Apple finished the iOS 18.3 test phase a few weeks back, and we’re usually quick to see new test versions. But, we’re still waiting for the first test of iOS 18.4. The good news is, we might not have to wait much longer.
iOS 18.4’s first test should come out next week
Apple typically sticks to a schedule where new test versions come out soon after a big update goes live. This time, however, we’ve had a longer wait than usual. iOS 18.3 went public at the end of January, and here we are in mid-February, still without the new test. According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, we could see the iOS 18.4 test sometime between the middle of this week and early next week.
Siri in the New iOS
This week has passed without any new test releases, but next week looks promising.
Keep in mind, that Monday, February 17 is President’s Day in the US, so don’t count on a release then. Also, on Wednesday, February 19, Apple has a big product reveal planned, so they might not want to overshadow it with a software update. That leaves Tuesday, February 18 as a likely day for the iOS 18.4 test version.
While there’s always a chance it could be delayed, a release next week seems pretty sure, especially since Apple has already announced that iOS 18.4 will be available to everyone in April. They need to start testing soon for the new features in Apple Intelligence and Siri.
A Longer Gap Between Tests is Rare but Not New
It’s not common for three whole weeks to pass between test releases, but it has happened before. Here’s how the last few years looked:
- 2024: iOS 17.3 went live on January 22, with the first iOS 17.4 test on January 25.
- 2023: iOS 16.3 was released on January 23, and the first iOS 16.4 test came on February 16.
- 2022: iOS 15.3 launched on January 26, followed by the first iOS 15.4 test on January 27.
So, while this longer wait is unusual, it does have precedent, showing that Apple sometimes changes up its schedule.