Apple has released the fourth beta version of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, tvOS 18.4, watchOS 11.4, macOS 15.4, and visionOS 2.4 to developers. Since the third beta didn't bring any significant changes, the question remains whether Apple is testing new features with the fourth beta or continuing to work on stability and bug fixes.
Each new iOS beta brings either new features or optimizations. While the first two beta versions introduced some interesting new features, Beta 3 remained largely unchanged. Now the fourth beta is available – whether Apple has made any noticeable adjustments this time remains to be seen. We'll take a look at the current status and keep you updated on any potential new features.
What's new in iOS 18.4 so far
Since the first beta of iOS 18.4, several interesting features have been introduced. These include:
- Apple News+ Food: A new category with recipes and culinary articles.
- Priority notifications: Important messages are visually highlighted.
- New style for Image Playground: The Sketch option for hand-drawn graphics.
- Apple Intelligence expanded: support for ten new languages, including German.
- New default app options: Users can set a default translation app worldwide and an alternative navigation app in the EU.
- CarPlay update: More app icons on the home screen for compatible vehicles.
- New music modes in Control Center: Chill, Productivity, Sleep, and Wellbeing.
- Redesigned Mail app: The new Mail app introduced in iOS 18.2 is now available for iPad and Mac.
A detailed summary of the first beta can be found here.
The second beta mainly brought minor optimizations, while the third beta didn't include any notable changes. You can learn more about these versions here.
What does the fourth beta bring?
It's currently unknown whether Apple is testing new features with the fourth beta of iOS 18.4 or whether it will continue to focus on bug fixes and performance improvements. Should any hidden changes emerge, we'll cover them in a separate article.
visionOS 2.4: Improvements for Apple Vision Pro
In addition to the iOS changes, Apple is testing further improvements for the Apple Vision Pro with visionOS 2.4. The following were already introduced in previous betas:
- Apple Intelligence for Vision Pro: AI-powered writing tools and image generation.
- Spatial Gallery: A new platform with exclusive 3D content.
- Apple Vision Pro app for iPhone: Manage Vision Pro content directly from your iPhone.
- Optimized guest functionality: Users can now switch between different users more easily.
You can find out more about the changes to visionOS 2.4 so far here.
- iOS 18.4 Beta 2: Apple brings Vision Pro app to iPhone
- visionOS 2.4 Beta 2 brings the Spatial Gallery to the Vision Pro
Test the beta now
The fourth beta of iOS 18.4 and other systems is available to developers through the Apple Developer Program. The fourth public beta version for Apple Beta Program participants is expected to follow in the coming days. Those interested in testing the beta on their device should note that this is a pre-release version. A second device is recommended for testing, as beta versions can still be unstable.
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iOS 18.4 Beta 4 released – Will it just be optimizations?
Apple has released the fourth beta of iOS 18.4, but it remains to be seen whether it contains new features or simply optimizations. Previous betas already brought some exciting changes, but Beta 3 remained largely unchanged. As soon as we know more about the changes in Beta 4, we'll provide an update here. Explore the world of personalized emojis and let your creativity run wild. Discover a whole host of useful tips and tricks related to Apple Intelligence! Here you will find everything Important information to make the most of the smart features of your Apple devices – have fun browsing and trying them out! The best products for you: Our Amazon Storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including HomeKit-compatible ones. (Photo by Unsplash / Giorgio Trovato)
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