Apple has dropped iOS 18.4 Beta 2, and while it might not seem like a massive overhaul at first glance, it packs some meaningful upgrades that will actually improve how you use your iPhone.
Whether you’re a productivity guru, a customization enthusiast, or just someone who wants a smoother iPhone experience, this update has something for you. Let’s break down the key features and why they matter.
1. Visual Intelligence: Apple’s Answer to Google Lens
Ever wanted to point your camera at something and get instant info? Apple’s Visual Intelligence feature is now available on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, offering real-time object recognition and information retrieval. Think of it as Apple’s version of Google Lens, but seamlessly integrated into your iPhone’s Action Button and Control Center. It can help identify plants, animals, landmarks, and even extract text from images, perfect for those “What is that?” moments.
2. Prioritize Notifications: No More Cluttered Lock Screens
If your lock screen is a chaotic mess of alerts, iOS 18.4 Beta 2 introduces a ‘Prioritize Notifications’ feature. This lets you control which notifications get prime real estate on your lock screen, ensuring the most important ones don’t get buried under random app alerts. Now, instead of wading through a flood of unnecessary pings, you get a curated notification experience that works for you.
3. Fresh Emoji Drop: More Ways to Express Yourself
New update, new emojis. iOS 18.4 Beta 2 brings a fresh set of Unicode emoji characters, including a root vegetable, face with bags under eyes, shovel, harp, leafless tree, and fingerprint. Whether you’re sending a quirky message or just need a new way to react, these additions will bring a little extra fun to your texts.
4. A New App for Apple Vision Pro Users
If you’re one of the early adopters of the Apple Vision Pro headset, this update introduces the Apple Vision Pro app, which serves as a hub for immersive content, user guides, and optimization tips. It’s a small but significant addition for those diving into Apple’s AR/VR ecosystem.
5. Siri & AI Get a Boost in the Control Center
Apple is making Siri and AI-powered features more accessible by grouping them under an ‘Apple Intelligence’ section in Control Center. This means you can now quickly access ‘Talk to Siri,’ ‘Type to Siri,’ and ‘Visual Intelligence’ from one convenient spot, streamlining interactions with your digital assistant.
6. Shortcuts App Gets Even More Powerful
Automation lovers, rejoice! The Shortcuts app has been upgraded with new actions, particularly for Apple’s native apps like Maps and Safari. You can now automate more tasks, like setting your preferred Maps route or configuring Safari settings, to make your iPhone work even smarter for you.
7. Photos App Gets a Simpler ‘Recently Deleted’ Section
Managing your photos just got easier. You can now permanently delete or restore photos in one tap from the ‘Recently Deleted’ section in the Photos app. It’s a small tweak, but it eliminates the extra steps of selecting multiple photos when you just want them gone.
8. Pause & Resume App Downloads with Ease
Downloading a large app but suddenly need to pause it? iOS 18.4 Beta 2 lets you pause and resume app downloads directly from the App Store’s update list. This gives you more control over downloads, making it easier to manage your storage and bandwidth.
While iOS 18.4 Beta 2 isn’t a game-changer, it’s packed with thoughtful improvements that refine the iPhone experience. From smarter notifications to enhanced AI tools and a cleaner interface, these updates make your phone feel more intelligent, intuitive, and personal.
Apple continues to push incremental but meaningful changes, showing they’re focused on functionality, efficiency, and user control. So whether you’re someone who lives for new features or just wants your iPhone to be a little easier to use, this update delivers.
Expect the public release in the coming weeks, but if you’re eager to try these features now, you can sign up for Apple’s Beta Software Program (just remember, beta software can be buggy).
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