Apple has released the first beta version of iOS 18.4, offering a preview of upcoming features and enhancements for iPhone users. This release, arriving after a delay following the stable release of iOS 18.3, introduces several notable changes, particularly in the realm of Apple Intelligence.
Priority Notifications Take Center Stage
One of the key additions in iOS 18.4 is Priority Notifications, a feature designed to help users focus on the most important alerts. This functionality, first showcased at WWDC24, intelligently highlights priority notifications on the Lock Screen, ensuring they receive immediate attention. Users can easily manage this feature through the Settings app.
Apple Intelligence Expands Language Support and Capabilities
iOS 18.4 also expands the language support for Apple Intelligence, adding French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (simplified), and localized English for Singapore and India. This broader language support makes Apple Intelligence accessible to a wider user base.
Image Playground, a creative tool within Apple Intelligence, gains a new “Sketch” style, providing users with additional options for visual expression.
Apple Intelligence Comes to Vision Pro
In tandem with the iOS 18.4 beta, Apple has also released the first beta of visionOS 2.4 for the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. This update brings Apple Intelligence features, such as Writing Tools, Genmoji, and Image Playground, to the Vision Pro platform.
Furthermore, the stable release of iOS 18.4 in April will introduce a dedicated Vision Pro app for iPhone, enabling users to control the headset’s Guest Mode, access tips, and download visionOS apps and content.
Mail App Enhancements and Ambient Music Controls
iPad users will appreciate the addition of mail categorization in the Mail app, a feature previously introduced on iPhone with iOS 18.2. This functionality uses on-device AI to intelligently categorize emails into Primary, Newsletter, Social, Deals, and other categories.
iOS 18.4 beta 1 also introduces four new Ambient Music toggles in Control Center: Chill, Productivity, Sleep, and Wellbeing. These toggles can be linked to the iPhone’s Action button for quick access. Users can control ambient music playback from the Dynamic Island, including skipping songs and viewing track information.
Default App Selection and Apple News+ Expansion
With iOS 18.4, users gain the ability to set a default Translate app, allowing them to choose alternatives like Google Translate over Apple’s own Translate app. Additionally, the update adds an option to select a default Navigation map in the EU.
Apple News+ is also set to receive a new Food section, featuring a wealth of culinary content, including restaurant reviews, healthy eating articles, and thousands of recipes from renowned publishers. These recipes will be presented in an easy-to-follow format, with a dedicated cook mode for convenient viewing while cooking.
Additional Refinements and Future Updates
iOS 18.4 beta 1 includes other notable changes, such as a revamped Genmoji button on the keyboard, a new filter in the Photos app for viewing uncategorized media, and the ability to reorder albums.
Apple has confirmed that the stable release of iOS 18.4 is scheduled for April. Until then, users can expect further beta releases with additional features, bug fixes, and refinements.
