Apple has released the third betas of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 to public beta testers, following the second public beta released a week prior. Public beta testers who have joined Apple’s beta testing program can download the new updates by navigating to the Settings app, selecting General, tapping into the Software Update section, and choosing the iOS 18 Public Beta option. This release marks another step towards making the latest software widely available for testing and feedback.
iOS 18 introduces Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI features deeply integrated into the operating system. These features include Writing Tools for rewriting, polishing, proofreading, and summarizing text across various apps, as well as Image Playground for generating custom images.
Additionally, Genmoji allows users to create custom emojis, and Siri has been entirely overhauled. However, these Apple Intelligence features are not yet active in the public beta version and will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models and M-series iPads once fully launched.
The new iOS 18 also brings a redesigned Home Screen, allowing users to rearrange app icons and widgets with open spaces. There are new options for a tint and darker colors in Dark Mode.
The Control Center has been revamped to allow users to select and customize controls from the new Controls Gallery, and group related controls across multiple pages. Users can also swap out the Flashlight and Camera icons on the Lock Screen and customize Control Center options for the iPhone 15 Pro’s Action Button.
Several updates have been made to the Messages app in iOS 18, including the ability to schedule texts, use any emoji for the Tapback feature, and send messages via satellite. Users can also apply text effects to words, phrases, or emojis, and utilize formatting options like bold and italic.
Importantly, Apple now supports RCS for texts with Android users, enabling smoother image and file sharing, viewing typing indicators and reading receipts, and sending texts over Wi-Fi.
Safari in iOS 18 can summarize webpages and highlight important information at a glance. The Photos app has been revamped to better surface the user’s best photos, and a dedicated Passwords app has been introduced for easier access to saved passwords and logins.
Users can also lock any app using Face ID or Touch ID. The latest beta adds Distraction Control, a feature designed to hide distracting elements like popups on web pages. For a comprehensive overview of all new features, users are encouraged to refer to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 roundups.
