Apple has started the external beta testing of iOS 18.3, macOS 15.3, and other operating systems. Since Monday evening, developers can install Beta 1 of iOS 18.3 on iPhones, with a public beta expected soon. After numerous updates and new features in iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2, Apple is now focusing on fixing bugs and setting the stage for the next level of Apple Intelligence.
The release notes for iOS and iPadOS 18.3 mention two bug fixes relevant to app developers, specifically in the AI functions Writing Tools and Genmoji. The macOS 15.3 Sequoia release notes currently do not document any new features or bug fixes. iOS 18.3 seems to be laying the groundwork for future functions, including delayed support for vacuum robots in Apple Home and new Apple Intelligence features related to Siri. Apple is targeting a general release date at the end of January 2025 for iOS 18.3 and macOS 15.3.
The company is also bringing missing features to other platforms. On Macs, starting with macOS 15.3, users can generate custom emojis through AI, a feature previously available only on iPhones and iPads. However, other Apple Intelligence components like the generation of photo recaps are still missing in macOS. Similarly, the email categories introduced with iOS 18.2 on iPhones are not yet available in the first beta of iPadOS 18.3 or macOS 15.3. These categories are currently only available in English, and Apple hasn’t announced when they will be available in German.
Apple Intelligence is available on Macs within the EU, but only in English for now. Two other significant features remain unavailable in the EU: iPhone Mirroring on Macs and screen sharing with remote access on iOS and iPadOS are not available with Apple accounts linked to an EU member state. Apple has not announced when these features will be unlocked in the EU. Apple Intelligence is expected to officially arrive on iPhones and iPads in Europe in April 2025, possibly in German and as part of iOS 18.4.
Many promised improvements for Siri under Apple Intelligence are still missing. The voice assistant system is expected to gain deeper insights into app data, allowing it to understand the user’s personal context and control app functions through voice commands. Developers need to support this in their apps. These features are mainly expected in iOS 18.4, with some components possibly appearing earlier. A completely revamped Siri system based on new language models is anticipated with iOS 19 in 2026.