Apple rolls out first beta version of iOS 18.4 with new Apple Intelligence features and more

Apple iPhone

Apple has released the first developer beta of iOS 18.4, bringing a host of new features and improvements to iPhone and iPad users. The update, which comes with build number 22E5200s, introduces several enhancements to Apple Intelligence, Apple News+, and more.

One of the most notable additions in iOS 18.4 beta 1 is the new Apple News+ Food section. This feature offers thousands of curated recipes from top publishers, presented in a clear and clutter-free interface. Users can explore stories about restaurants, healthy eating, and kitchen essentials.

Apple Intelligence has also received significant updates. The new Priority Notifications feature highlights important notifications with a unique design, making it easier for users to find notifications that require their attention.

Furthermore, Apple Intelligence now supports eight new languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified). Localised English support has also been added for Singapore and India.

The latest beta update also introduces a new Sketch style to the Image Playground, expanding the creative options available to users. The Genmoji button in the emoji keyboard has also been enlarged, and a new popup appears the first time users access the feature, encouraging them to create their own original emojis.

iOS 18.4 beta 1 also brings new default app categories, allowing users to set a default Translate app in the United States and other countries. In the European Union, users can now set a default Navigation app. The CarPlay interface has been updated with a third row of app icons on the Home screen, although this feature is limited to specific car models.

Other notable additions include new Ambient Music shortcuts in Control Center, redesigned Mail app on iPad, and the integration of the Japanese "My Number Card" Digital ID into Apple Wallet. The update also introduces two new Australian voices for Siri and new Shortcuts actions for the Messages app.