Top Stories: Everything New in iOS 18 Beta 3, HomePod Rumors with Display, and More

Apple is moving forward with development and testing of iOS 18 and related software updates; third developer betas arrived last week, and public betas for most of them are expected to be available soon.

However, not all of the new features Apple showed off at WWDC last month will be available right away, as some will be rolling out in subsequent iOS 18 updates over the next year. Notably, significant improvements to Siri with Apple Intelligence are reportedly slated for iOS 18.4 in spring 2025. Other news this week included hints of a touchscreen-equipped HomePod and rumors about the next-generation Apple Watch SE, so read on below for all the details!

All the new features of iOS 18 Beta 3

This week, Apple released the third beta of iOS 18 for developers to test, and there are a handful of new features and changes. Check out our list of everything new in the third beta of iOS 18, including dark mode for additional app icons, tweaks to the Photos app, and more.

Apple also released the third beta versions of iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, visionOS 2, and more.

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iOS 18 Public Beta Coming Soon: How to Prepare Your iPhone

Last month, Apple announced that the first public beta of iOS 18 would be released in July, so it should be available for testing soon. The first public betas of iOS 17 and iOS 16 have been released in the first half of July for the past two years, so it’s possible that the iOS 18 public beta could be available as early as next week.

In advance, read our story describing how to prepare your iPhone for the iOS 18 public beta.

Apple’s new Siri experience with intelligence will likely launch in spring 2025

While some Apple Intelligence features will be available when iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia first launch to the public later this year, Apple said last month that some of the remaining features will roll out “over the course of the next year.”

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a smarter version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence will likely launch as part of iOS 18.4 in spring 2025.

tvOS 18 hints at a HomePod with a touchscreen

A reference to an unreleased HomePod with a built-in display has reportedly been discovered in the tvOS 18 beta, following earlier reports that Apple is planning to release such a device in the future.

Concept mockups from KeynoteUSA based on early rumors
Apple is rumored to have been prototyping several different smart home accessories, including a HomePod with a display, a smart home hub with a robotic arm, a device that combines a HomePod and an Apple TV, and more, but it’s unclear if or when all of them will be released to the public.

Apple is reportedly developing a plastic-cased Apple Watch SE

Apple is developing a next-generation version of the low-end Apple Watch SE with a plastic case, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

A third-generation Apple Watch SE is expected to launch in September, but it’s unclear whether Apple will move forward with the plastic casing, which would replace the aluminum casing of previous models. The current Apple Watch SE starts at $249 in the US, and the switch to plastic could allow the next model to start at an even lower price.

10+ Changes to Control Center in iOS 18

Apple is significantly revamping Control Center in iOS 18 for the first time since iOS 11, with increased customization, multiple pages, additional controls, and more. Apple is also now allowing users to customize flashlight and camera shortcuts on the lock screen.

Check out our list outlining 10+ new features and changes to Control Center in iOS 18, rolling out widely later this year to iPhone XS and newer models.

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