The iOS 18.2 beta has begun, less than a week before the wide release of iOS 18.1. Although version 18.1 is the first version with Apple Intelligence features for supported phones, many of the coolest features will be available in iOS 18.2.
This release includes Visual Intelligence, Genmoji, Image Playground app, new Mail app with AI-sorted categories, and integration with ChatGPT. While iOS 18.1’s AI features might make the average iPhone 16 user say, “Is that it?” Apple Intelligence features in 18.2 will be a little more sensational. However, although Siri’s interface has changed in iOS 18.1, the new, smarter Siri is still not part of this version. This will likely arrive in iOS 18.3 or 18.4, which is scheduled for release around March 2025. We have a list of Apple Intelligence features coming to iOS 18 along with their expected release times.
This first beta is only available to developers so far, but a public beta will likely arrive soon.
iOS 18.2: All the new features
The first beta of iOS 18.2 is only available for iPhones that can run Apple Intelligence: iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, or any iPhone 16.
It also has a new secondary waiting list. The initial waitlist for Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1 will give you access to ChatGPT integration, Visual Intelligence, and new Writing Tools features. But you’ll need to sign up for a second waitlist for the image generation features: Genmoji, Image Playground, and the Image Wand tool.
Here’s what’s available so far in the iOS 18.2 beta:
Writing Tools Updates: Instead of simply choosing to make a selection of text more professional, causal, or concise, you’ll have a free-form field to describe how you want to transform the text. Examples: Make it a poem, include lots of dad jokes, or use lots of sarcasm.
Genmoji: Create a new emoji directly on the system keyboard.
Image Playground: Generate new images based on text prompts. Apple will suggest new costumes, objects, or locations, and make suggestions based on the context of a thread or note in the Notes app. Images can be based on people you know using images tagged in Photos. Images are limited to cartoon or illustration styles rather than realistic.
Visual intelligence: For iPhone 16 owners with Camera Control button. Press and hold Camera Control to get additional information about a location, translate a sign or poster, detect phone numbers and addresses to quickly add to contacts, and much more. You can also press one button to ask ChatGPT what’s on the screen, or another to perform a Google image search.
Image wand: An offshoot of Image Playground, which uses Apple’s imaging tools to create an image in an open area on a note in the Notes app, using the context of the surrounding area and the rest of the note . Start with a blank area or a sketch you make yourself.
ChatGPT integration: If Siri can’t answer a question, she now has the option to ask ChatGPT. You must give your permission for each request and only limited data is shared. You don’t need to log in to ChatGPT, but you can do so if you want, or if you have a premium ChatGPT account that you want to use. You can ask Siri to have ChatGPT generate images and use ChatGPT in writing tools to generate text as well.
In addition to new user-facing features, there are new developer tools for integrating image generation and writing tools into third-party applications. Apple Intelligence is localized to English for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom in this release.
iOS 18.2: How to install the iOS beta
The iOS 18.1 beta is currently only available to developers, but anyone can get it. Starting with iOS 17, you don’t need to participate in the $99 per year developer program to access the developer beta. A free developer account will do the trick. You can get one through Xcode or the Apple Developer app on iOS. Here’s how to do it via the Apple Developer app:
- Download the Apple Developer app from the App Store.
- Open the app.
- Tap Account.
- Sign in using your regular Apple ID.
Registered developers can opt to get the iOS 18.1 beta instead by going to the Settings app, then General > Software update, and selecting iOS Developer Beta in the Beta Updates tab. When you return to the main Software Update screen, you will change to iOS 18 at the bottom of the screen under the Also Available heading. Tap on it and it will take you to the iOS 18.1 beta.
As always, don’t forget to backup your iPhone before installing the beta.
If you want to run the public beta, follow these steps:
- Go to beta.apple.com and register your Apple ID for the beta.
- Go to Settings > General > Software update > Beta updates and select the beta version you want to install.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the beta version.
