Apple today released the second public betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia with Apple Intelligence, allowing non-developers to try Apple’s upcoming new operating systems for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, respectively. The second beta comes a day after Apple provided the software to developers.
iOS 18 and iPadOS 18
Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program can download the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 updates by opening the Settings app, going to “General,” tapping on the “Software Update” section and turning on the iOS 18 Public Beta option.
iOS 18 brings the largest redesign of the Photos app, messaging via satellite, new mailbox management features for the Mail app, and much, much more. iPhone users will be able to rearrange apps and widgets in any open space on the iOS 18 Home Screen, customize the buttons that appear on the Lock Screen, and more.
A dedicated Passwords app is available for logins, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes. Users can now also lock and hide apps, requiring secondary Face ID or Touch ID authentication to open or unhide, even when your iPhone is unlocked.
While some Apple Intelligence features won’t be available until later this year or early next year, several features are available as of today, including Writing Tools, Siri’s revamped design, the option to move between voice commands and typing to Siri, summaries for transcripts and other content, the new Mail categories and smart replies, smart replies in Messages, and more.
Features that are not available today include Image Playground, Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, the option to erase objects in Photos, Priority Notifications, and other Siri capabilities like the ability to do more in apps and on-screen awareness.
iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 also introduce Apple Intelligence, the artificial intelligence system that will be available in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. Apple Intelligence is built with privacy in mind, and it can understand and create text and images, draw from personal context, and simplify and accelerate daily tasks. Apple Intelligence is not yet available. It is expected to be available in a beta release later this year.
macOS Sequoia
Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program can download and install the macOS Sequoia from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app and opting into the public beta under the Beta Updates section.
macOS Sequoia brings several new features to the venerable operating system.
iPhone Mirroring allows users to fully control their iPhones via their Mac, providing access to apps, interacting with notifications, and more. A user’s custom wallpaper and icons appear just like on their iPhone, and they can swipe between pages on their Home Screen, or launch and browse any of their favorite apps. The keyboard, trackpad, and mouse on Mac also let a user interact with their iPhone, and audio even comes through. Users can seamlessly drag and drop between iPhone and Mac, and a user’s iPhone remains locked, so nobody else can access or see what the user is doing. It also works great with StandBy, which stays visible, so users can get information at a glance. Additionally, users can review and respond to iPhone notifications directly from their Mac.
While some Apple Intelligence features won’t be available until later this year or early next year, several features are available as of today, including Writing Tools, Siri’s revamped design, the option to move between voice commands and typing to Siri, summaries for transcripts and other content, the new Mail categories and smart replies, smart replies in Messages, and more.
Features that are not available today include Image Playground, Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, the option to erase objects in Photos, Priority Notifications, and other Siri capabilities like the ability to do more in apps and on-screen awareness.
All of the Apple Intelligence features coming to iOS 18.1 will also be available in macOS Sequoia, but Apple does not plan to add these until later in the beta testing process.
Public Beta Enrollment
Here’s how to enroll in Apple’s Public Beta Tester Program:
- Visit beta.apple.com on your Apple device
- Click or tap the blue “Sign Up” button.
- Sign in with your Apple ID
- Read the Beta Software Program Agreement]
- Click or tap the blue “Agree” button
- Follow the guide for downloading and installing beta updates on your device of choice
MacTrast and Apple both warn users not to install any betas on their daily driver devices. Instead, only install betas on a device set aside for testing purposes.
