Apple rolls out iOS 18 Release Candidate ahead of stable rollout next week

iOS 18 Release Candidate (RC) has been seeded by Apple as the latest developer beta update. The development comes after the Cupertino-based tech giant unveiled its iPhone 16 series and successors to other devices in its portfolio. The update has been rolled out ahead of the public release of iOS 18 that is scheduled to start on September 16. It arrives a week after Apple rolled out the final developer beta updates for its new operating system (OS).

iOS 18 Release Candidate update

According to Apple, RC updates are the final versions of the operating system (OS) in development before it is released to the public. The features seen in these updates are said to be final, though bug fixes and other improvements may be rolled out in future RC updates if necessary. The iOS 18 RC update released by Apple comes with build number 22A3354.

Alongside the iOS 18 RC rollout, the iPhone maker also released the list of devices eligible for the update. This includes the latest flagships like the iPhone 16 series, alongside older models like the iPhone XR and iPhone SE (2022).

While the company previewed several generative artificial intelligence (AI) features powered by its own Apple Intelligence, not all iPhone models will get them. Only owners of the iPhone 15 Pro models, in addition to the entire iPhone 16 lineup, will be able to take advantage of features like writing tools, Image Playground and a smarter Siri.

However, these features won’t be available for iPhone users from September 16. Instead, Apple has confirmed their release with the iOS 18.1 update that’s scheduled to arrive next month.

In addition to Apple Intelligence, iOS 18 also brings new options for customizing your home screen, including more options in the Control Center and replaceable icons on the lock screen. There’s also a revamped Photos app, while call recording has also been introduced on iPhone. The update also includes a number of other quality of life improvements.