When Will iOS 18.5 Be Released?

[MacRumors]

Apple is testing an iOS 18.5 update with developers and public beta testers, and we've had three betas so far. There aren't any notable changes so far, but the update will still bring important bug fixes and security improvements. So when can we expect it?

Based on historical release timelines for x.5 updates, iOS 18.5 and its sister updates are likely to launch in May. Here's when we saw updates in prior years:

• iOS 17.5 - May 13
• iOS 16.5 - May 18
• iOS 15.5 - May 16
• iOS 14.5 - April 26
• iOS 13.5 - May 20

Many of Apple's x.5 updates are released around the middle of the month, so the week of May 12 is a solid guess, though the week of May 19 is also a possibility.

Though we've only had three betas so far, there are so few new features in iOS 18.5 that we probably won't need too many more betas for it to be ready to launch.

Apple's x.5 updates have historically had fewer features than earlier releases, because Apple is often already transitioning much of its new development to the next-generation version of iOS. We're just a couple of months way from when iOS 19 will be introduced at WWDC, so Apple is working to get it ready to go.

iOS 18.5 won't be the last update to iOS 18, and we'll likely see at least one more major point update before iOS 19 rolls out this fall.

Article Link: When Will iOS 18.5 Be Released?

 

[Paddle1]

There's no rush, it's not a very exciting update.

 

[Joshuaorange]

How much worse can it possibly get.

 

[Lucca2]

I’m good. I don’t need new emojis

 

[skinnyJM]

There's no rush, it's not a very exciting update.

What I was thinking...
What is the reason that it matters when the release date is?

 

[It’s always something]

There's no rush, it's not a very exciting update.

Unexciting implies more unsexy work like bug fixes, so let’s hope for that.

 

[BatmanAtkinson]

Where are the Pride wallpapers?

 

[klasma]

What is the reason that it matters when the release date is?

It matters for the people waiting for the 18.6 betas.

 

[gknewell]

How much worse can it possibly get.

I like your energy.

 

[switz]

One should consider 19.3 might be basically usable. The earlier versions usually need a hatchet to cut off the issues and bugs.

I expect 18.6 will still have many of the same issues as now as there never seems to be time to fix the current aberration of an operating system so all the unfixed issues going years back continue.

Unfortunately, one has to upgrade to the latest and greatest version in order to receive patches to bugs that impact the latest plus the last few versions. The snow ball of bovine byproducts just keeps getting bigger and bigger every year.

It is time for an Etch-a-Sketch moment and start from scratch with some decent code writers. Use some of those billions on operating system improvement instead of on a dead car or goggles with lack luster sales for a huge development cost.

 

[Adora]

It matters for the people waiting for the 18.6 betas.

I want 18.6 Beta now! Two 18.x betas came when the prior version was still in beta.

But iOS is annoying me in general. I want macOS 16 now!

 

[Plutonius]

Is anyone actually waiting on iOS 18.5 ?

 

[JosephAW]

There seems to be a recurring pattern here. YOY
This broken record needs to be fixed.

 

[winxmac]

Waiting for the final update to iOS 18 before I upgrade from iOS 17.7

I will more likely keep it on iOS 17.7 but I may upgrade to iOS 19 by then

 

[kierennyc]

Waiting for the final update to iOS 18 before I upgrade from iOS 17.7

I will more likely keep it on iOS 17.7 but I may upgrade to iOS 19 by then

I can never understand this logic. I’ve been using an iPhone since the 3rd iteration, intensely, daily and have not noticed any of these bugs that you seem so scared of. I upgrade the iOS at EVERY uodate. My iPhone is pretty much my main work/entertainment device and it ALWAYS works when I need it to. What’s with the paranoia about updating??

 

[sdf]

Hopefully when it’s ready and not before.

 

[winxmac]

I can never understand this logic. I’ve been using an iPhone since the 3rd iteration, intensely, daily and have not noticed any of these bugs that you seem so scared of. I upgrade the iOS at EVERY uodate. My iPhone is pretty much my main work/entertainment device and it ALWAYS works when I need it to. What’s with the paranoia about updating??

It's not only the bugs but the changes for the sake of change. Have you heard about the mixed reaction to the iOS 18 Photos app or any of the changes in the previous versions?

 

[maszaikasza]

Unexciting implies more unsexy work like bug fixes, so let’s hope for that.

I’m hoping for this, but it could also mean more developers being assigned to iOS 19 features - so they might end up creating more bugs instead of fixing them.

 

[Macaholic868]

How much worse can it possibly get.

It can always get worse ….

 

[svish]

Not sure about the date. I would expect it around mid May. Anyway there are no new features in the version and will likely fix only issues/bugs.

 

[Veinticinco]

Not sure how I'll sleep until I know the exact time and day iOS 18.5 drops.

 

[Bengt77]

So we're already (almost) at iOS 18.5, with iOS 19 development likely well underway by now, and still Apple Intelligence is not available in my language (Dutch). It's not incomplete, like for other languages, it just isn't available, period. Is this why I got an iPhone 16 Pro last year? What a disappointment this mobile cycle has been.

 

[PsykX]

There's no rush, it's not a very exciting update.

I mean, at the same time, bug fixes are kind of exciting when I experience anomalies on a daily basis.

 

[kierennyc]

It's not only the bugs but the changes for the sake of change. Have you heard about the mixed reaction to the iOS 18 Photos app or any of the changes in the previous versions?

Yes and they’re overblown because with a few customizations you can make it almost identical to the previous version.

 

[Crickster]

I can't believe it took this long to get the Apple Watch's fully charged notification back—or that they removed it to begin with!