🐬 18.1 beta 2
Apple has just released iPadOS 18.1 beta 2 to developers, and there are some exciting new features and improvements to dive into. While the overall feature set isn’t drastically different from 18.0, there are a few key updates that are worth highlighting, especially when it comes to Apple’s latest advancements in artificial intelligence.
🤖 The 18.0 Beta version
Before we get into the 18.1 changes, it’s important to note that Apple has also released iOS 18.0 beta 6 and iPadOS 18.0 public beta 4 concurrently. These updates are quite similar to 18.1 beta 2, with the primary difference being the level of Apple Intelligence integration.
📦 Build size
The first thing to note about 18.1 beta 2 is the substantial build size – a whopping 1.54GB. Make sure you have at least 3GB of free storage on your iPad to ensure a smooth installation process.
🔢 Build Number
Diving into the details, the build number for 18.1 beta 2 is 22B5023e. This is slightly different from the 18.0 beta 6 build, which was 22B5021d. We can expect a public beta release of 18.1 within the next 2 weeks, followed by the final public version sometime in October.
🆕 What’s new
While there aren’t any groundbreaking new features, 18.1 beta 2 does bring a few noteworthy improvements and refinements. One of the standout additions is the “High Distractions” feature, which was introduced in 18.0 beta 5 but has now made its way to 18.1.
🙈 Hide Distractions in Safari
The “High Distractions” feature in Safari allows you to easily remove any element from a website, effectively eliminating pop-ups, ads, and other distracting content. To activate it, simply tap the “High distracting items” button in the Safari toolbar, select the elements you want to hide, and press “Done.” This can be a game-changer for focused browsing.
📸 Photo Carousel Removal
Another change in the Photos app is the removal of the photo carousel feature that was introduced in 18.0. The new splash screen now focuses on the “All New Design” and “Fully Customizable” Collections, streamlining the user experience.
📄 Edit pages in Home Screen
Building on the customization options introduced in 18.0, 18.1 beta 2 adds a new “Edit Pages” feature to the Home Screen. This allows you to view and manage the pages on your Home Screen, making it easier to hide or unhide content.
🗺️ New Maps and Find My iCons
Apple has also updated the icons for some of its native apps, including a new dark mode icon for the Maps app and a refreshed Find My icon.
🔌 Bluetooth toggle
One of the most useful additions in 18.1 beta 2 is the new Bluetooth toggle in the Control Center. This makes it much easier to quickly connect, disconnect, and manage your Bluetooth devices without having to dig through the Settings app.
🖋️ Apple Intelligence Writing Tools
While the core Apple Intelligence writing tools introduced in 18.1 beta 1 remain largely unchanged, the integration with Siri has seen some notable improvements. Siri is now more responsive and can handle a wider range of queries, even when asked in quick succession.
🗣️ New Siri Demo
To demonstrate the snappier and more contextual nature of Siri in 18.1 beta 2, I put it through a series of quick-fire questions and commands. Siri was able to handle the rapid-fire requests with ease, providing relevant information and responses without any noticeable lag.
⚡ Battery Life
One of the standout improvements in 18.1 beta 2 is the exceptional battery life. On my M4 iPad Pro, I’m consistently seeing 6-7 hours of screen-on time, with some days reaching up to 10-12 hours. This is a significant upgrade from the battery performance I experienced with my previous M1 iPad Pro.
| Screen-on Time | Battery Consumed | Estimated Battery Life |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours 1 minute | Less than 50% | 6-7 hours |
| 2 hours 45 minutes | Less than 50% | 6-7 hours |
| 3 hours 14 minutes | 25% | 10-12 hours |
🔚 Final Thoughts
While 18.1 beta 2 may not be a groundbreaking update, the refinements and improvements it brings to the table are quite impressive. The snappier Siri performance, enhanced writing tools, and exceptional battery life are all welcome additions that make the iPad experience even more seamless and enjoyable.
As Apple continues to refine its Apple Intelligence capabilities, I’m excited to see how future updates will leverage this technology to further enhance the iPad’s functionality. For now, 18.1 beta 2 is a solid step forward, and I can’t wait to see what the public release has in store.
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