New iOS 18 beta will be the last before the iPhone 16 launch – here’s how to try it
Over the past month, Apple has been releasing a steady stream of software betas for people to try out, including ones for iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and more. But now it appears we may have seen the last update, at least for iOS 18, according to a well-connected reporter.
The news comes from Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, who posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “the latest iOS 18 version, I’m told, is final, aside from features tied to the new hardware.”
It’s an interesting suggestion, given that the latest iOS 18 beta is still missing many features — most notably those surrounding Apple Intelligence, Apple’s upcoming artificial intelligence (AI) platform. Gurman has previously hinted that some of these missing features may not arrive until after iOS 18 is released — or perhaps as late as 2025.
There are plenty of interesting new additions to try out in the betas, though. iOS 18 brings a redesigned Control Center, Safari can highlight and summarize webpage content, there’s a new Passwords app for all your logins, and more.
How to download the iOS 18 beta?
To download the latest iOS 18 beta, you’ll first need to sign up for Apple’s beta program on Apple’s website. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to register your iOS device.
Once you’ve done that, open the Settings app and go to General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose iOS 18 Public Beta from the list. Your iPhone should then tell you if there’s an update to download, which you can then install.
If this really is the last iOS 18 beta update before the full version of the software is released, it suggests that Apple is almost ready for a full iOS 18 launch. And that, in turn, implies that the iPhone 16 launch event could be just around the corner.
It has been assumed for a while that Apple will hold its iPhone 16 show on September 10. But recently we have seen some speculation that it could actually happen a week earlier – on September 3 – to avoid clashing with the US presidential debate also scheduled for September 10.
Either way, the idea that Apple has just released its final iOS 18 beta suggests that the iPhone 16 – and whatever else Apple plans to reveal at its September event – is more or less imminent. And with that, the full release of iOS 18 will be coming soon after.