iOS 26 Beta 6 Re-Release Is OUT- This Is Interesting!

Summary

Apple's release of iOS 18.6.1 today, along with a surprising re-release of iOS 26 beta 6, highlights key updates and lingering issues. Notably, overheating during indexing, a shift in build numbers, and persistent system data storage concerns persist. Camera control changes and UI tweaks were noted, though the camera's 'classic controls' are still missing. New ringtones were introduced, and some UI transitions were improved, but glitches in Control Center remain. The public release of iOS 26 is expected by mid-September, with beta updates continuing in the coming weeks, building anticipation for the next major iPhone event.

Takeaways

• 😀 The re-release of iOS 18.6.1 and beta 6 shows an issue where the phone heats up significantly during re-indexing, reaching over 110°F in some areas.
• 😀 The build number has reverted from a 'C' build to an 'F' build (23A, 5318F), indicating Apple discovered issues that required rolling back changes in beta 6.
• 😀 Despite the heating issue, the 18.6.1 update on the iPhone 16e did not experience similar problems, suggesting the issue may be isolated to beta testing devices.
• 😀 System data in iOS 18.6.1 beta 6 has reduced from over 40GB to 35GB, but the system data size can still fluctuate as needed, depending on updates and re-indexing.
• 😀 Classic camera controls, which were expected to return in beta 6, are still missing. The current controls are inverted, making the user experience more difficult.
• 😀 Apple has added several new reflection ringtones in iOS 18.6.1 beta 6, including a new tone called 'Little Bird' available under Sounds and Haptics.
• 😀 The Music app in iOS 18.6.1 beta 6 features slight improvements, particularly in the Liquid Glass effect, offering a more fluid and subtle animation while scrolling over album logos.
• 😀 A lag in Control Center, due to the new bounce animation, persists in beta 6 and has not been resolved yet. This issue may be fixed in future updates.
• 😀 Apple hasn't updated the release notes on their developer site since the original beta 6 release, leaving many unresolved and known issues still pending resolution.
• 😀 Despite these minor glitches, the performance and battery life of iOS 18.6.1 beta 6 remain solid, suggesting that Apple is fine-tuning the system ahead of the public release.
• 😀 Apple's release cycle for iOS 18 will likely see beta 7 next week, followed by beta 8 and a public release around September 15, with the rumored Apple event scheduled for September 9.

Q & A

What was surprising about today's release from Apple?

Apple surprised developers with the re-release of beta 6 in addition to the release of iOS 18.6.1 today. This unexpected move caught many off guard.

Why is the phone heating up during the re-indexing process?

The phone heats up as it goes through the re-indexing process after installing the update. This is a normal part of setting up the system, and the phone's temperature can rise as high as 112°F in certain areas.

What is the significance of the new F build number for beta 6?

The new F build number (23A, 5318F) indicates that Apple has decided to take a few steps back with this update, suggesting that beta 6 is not as close to being ready for public release as initially thought. It likely addresses issues found in the previous C build.

How has system storage changed with the new update?

System storage for beta 6 has decreased from over 40GB in previous versions to 35GB in this release. However, system data is always fluctuating, so it could increase or decrease over time depending on the system's needs.

What is the issue with camera controls in the latest beta?

The camera controls issue persists in the new beta. The swiping functionality between camera options has been inverted, which is a departure from the previous setup where swiping right would go right and swiping left would go left.

Have the camera controls been fixed in this release?

No, the camera controls have not been fixed in this release. The swiping inversion issue remains, which has been a point of inconvenience for some users.

What are the new features in the Sounds & Haptics section?

The Sounds & Haptics section now includes several new 'Reflection' ringtones, along with a new 'Little Bird' ringtone. These additions provide more customization for users' notifications and ringtones.

What changes were made to the Liquid Glass feature in the Music app?

In the Music app, the Liquid Glass design has been slightly tweaked. It now provides a more fluid experience where scrolling over the logo highlights only parts of it in red and black, rather than the entire logo being highlighted.

What glitch is still present in the Control Center?

There is still a lag when accessing the Control Center. This issue occurs due to the new bounce animation added in the latest beta. While it's not a major problem, it is noticeable to users.

What does the release schedule look like moving forward?

The expected release schedule suggests that beta 7 will drop next week, possibly around the 19th. Beta 8 is expected by the week of August 25th. After that, Apple is likely to skip the week of September 1st, with the public release candidate (RC) expected around September 9th, leading up to the public release of iOS 18 in mid-September.