iOS 18.2 beta 4 just landed — here’s what’s changed

iOS 18.2 on iPhone
(Image credit: Future)

Today is a big day for iOS 18.2 beta testers. Not only has the iOS 18.2 beta 3 started rolling out as part of the public beta branch, but developer beta testers are now able to install iOS 18.2 beta 4. That's a lot of new beta to check out ahead of the stable release of iOS 18.2, which Apple has already confirmed will happen at some time in December.

Being so close to the release of iOS 18.2, it’s no surprise that the fourth beta isn’t very substantial. All the good stuff, like ChatGPT support and Visual Intelligence, was added to the beta software weeks ago — giving testers the chance to get an early look at these features.

What’s new in iOS 18.2 public beta 3 and developer beta 4

The biggest change in developer beta 4 and public beta 3 is that Apple has added a new "Accessibility" sub-menu in the Camera Control settings. Previously, users would have to navigate to the standalone Accessibility menu to make those changes to the Camera Control button and interface. Those options aren’t being removed, but Apple is duplicating them in a second, potentially more useful, location, giving users more freedom to tinker with Camera Control.

On top of that, the video scrubber in the Photos app will now show a timestamp that includes milliseconds, in case you need an extra level of finesse in your video playback. Profile picture icons in Apple's Mail app have also shrunk a little bit, which is good news for anyone previously bothered by their size, alongside other minor changes to Mail.

Changes carried over from iOS 18.2 developer beta 3

iOS 18.2 beta 3 has already been available for developers for a couple of weeks already, and all the changes that came with this update should now be available to public beta testers.

One of the big fixes was that the Photos app would stop zooming in and out when you tap the screen. Instead, the app will now bring up playback controls, and reveal the gallery view at the bottom of the screen. A useful change to a very irritating bug.

Camera Control settings also come with a new option that lets you switch off the “Require Screen On” setting. While this setting should stop you accidentally opening Camera Control when you’re not using your phone, turning it off gives you the option to activate the button more quickly without needing to wake the phone up first.

The long-gestating next-generation version of CarPlay is also set to get new artwork for the Media and Climate apps, with the former looking remarkably like the old iTunes Radio app icon. And for phones that offer Apple Intelligence support, the Writing Tools option has also moved when you highlight text, now appearing in the first stage of the pop-up menu.

Smaller fixes also include the AirDrop icon switching to dark mode in the sharing menu, fixes for Find My issues affecting played sound and Precision Finding — plus stricter enforcement of Apple Intelligence device requirements.

More from Tom's Guide

Tom Pritchard
UK Phones Editor

Tom is the Tom's Guide's UK Phones Editor, tackling the latest smartphone news and vocally expressing his opinions about upcoming features or changes. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining about how terrible his Smart TV is.

Read more
iOS 18 Notes
iOS 18.3 beta just arrived — here's what's changed
iOS 18.4 logo on an iPhone
iOS 18.4 public beta 2 is here — all the new features to try on your iPhone
iOS 18 logo on an iPhone 15 Pro
iOS 18.4 beta is live — here’s all the new features for your iPhone
iPhone lock screen showing Control Center shortcuts and the iOS 18 logo
iOS 18.3 is available now — here’s the new features for your iPhone
iOS Photos app
iOS 18.4 Photos update makes it easier to sort, hide and delete your photos on iPhone — here’s what you can do
Apple Intelligence logo on iPhone
Apple temporarily limits notification summaries in iOS 18.3 update — here's why
Latest in iPhones
Foldable iPhone concept image
Are you sitting down? Here’s what the foldable iPhone could cost
iOS 19 logo on an iPhone
iOS 19's big redesign is tipped to bring a whole new look and unite all of Apple's devices — and pave the way for a foldable iPhone
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
Forget iPhone 17 — the iPhone 18 could be the first phone with under-display Face ID
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air report just revealed a big surprise about battery life — and Apple scrapped this screen idea
iPhone Flip Concept
Foldable iPhone and foldable iPad both just tipped for production next year
A close up image of the Apple Wallet app
iOS 18.4 adds a new way to track your spending — but I think Apple can go even further
Latest in News
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Tuesday, March 18 (#646)
A person on a laptop converting a PDF to a DOC
FBI issues warning over free online file converters that infect your PC with malware
The Find my People feature
Android Find My can now track your friends and family — here's how to use it
Foldable iPhone concept image
Are you sitting down? Here’s what the foldable iPhone could cost
Samsung HW-Q990D soundbar
Samsung’s flagship 2024 soundbar just got bricked by a new firmware update — don’t update
A hacker typing quickly on a keyboard
New MassJacker malware is hijacking digital wallets to steal large sums from users