Apple has released the iOS 18.4 public beta, introducing several new features and enhancements for iPhone users. Here’s an overview of what’s included:
Visual Intelligence Expansion
The Visual Intelligence feature, Apple’s counterpart to Google Lens, is now available on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models. Previously exclusive to the iPhone 16 lineup, this tool allows users to access advanced visual recognition capabilities via the Action Button or Control Center.
Apple News+ Food Section
Subscribers to Apple News+ can now explore a dedicated Food section within the Following tab. This addition offers access to thousands of recipes, restaurant stories, healthy eating tips, and more from top culinary publishers like Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, and Serious Eats.
Priority Notifications
iOS 18.4 introduces Priority Notifications, an AI-powered feature that intelligently prioritizes alerts based on urgency. Users can customize which apps receive prioritized notifications, ensuring that important alerts remain prominent. citeturn0search1
Control Center Enhancements
The Control Center has been updated with new toggles, including options for “Talk to Siri” and “Visual Intelligence,” enhancing accessibility and user control over these features.
New Emojis
The update adds a variety of new emojis, enriching the options available for user communication.
Apple Vision Pro App
A new “Apple Vision Pro” app has been introduced, designed to help Vision Pro users explore spatial content and access guidance, enhancing their device experience.
Mail App Categorization on iPad
With iPadOS 18.4, the redesigned Mail app, which debuted on iPhone with iOS 18.2, is now available on iPad. The app automatically organizes emails into categories such as Promotions, Primary, Transactions, and Updates, streamlining email management.
CarPlay Interface Update
The CarPlay interface has been updated to include a third row of app icons on the Home screen for certain vehicles, offering quicker access to apps while driving.
Ambient Music Control
A new Ambient Music option has been added to the Control Center, allowing users to play ambient sounds for relaxation or focus.
Image Playground Sketch Style
The Image Playground feature now includes a “sketch” art style, providing users with additional creative options for image editing.
Matter Support for Robot Vacuums
The iOS 18.4 beta introduces support for robot vacuums in the Apple Home app through the Matter protocol. This update allows users to control compatible robot vacuums, adjust operation modes, and integrate them into automations and scenes.
Safari Search History Display
A notable change in Safari’s layout now displays recent search history prominently when tapping into the search bar.
While this provides quick access to past searches, some users have expressed concerns about privacy, especially when sharing devices. Currently, there’s no option to disable this feature, so users may need to manually clear their search history to maintain privacy.
Please note that as this is a beta release, features are subject to change before the final public rollout. Users interested in testing these new features can enroll in the Apple Beta Software Program.
Source and image credit: 9to5Mac
