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Well, look at the bright side, they may be able to leverage the same software update for a second lackluster hardware product!
Lackluster? It seems like the next iPhone SE will be a major improvement from the last iPhone SE model. It doesn’t seem like lackluster hardware to me.
 
Sounds like 18.4 could be a smaller update after all. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/14/apple-intelligence-siri-overhaul-could-get-delayed/

That could explain why we've got no betas.
I’m more leaning towards they will still introduce new Apple Intelligence features but label them as still in beta, and possibly trigger them off by default when it’s publicly released in April as the MacRumors piece suggested. I seem to recall them doing similar with iOS 18.1 and 18.2. I think that would make sense. They may not be included in the first beta, but I’m guessing they may add it in the beta cycle.
 
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New camera button, different finish on the titanium, 48mp ultra wide camera... off the top of my head, I can't think of anything else. And I owned both the 15PM and 16PM.
The camera is quite an improvement, and the camera button is a pretty big hardware change, it isn’t every update that they include a brand new interaction paradigm like that. It isn’t just an ordinary button either, it’s a touch surface that supports a number of different gestures. You also have the more powerful new chip which is a great improvement, as well as the faster MagSafe charging. It’s a pretty big improvement in my opinion.
 
I’m more leaning towards they will still introduce new Apple Intelligence features but label them as still in beta, and possibly trigger them off by default when it’s publicly released in April as the MacRumors piece suggested. I seem to recall them doing similar with iOS 18.1 and 18.2. I think that would make sense. They may not be included in the first beta, but I’m guessing they may add it in the beta cycle.
They could certainly do that. Depending on its current state Apple may want to avoid the negative PR of the new AI Siri being unreliable, so I could see them holding back until a little later as well.
 
Well, also consider the source. Perhaps Gurman’s wrong like he’s been about so many ]
It’s in the news, so let’s wait and see.


 
It’s in the news, so let’s wait and see.


I know it’s in the news, but Gurman is the original source they’re citing, and his accuracy is in question. He could have accurate information on this, or he could not. It is fairly likely he has good information on this considering he seems to be a little more accurate at the last minute stuff, but it wouldn’t be the first time he’s been inaccurate on things like this. 👍🏻
 
Lackluster? It seems like the next iPhone SE will be a major improvement from the last iPhone SE model. It doesn’t seem like lackluster hardware to me.

Meant that iPhone 17 the can’t advertise the Apple Intelligence features as the did with the 16 lineup. The 16 Pro Max was indeed a lackluster upgrade for me, I could swap with my 15 pro max and wouldn’t miss a damn thing. I agree the new SE looks amazing for a low cost iPhone based on the rumors
 
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Here’s what I expect. 18.4 beta begins early next week. It’ll be more scaled back than they initially planned. Then, they’ll start the 18.5 beta cycle at some point during the 18.4 cycle, at the same time. Similar to how the did 18.1 and 18.0 testing at once.

Time is running out, it would be pretty lame for WWDC to arrive and they haven’t even released on the features they have listed on the iPhone 16 product page yet.
 
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Meant that iPhone 17 the can’t advertise the Apple Intelligence features as the did with the 16 lineup. The 16 Pro Max was indeed a lackluster upgrade for me, I could swap with my 15 pro max and wouldn’t miss a damn thing. I agree the new SE looks amazing for a low cost iPhone based on the rumors
Ok, I mean, YMMV, but I think the camera control is actually a pretty major improvement. Most iPhone hardware releases don’t include a new interaction paradigm like that. And the CPU is quite a bit more powerful than the one in the 15. Also, the camera has some nice improvements. Again, mileage may vary, but I think there are plenty of solid hardware improvements for the 16 lineup beyond just Apple Intelligence…

I totally agree though, Apple Intelligence will probably not be as big of a part of the marketing for the iPhone 17 lineup in my opinion. 👍🏻
 
Here’s what I expect. 18.4 beta begins early next week. It’ll be more scaled back than they initially planned. Then, they’ll start the 18.5 beta cycle at some point during the 18.4 cycle, at the same time. Similar to how the did 18.1 and 18.0 testing at once.

Time is running out, it would be pretty lame for WWDC to arrive and they haven’t even released on the features they have listed on the iPhone 16 product page yet.
I totally agree with you on that, I think they aren’t going to wait all the way until April to begin work on the improved Siri. I think that it may make sense to stagger the betas like with 18.0 and 18.1, and 18.1 and 18.2. I think that makes a lot of sense. Or, maybe they’ll just incorporate it as a feature still in beta when the public version of 18.4 drops in April. For sure though, I’m guessing we will see part of the improved Siri features in 18.4, even if not all of them at once in one update. Like I could easily see 18.4 add on-screen awareness and more app control integrations, and then 18.5 add Personal Context, or vice versa.
 
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Given that apple just said the features would be launching “in the spring”, plus the fact that X.5s always launch in mid May, is this really even a delay?
Apple never said that all of these features would arrive in April, and they never said it would arrive with X.4.
If I’m remembering correctly, the only thing they specifically said would come in April is expanded language support. Everything else was just “early next year” or “spring”.
 
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18.4 Beta with EU AI introduction this tuesday.

On another note, did any of you ever think about creating a MacRumors iMessage or RCS group to notify about incoming Betas etc similar to those thread? I barely hop on this forums nowadays and the PWA notifications are hit and miss.
 
Keep in mind, the Spring Equinox is March 20, and Summer Solstice is June 20. So if Apple is shooting for a spring roll out they still have time.
 
Welcome

I know this is early but as iOS 17 isnt getting much more until iOS 18 release in June, lets start this chat with what we would like to see and what think iOS 18 will bring, its going to be a big release and very exciting.
Once the first beta in June is released we will use this chat to talk about regular beta releases :)

Enjoy guys
Do you think it’s about time to begin an iOS 19 speculation thread as well? I know we still have some big changes coming with 18, so it’s not like I would leave this thread or anything, but it might be nice to have a place to speculate about iOS 19. 👍🏻
 
I’m very confident we’ll get the 18.4 beta this next week. 👍
We never had seeding on a holiday that I recall, correct me if I wrong , all we got is Gurman latest feedback.
The enhancements will become available in beta for developers as soon as this week, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing details of the update that aren’t yet public.
I hope for everyone that it happens Tuesday so it’s free and clear of the event for separating the news and having Apple not keeping us in suspense for the next day. :cool:
 
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