On Monday, Apple saw fit to release iOS 18.4 to the general public, and while it is a pretty significant update, it lacks some of the Apple Intelligence features that were promised last year. Ahead of the iOS 18.5 beta release to developers, it is now being reported that the company has started testing iOS 18.6 internally, and based on past trends, it will be made available to developers in May or June.
Apple has started testing iOS 18.6 internally, but it will not include any major features and changes for the iPhone
As mentioned, Apple has released iOS 18.4 to the public for all compatible iPhone models. The update brings a handful of bug fixes and performance enhancements that will make the user experience more fluid. It also brings some Apple Intelligence enhancements, such as Priority Notifications, which are available on the iPhone 15 Pro models, the entire iPhone 16 lineup, and the iPhone 16e. You can check out the full changelog in our dedicated release post.
According to MacRumors, Apple is now testing iOS 18.6, and it is believed that the first beta of the build will be available to developers in either May or June. As of right now, it is unknown what the update will bring to the table, but since the company has released most of its Apple Intelligence features and delayed the rest, we do not expect anything major. This is one reason why users should not be too excited about the update. iOS 17.6 and iOS 16.6 only brought under-the-hood changes to the table, which makes it more likely that iOS 18.6 will be the same.
However, the update will include bug fixes and performance enhancements, which means that older iPhone models could get the most out of their devices when it comes to performance. Furthermore, the last three "point-six" updates have brought nothing major to the table, and we believe this year it will be the same. Apple is also testing iOS 18.5 internally, and the beta update will be released to developers either this week or the next. Do you think Apple will introduce a new major feature to iOS 18, or should users wait for iOS 19?
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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