When to Expect iOS 18 on Your iPhone as Beta Testing Wraps Up

Wednesday September 4, 2024 10:50 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

iOS 18 has been in beta testing for nearly three months, and the software update should finally be widely released later this month.

Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock
Below, we outline when to expect iOS 18 to be available on all compatible iPhones.

iOS 18: Beta Testing Wraps Up

In his Power On newsletter last weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said iOS 18 beta 8 will likely be the final developer beta version for the update. This is a reasonable prediction, as previous updates like iOS 17, iOS 16, and iOS 15 each had a total of eight developer betas. iOS 12 was the last update with at least nine developer betas.

If history repeats itself, Apple should release the iOS 18 Release Candidate immediately following the iPhone 16 event on September 9. Apple considers a Release Candidate to be a "near final" version of an upcoming iOS update.

iOS 18: Release Timing

Apple will likely announce a release date for iOS 18 during its September 9 event. The update is most likely to be released on Monday, September 16, but Tuesday, September 17 and Wednesday, September 18 are also possibilities.

Gurman said Apple has already been installing iOS 18 on iPhone 16 models at factories. Those devices will likely be released on Friday, September 20.

iOS 18: Compatible iPhones

iOS 18 is compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17 is:

iPhone 15

iPhone 15 Plus

iPhone 15 Pro

iPhone 15 Pro Max

iPhone 14

iPhone 14 Plus

iPhone 14 Pro

iPhone 14 Pro Max

iPhone 13 mini

iPhone 13

iPhone 13 Pro

iPhone 13 Pro Max

iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)

iOS 18 will be available in the Settings app under General → Software Update.

Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

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Top Rated Comments

zarmanto

29 months ago

iOS 18 public beta isn't ready for anyone to use daily. ...

That hasn't been my experience. I've been using Apple's public betas for many years (I'm not quite adventurous enough to run the more buggy developer betas, these days) so I've likewise been running the public iOS 18 beta more recently. Personal opinion: It seems to me that this has been one of the least buggy iOS public beta releases, to date.

Of course, you and I likely use a completely different combination of apps, so the old "YMMV" disclaimer obviously applies.

Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)

al256

29 months ago

That hasn't been my experience. I've been using Apple's public betas for many years (I'm not quite adventurous enough to run the more buggy developer betas, these days) so I've likewise been running the public iOS 18 beta more recently. Personal opinion: It seems to me that this has been one of the least buggy iOS public beta releases, to date.

Of course, you and I likely use a completely different combination of apps, so the old "YMMV" disclaimer obviously applies.

Same. iOS 18 has more polish than my previous experiences.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

stars_fan

29 months ago

iOS 18 public beta isn't ready for anyone to use daily. Tons of app crashes and general unstable behavior.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

kerr

29 months ago

When to expect iOS 17.6.2?

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

zarmanto

29 months ago

Probably a dumb question, but if we are on the beta, how do we transition to the final release version?

Not a dumb question at all: if memory serves, when you receive the final "release candidate" version during the usual update cycle, you'll effectively be on the same version that everyone else will be receiving as the "final" release, with no further action required on your part. That last release candidate typically arrives at least a week or three before the final release becomes generally available.

What's perhaps more important is that I believe your agreement to participate in the beta program basically concludes with that release; if you want to participate in the iOS 19 betas when they start to become available, you'll have to specifically select that release option in the automatic update settings, just as you did for the iOS 18 betas.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Danilamak

29 months ago

iOS 18 public beta isn't ready for anyone to use daily. Tons of app crashes and general unstable behavior.

In my daily use iPad as desktop (stage manager and external monitor) it feels more stable than 17

So I want to say that I was surprised how stable this beta was, because 16 and 17 were nightmare no matter stable it or beta

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments

When to Expect iOS 18 on Your iPhone as Beta Testing Wraps Up

iOS 18: Beta Testing Wraps Up

iOS 18: Release Timing

iOS 18: Compatible iPhones

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