iOS 18 Public Beta 5 and More Now Available Ahead of September Launch

Apple has just rolled out iOS 18 public beta 5 for iPhone, along with beta 5 for iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and more. Earlier today, the companion developer betas were also released. These updates are available for all users enrolled in Apple’s public beta program, with the new versions appearing in the Software Update section of Settings for existing beta users.

Beta 5 Brings Minimal Changes for iPhone Users

Public beta 5 primarily focuses on bug fixes and performance enhancements. Apple is diligently working to ensure that iOS 18 and its accompanying updates are polished and ready for their official public launch.

Earlier today, Mark Gurman reported that following today’s beta releases, iOS 18 is considered ‘final’—except for features that will be exclusive to the iPhone 16.

This likely means that iOS 18 is feature-complete following today’s updates.

However, users might find it difficult to spot significant changes in today’s release. The updates should offer a smoother experience, but noticeable new features are minimal compared to previous beta versions.

Countdown to iOS 18’s Public Launch in September

The public release of iOS 18 is just a month away. Apple is expected to host its major iPhone 16 event in early September—potentially on September 10—where the company will announce the official release date for iOS 18.

With only a few weeks left before the public launch, today’s iOS 18 beta 5 is one of the final beta versions we can expect.

Beta 5 comes shortly after last week’s beta 4 release, which introduced several changes, including:

• Apple Music’s Browse tab renamed to New
• Control Center gained a dedicated Bluetooth control
• App icon tinting is now linked to your wallpaper/Lock Screen setups
• Dark mode icons now display correctly in notification banners
• Various Control Center icons were redesigned

According to Gurman, it’s unlikely that we’ll see further significant changes in the remaining beta releases leading up to September. The primary goal now is to stabilize iOS 18 in preparation for its public debut, with Apple focusing on bug fixes rather than introducing new or altered features.