installed the 18 DB since the first one on my work base 13 and have had no real issues to speak of. Granted this is not my day to day phone but the apps I use day to day for work have experienced no issues or just general system issues or random things not working.
 
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stars_fan said:
iOS 18 public beta isn't ready for anyone to use daily. Tons of app crashes and general unstable behavior.
Click to expand...
In my daily use iPad as desktop (stage manager and external monitor) it feels more stable than 17

So I want to say that I was surprised how stable this beta was, because 16 and 17 were nightmare no matter stable it or beta
 
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I haven't bothered installing it yet. Only thing I'm interested in is RCS, and my carrier hasn't enabled it yet.

Not much going on with the 15 (non-pro) and lower models.
 
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Oh, I'm really looking forward to iOS and iPadOS 18 and whatever the next version of WatchOS is going to be. Just eager to try the new features :) I did say months ago that I was going to try the public beta versions but opted not to, knowing that any sync and battery issues is going to definitely drive me BONKERS. :)
 
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Apple expands its beta users by the millions. Sometime early 2025 it is finally a release candidate quality. o_O
iOS 17 was a perfect example.
 
jz0309 said:
I might update early this year, more though for watchOS 11 and the Vitals app
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I did that and Vitals on the watch is a so-so useful app, and the UX itself is simply poor. It's not that it's minimalist, but it's simply poor and hard to read. I'm still waiting for the training load update, but it requires 22 days of recording. It seems that Gentler.app may feel unthreatened and Apple's current achievements are nothing in reality. Suspending the rings with manual setting of goals for individual days is a joke in 2024 and is a shadow of what Garmin offers, especially when they put so much emphasis on AI. Automatic adaptive goals with suggested exercises, where the system takes into account, for example, medications and age, should be their duty. So much data and so little use from it.
 
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fhamadeh said:
Probably a dumb question, but if we are on the beta, how do we transition to the final release version?
Click to expand...
I saw an answer from someone who likes to waste time

Here it goes the smart reply

At a certain point a new variant will be released to the beta testers which will be a public release too

AT THAT SAME point in time you can switch off the beta program and you ll receive from there on end only public releases
 
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Brave souls installing an OS that has undergone such deep changes — on launch day.
Not for the faint of heart.

Pro Tip: Wait several months until the smoke clears (and major bugs get squashed)
 
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