iOS 18 Public Beta: Should I Download It Now?

Here’s the iOS 18 beta you’ll want to hurry up and download. Now you can download the developer beta without a paid developer account, so fill out a simple form and get a sneak peek at the big iOS update coming this fall.

But some users might not want to rush out and download it right away. Running a beta operating system always carries some risk, especially with early iOS betas. Plus, it might not include all the features you want to try.

ⓒ Foundry

Here’s what you need to know before deciding whether to give the iOS 18 beta a try, based on the latest information.

Updated on July 17th
The first public beta release, an updated version of Developer Beta 3, has just been released, bringing more widespread RCS support. Now is a good time to install if you want to try the beta.

Current version and features

The current iOS 18 beta versions are: Developer Beta 3 (Updated), which is also the first public beta.

This version includes a ton of new features, including new Home screen customization, a new Control Center, RCS, a Passwords app, a new Photos app, and more, but it’s missing some of the most exciting new features from iOS 18.

In particular, it doesn’t include any of the Apple Intelligence features, such as the new Mail app categories, notification summaries, text tools, or image playground apps.

There are likely many features that users want to try that are not yet in the beta. RCS requires support from your carrier. Major US carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T) support the feature, but most MVNOs (Cricket, Visible, Xfinity, Mint Mobile, etc.) do not yet support it.

Bugs and Issues

iOS betas, especially early developer betas, are often riddled with bugs—after all, that’s the purpose of beta testing.

Compared to other years, the first developer beta release is actually pretty stable, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely bug-free. There have also been reports of occasional crashes when launching everyday apps like Apple Music, the layout of the Control Center sometimes looking odd, and increased battery drain.
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