Apple has released iOS 18.3 beta 3 for developers as it approaches a public release later this month. The beta features the build number 22D5055b and follows the second beta release one week prior.
Key features and updates in iOS 18.3
iOS 18.3 is a relatively minor update compared to the previous iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2 updates. It includes changes to the Calculator app, Settings app, various bug fixes, and improvements. The public release is expected later this month, with iOS 18.4 entering beta testing afterward, which may include major new Apple Intelligence features such as upgrades to Siri and priority notifications.
This beta includes significant modifications to Notification Summaries in response to complaints regarding inaccurate news headline summaries. Currently, summaries for apps in the News and Entertainment category have been disabled. Apple Intelligence will temporarily halt summarization of news notifications, which will be reinstated in a future update after corrective measures are implemented.
In the Notifications Summaries section of the Settings app, Apple clarifies that this is a beta feature and notes possible errors. A new warning during setup states: “Summarization may change the meaning of the original headlines. Double check important information.” Summarized notifications are now italicized to differentiate them from standard notifications.
Users can disable Notification Summaries on a per-app basis directly from the Lock Screen by swiping on a notification and tapping the “Options” button. These changes are included in iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3.
On iPhone 16 models, the Camera Control section in Settings has a renamed toggle. The AE/AF lock toggle is now labeled “Lock Focus and Exposure” to enhance clarity for users unfamiliar with photography terms. This optional setting allows users to lock focus and exposure by lightly pressing and holding the Camera Control button, similar to a DSLR camera experience.
The Messages sidebar, accessible via the “+” button in any conversation, now features a Genmoji entry. Tapping this entry directs the user to the Genmoji creation interface, offering another option for accessing the Genmoji creation tools previously available via the emoji keyboard button.
When editing a PDF through the screenshot interface, Apple now warns users that cropped content remains in the PDF. The warning states: “Content outside the cropped area won’t be visible in most PDF viewers, but it can be made visible in some apps.”
Apple also released a new developer beta of visionOS 2.3 for Vision Pro, available through the Settings app. Users can download iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 from the Settings app by navigating to General > Software Update.
iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 do not introduce new Apple Intelligence features and consist mainly of bug fixes. Future updates, including iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, are expected to introduce additional Apple Intelligence features, notably with Siri updates and robot vacuum support in HomeKit anticipated soon.
Featured image credit: VASANTH ./Unsplash
