iOS 18.2 Beta 4 Released - What's New? (Apple Intelligence)

Summary

In this video, Brandon highlights the release of iOS 18.2 beta 4, detailing key updates across Apple’s ecosystem, including iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. The update introduces changes to the Mail and Messages apps, new customization options for notifications, and a revamped camera control feature. Visual Intelligence sees improved interaction with ChatGPT, while bugs like missing WhatsApp calls are addressed. Performance and battery life show minor improvements. Brandon predicts the RC build of iOS 18.2 will arrive around early December, with the final release expected in mid-December.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mail app icons are now rounded in iOS 18.2 Beta 4, providing a cleaner look compared to Beta 3.
• 😀 New settings in Mail notifications allow more customization, including a description and graphic for 'Badge Count'.
• 😀 The 'Default Messaging App' section is now broken down by individual apps, making customization easier in iOS 18.2 Beta 4.
• 😀 A new 'Search Engine' option has been added in the Settings app, making it easier to manage default search engines.
• 😀 Camera control settings now feature a shortcut to accessibility settings on iPhone 16 series in Beta 4.
• 😀 The image carousel in the Photos app now overlaps images until tapped, which some users find less intuitive.
• 😀 Visual Intelligence now has clearer ChatGPT integration with labels like 'asking ChatGPT' in iOS 18.2 Beta 4.
• 😀 The bug where WhatsApp calls weren't showing up in the Phone app has been fixed in iOS 18.2 Beta 4.
• 😀 Stickers in the Emoji keyboard are reappearing, but some users still see empty dots in the sticker sheet.
• 😀 Performance and battery life improvements are seen in iOS 18.2 Beta 4, with higher Geekbench scores compared to Beta 3.
• 😀 iOS 18.2 Beta 4 may be the final beta before the Release Candidate (RC), with the final release expected in early December.

Q & A

What is the size of the iOS 18.2 Beta 4 update?

The iOS 18.2 Beta 4 update is 7,885 MB on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, coming from Beta 3.

What new changes are introduced in the Mail app in iOS 18.2 Beta 4?

In iOS 18.2 Beta 4, the Mail app now has rounded sender icons, replacing the square icons from Beta 3. Additionally, the badge count customization options are now more descriptive, with graphics and clearer text.

How has the Messages app been updated in Beta 4?

The Messages app has introduced a new location feature, and the 'Default Messaging App' setting is now categorized by individual apps rather than a single section. However, WhatsApp did not appear in the settings for the tester.

What new option has been added in the 'Search' settings of iOS 18.2 Beta 4?

A new 'Search Engine' option has been added in the 'Search' settings, allowing users to set their default search engine directly from there, separate from Safari settings.

What is the new shortcut introduced in the Camera settings for iPhone 16 series?

In iOS 18.2 Beta 4, a new shortcut has been added in the Camera settings that directs users to the accessibility settings for camera control.

What is the controversy regarding the Photos app in Beta 4?

The Photos app in Beta 4 introduces a change where the image carousel overlaps the image, blocking part of tall images. This change has received mixed feedback, with some users not liking the new behavior.

How has the Visual Intelligence feature been updated in Beta 4?

In Beta 4, Visual Intelligence now clearly indicates when ChatGPT is being used to analyze images. The UI has been updated to show 'Asking ChatGPT' instead of 'Working with ChatGPT.'

What are the updates to the 'Compose' and 'Describe' features in writing tools?

In Beta 4, the 'Compose' and 'Describe' writing tools now show a cleaner UI. The yellow arrow, which was redundant in previous versions, has been removed, and the text input section now takes up the full screen.

Has the Find My app received any updates in Beta 4?

Yes, in Beta 4, the Find My app now uses a dynamic island animation for lost AirTags when showing contact info, replacing the previous futuristic iPhone animation.

Are there any major bugs still present in iOS 18.2 Beta 4?

Yes, some known issues persist in Beta 4, such as messages not appearing in the Messages app until after a reboot, and stickers not displaying properly in the Emoji Keyboard or sticker sheet.

What improvements can be expected in the performance and battery life with iOS 18.2 Beta 4?

Beta 4 shows a slight performance improvement, with Geekbench scores higher than Beta 3. Battery life appears to have a minor improvement as well, though further testing is needed to confirm the impact, especially considering the new AI features like ChatGPT integration.

When is the iOS 18.2 RC expected to be released?

The iOS 18.2 Release Candidate (RC) is expected soon, possibly by the end of November, with the final release likely to happen in early December—either the week of December 2 or December 9.