Earlier than Apple releases iOS 26 this fall, the corporate will doubtless launch iOS 18.6 within the subsequent few weeks. The corporate launched the third public beta of the software program on July 15, however it did not change a lot on the iPhones of builders and beta testers. Whereas iOS 26 will deliver a serious redesign to iPhones, the most recent beta is crammed with bug and safety fixes, so builders and beta testers should not count on new options.
Since this can be a beta, I like to recommend downloading it on one thing apart from your main machine. As a result of this is not the ultimate model of iOS 18.6, the replace could be buggy, and battery life could also be affected, so it is best to maintain these troubles off your main machine.
Observe that the beta will not be the ultimate model of iOS 18.6, so extra options might land in your iPhone when it’s launched. Apple will doubtless launch iOS 18.6 to most of the people within the subsequent few weeks however a precise launch date is unclear. Nevertheless, iOS 18.6 will doubtless be the final vital iOS 18 replace the corporate releases earlier than it makes iOS 26 accessible this fall.
Here is what to anticipate from iOS 18.6 when it lands in your iPhone.
This beta is all about safety patches and squashing bugs
In case you’re a developer or beta tester, do not count on a lot from this beta apart from bug and safety fixes. After downloading and looking out into iOS 18.6 beta 3, I discovered no new options or noticeable modifications. And that is not stunning contemplating Apple’s iOS launch schedule over time.
Apple introduced iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 and launched iOS 17.6 greater than a month later in July. That replace was crammed with greater than 30 necessary bug fixes and safety patches however no new options. Apple really helpful that everybody obtain the replace on the time and it was the final main iOS 17 replace earlier than the discharge of iOS 18.
Apple did the identical factor in July 2023 when it launched iOS 16.6. When the tech large launched that replace, it was targeted on bug fixes and safety patches; the following main iOS launch was iOS 17.
Apple is probably going shifting gears and focusing extra on iOS 26. In reality, the corporate has already launched three developer betas of that iOS software program in preparation for its fall launch.
There’ll doubtless be extra betas earlier than iOS 18.6 is launched to the general public, so there’s loads of time for Apple so as to add options or change others — however I would not rely on new options. Apple has not introduced when it’ll launch iOS 18.6 however as a result of iOS 17.6 and iOS 16.6 have been each launched in July of 2024 and 2023, respectively, I count on Apple to launch iOS 18.6 this month.
For extra on iOS 18, here is what you must find out about iOS 18.5 and iOS 18.4, in addition to our iOS 18 cheat sheet. You may as well take a look at what you must find out about iOS 26.
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