As we approach the launch date of the iPhone 16 and the public release of iOS 18, Apple has recently rolled out the seventh developer beta for iOS 18. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this could potentially be the final beta before the much-anticipated launch next month.
The latest iOS 18 developer beta, with the build number 22A5346a, was just released, and its new features are still being discovered. The previous beta 6 included updates such as a new Control Center toggle, improvements to the Photos app, enhancements to Dark Mode, and more.
In a recent tweet, Gurman hinted that this latest beta could be the last one before the iPhone 16 event, unless new features specific to the new hardware are introduced:
The latest iOS 18 seed, I’m told, is final other than features tied to the new hardware. https://t.co/qxP07C8Jhl
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) August 20, 2024
This statement leaves room for interpretation, suggesting that this beta might be the final one released before the iPhone 16 launch, or that no new features will be added to subsequent betas leading up to the event.
In previous years, Apple has typically released the release candidate (RC) version of iOS on the day of the iPhone event, including features specific to the new hardware. However, the uncertainty this time stems from the absence of a confirmed date for the iPhone 16 event, rumored to be either September 4 or 10.
If the event occurs in early September, today’s beta being the “final” version would align with Apple’s usual timeline. However, if the event is scheduled for September 10, there may be another beta release with no significant new features. Regardless, the iPhone 16 event is approaching rapidly, so stay tuned for more updates.
