iOS 18.4 Public Beta: Everything You Need to Know


Apple has finally released the iOS 18.4 public beta, bringing a host of new features, improvements, and tweaks for iPhone users. From Priority Notifications and AI enhancements to Apple News+ food features and Control Center upgrades, this update offers plenty to explore.

Apple Intelligence Upgrades and Priority Notifications

One of the most anticipated updates in iOS 18.4 is the expansion of Apple Intelligence with four key improvements:

  • Priority Notifications – Now, you can make your most important alerts stand out on your Lock Screen by enabling Prioritize Notifications in Settings > Notifications.

  • Image Playground Upgrade – Apple’s AI image creation tool now offers a third style option, Sketch, joining Animation and Illustration.

  • Expanded Language Support – Apple Intelligence, previously limited to English, now supports 10 new languages, making AI features accessible to a broader audience.

  • AI Comes to the EU – Previously restricted to Macs, Apple Intelligence is now fully available on iPhones and iPads in the EU.

While these updates are exciting, Siri’s much-awaited AI enhancements are still missing—we’ll touch on that later.

Apple News+ Introduces Food and Recipe Features

If you’re a food lover or a home chef, Apple has some great news. Apple News+ now includes a dedicated Food hub featuring:

  • Tens of thousands of recipes with a clean, ad-free interface.

  • Restaurant news and food-related stories to keep you updated on culinary trends.

  • Seamless integration with timers, so you can start a timer directly from a recipe.

For anyone tired of cluttered recipe websites filled with intrusive ads, this feature is a game-changer.

With every iOS update, ensuring a smooth transition between devices is crucial. Whether you're upgrading your iPhone or testing new beta features, Smart Transfer is the perfect move files data solution for seamless file sharing.

As a third-party share files app, Smart Transfer’s switch mobile feature lets you move photos, videos, contacts, and files between devices effortlessly. Unlike AirDrop, which is limited to Apple devices, Smart Transfer works across platforms, making it ideal for switching from Android to iOS or vice versa. With zero data loss and no complicated setup, it's the fastest way to transfer files while keeping your data secure.

Ambient Music and Control Center Enhancements

Apple is making your iPhone even more customizable and relaxing with the new Ambient Music feature in Control Center.

  • Chill – Relaxing background music.

  • Productivity – Focus-enhancing tunes.

  • Sleep – Soothing sounds for bedtime.

  • Wellbeing – Mood-boosting music.

By default, these are tied to Apple Music playlists, but you can customize them to play your own music choices. Plus, you can add these controls to your Action button or Lock Screen for quick access.

Other Exciting iOS 18.4 Features

Apple has packed iOS 18.4 with tons of smaller but useful upgrades:

  • New Default App Categories – Users in the EU can now set a default navigation app, while all users can choose a default translation app.

  • Apple Podcasts Widgets – Two new Podcast widgets provide quick access to your favorite shows and library.

  • CarPlay Expands – A third row of app icons has been added for users with larger CarPlay displays.

  • Matter Support for Robot Vacuums – The Home app now supports robot vacuums that use the Matter smart home standard.

  • Control Center & UI Tweaks – Apple has refined the interface across Safari, Photos, Messages, and more.

What’s Missing? Siri’s AI Upgrades

While many were expecting Siri’s long-awaited AI improvements in this beta, they are noticeably absent. Apple had promised:

  • Onscreen awareness – Letting Siri understand and interact with what’s on your screen.

  • Personal context understanding – Allowing Siri to remember past interactions for smarter responses.

  • New in-app actions – Making Siri more useful within third-party apps.

According to reports, these Siri upgrades may now be pushed back to iOS 18.5 instead of launching with iOS 18.4.

Final Thoughts

The iOS 18.4 public beta brings meaningful enhancements across the board, from Apple Intelligence improvements and a revamped Apple News+ to Ambient Music and Control Center updates. While Siri’s AI overhaul is still missing, the update delivers plenty of features to improve your iPhone experience.

And if you're planning to upgrade your iPhone or test beta versions, don't forget to use Smart Transfer for an easy, hassle-free data migration.

Which iOS 18.4 feature are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!


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