The public betas of iOS 18 and other major updates to the operating system are finally here! Apple has spent the last month polishing the betas through developer testing, and now it’s time to open them up to wider access ahead of a full public launch in several months.
We also got a surprise hardware update this week, but it was one of the most minor updates imaginable: the HomePod mini’s Space Gray colorway swapped out for a new version in an extremely similar Midnight colorway. This week we also got a look at the upcoming iPhone 16 and Apple Watch ranges that are now set to ship in less than two months, while we tested out Samsung’s new earbuds that bear striking similarities to Apple’s AirPods Pro, so read on below for all the details!
Apple releases first public betas of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18
The first public beta of iOS 18 is now available for iPhone, allowing everyone to test the update for free. We recommend installing the beta on a secondary iPhone, rather than the one you use daily, as pre-release versions often have bugs and other issues.
iOS 18 brings more customization options for the Home Screen and Control Center, a completely redesigned Photos app, the ability to use any emoji as Tapback in the Messages app, an option to lock apps behind Face ID or Touch ID, and more. The headline feature of iOS 18 is Apple Intelligence, Apple’s new suite of generative AI features that will be available on the iPhone 15 Pro models and newer later this year.
Apple launches HomePod Mini in new midnight color
Apple announced this week that the HomePod mini is now available in a new Midnight color, replacing the previously offered Space Gray color.
There don’t appear to be any other changes to the HomePod mini, which continues to sell for $99 in the US. In fact, Midnight looks almost exactly like Space Gray, so there’s no reason for current HomePod mini owners to buy the new color option.
iPhone 16 series is only two months away: Everything we know
Apple’s next-generation iPhone 16 series is just two months away from being unveiled, and there are already plenty of rumors circulating about the devices.
Earlier this week, we listed everything we know about the iPhone 16 series based on leaked information, with one key change expected to be larger displays on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. There are plenty of other new features expected, so check out the full list.
Apple Watch 2024 lineup: the main changes expected
Alongside the iPhone 16 series later this year, we can expect the next-generation Apple Watch lineup, including the so-called Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 models.
Earlier this week, we took a look at the major changes expected in the upcoming Apple Watch lineup, including larger screen sizes for some models. As is often the case, new health features like sleep apnea detection have also been rumored.
iOS 18 Passwords App: All Features
iOS 18 brings a standalone Passwords app from Apple that introduces some of the iCloud Keychain features built into the Settings app on previous versions of iOS for more convenient access.
We recently shared a guide that highlights all the features built into the Passwords app, which features a simpler layout compared to the previous iCloud Keychain section of the Settings app.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro
Samsung introduced its latest earbuds, the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, last week, which look a lot like Apple’s AirPods Pro 2. Given the similarities, we thought we’d compare Samsung’s new earbuds to the AirPods Pro.
Check out our hands-on video that goes over design similarities and differences, performance comparisons, and other features to get a sense of how they stack up against each other. Apple users will almost certainly want to stick with the AirPods Pro while Android users will want to go for the Galaxy Buds, but it’s always good to see what the competition is up to.
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