Apple is wrapping up its iOS 18.3 beta cycle, and that means one important thing: iOS 18.4 beta 1 is coming soon. Here’s when to expect it to arrive.
iOS 18.4 beta 1 should arrive shortly after iOS 18.3’s launch
Software releases at Apple follow a fairly predictable schedule, with some occasional minor variations.
Generally speaking, Apple’s recent past is a good indicator of what to expect from the company in the present.
iOS 18.3 is about to launch publicly, probably around Monday, January 27.
That means iOS 18.4 beta 1 should arrive shortly thereafter—perhaps as soon as Tuesday, January 28 or else some time later in the same week.
Here’s the historical precedent for that expectation:
2024
- iOS 17.3 launch: Monday, January 22
- iOS 17.4 beta 1: Thursday, January 25
2023
- iOS 16.3 launch: Monday, January 23
- iOS 16.4 beta 1: Thursday, February 16
2022
- iOS 15.3 launch: Wednesday, January 26
- iOS 15.4 beta 1: Thursday, January 27
As you can see, most of the time Apple releases its new x.4 beta very shortly after x.3 ships. This pattern holds true not just for these specific numbered updates, but also for Apple’s software in general.
If that standard pattern plays out again, an iOS 18.4 beta in the next week or so is likely.
Possibility of a longer wait for iOS 18.4
However, 2023 is a unique exception showing that anything is possible.
Apple has already said, for example, that iOS 18.4 will ship publicly in April. As a result, a beta that starts in late January might seem a little early.
On the other hand, Apple has shown that for big AI releases, it wants to get in as much beta testing time as possible. And iOS 18.4 is expected to be heavy on new Apple Intelligence features.
As a result, I still lean toward believing we’ll see the iOS 18.4 beta soon. The more data Apple can get on how the upgraded Siri is performing, the better.
Do you think iOS 18.4’s beta will arrive soon? Or do you expect a delay? Let us know in the comments.
