I'm tempted to install the iOS 18 beta on my daily driver iPhone 15 Pro to try some of the new features that seem interesting. However, how (un)stable are these betas typically? I also don't want to run into constant issues.
How (un)stable are iOS betas typically?
- Thread starter sakete
- Start date
I’m not advocating the practice, but I’ve run the Public Betas on my phone for the past three iOS releases without any major issues. I’m currently running the iPad OS Developer beta on an iPad Mini. It hasn’t been problematic so far.
Be aware that a lot of the features revealed at the Keynote are “coming soon”.
Probably not relevant to you, but I have a second-hand report that there are complaints on Reddit that the Fujifilm X App (for remote control of Fuji cameras and transfer of images) isn’t connecting to cameras under the current developer beta — which might keep me off the phone beta this time around.
Be aware that a lot of the features revealed at the Keynote are “coming soon”.
Probably not relevant to you, but I have a second-hand report that there are complaints on Reddit that the Fujifilm X App (for remote control of Fuji cameras and transfer of images) isn’t connecting to cameras under the current developer beta — which might keep me off the phone beta this time around.
IOS betas should never be used on a production device.
Yes, tons of people do, some don't have issues, some brick their devices and Apple won't support them. (Recovery isn't always possible even with DFU modes.
Some just screwup your iCloud account.
If your phone isn't the most generic iPhone model you're more likely to hit weird corner cases; sometimes they reset the carrier settings and won't apply an updated profile.
Quite literally, anything can happen.
Personally, I've risked it, but it wasn't a fun experience and later I used my old phones to try the betas instead. (The time I couldn't the old phone had been traded to the carrier).
Yes, tons of people do, some don't have issues, some brick their devices and Apple won't support them. (Recovery isn't always possible even with DFU modes.
Some just screwup your iCloud account.
If your phone isn't the most generic iPhone model you're more likely to hit weird corner cases; sometimes they reset the carrier settings and won't apply an updated profile.
Quite literally, anything can happen.
Personally, I've risked it, but it wasn't a fun experience and later I used my old phones to try the betas instead. (The time I couldn't the old phone had been traded to the carrier).
Developer betas really are meant for developers to use on dedicated devices. They can be unstable sometimes with disastrous results, battery life can be awful and some third party apps won't work correctly. I only had a pressing need for a beta during the iOS 7 transition since so much was changing, and I would never install one on an everyday device after that experience. Early on, it wasn't even pleasant on an dev. phone until a few releases in.
Echoing what others have said: I’ve never had problems with the public betas, but I wouldn’t install a dev beta on something I cared about (and I’d be concerned about potential iCloud issues).
I’d advise making a physical backup first and making sure you disable iCloud backup before installing the beta.
I’d advise making a physical backup first and making sure you disable iCloud backup before installing the beta.
Cool, I’ll just wait for the stable release in September then. Don’t want to potentially screw up my main (and only) phone
I've been tempted in the past, but a few iOS versions ago the beta made changes to the way icloud behaved and it was a one-way trip so it would affect things on non-beta devices and one couldn't revert. I forget exactly what this was only that I think maybe related to photos.
It's hard to resist as new features seem great, but the apple AI stuff isn't rolled out yet and it's been a really, really long time since an iOS update really changed life all that much. App store was maybe the biggest update, back in the day but even that took a few months to really change the iphone experience.
And in the meantime, my iphone is a bit mission critical - communication, looking up stuff, authenticatoring, car-key, etc.
It's hard to resist as new features seem great, but the apple AI stuff isn't rolled out yet and it's been a really, really long time since an iOS update really changed life all that much. App store was maybe the biggest update, back in the day but even that took a few months to really change the iphone experience.
And in the meantime, my iphone is a bit mission critical - communication, looking up stuff, authenticatoring, car-key, etc.
My 16 MBP running Sequoia is running just fine with one tiny exception. It won't charge if logged in. Pulls 50-60 Watts if off, or if before I log in. Flat out will not charge once the account loads, no matter the charger or cord or port. Is it the beta? Maybe, or it could be a side effect of the beta install and an interaction with something installed previously.
I can even tell it to charge to full now - nothing. Log out - charges.
Could this happen with a release? Sure. Just more likely with a beta.
tvOS betas drive me nuts - the perform bad and screw with the audio.
Always try on a secondary device - no matter the temptation.
I can even tell it to charge to full now - nothing. Log out - charges.
Could this happen with a release? Sure. Just more likely with a beta.
tvOS betas drive me nuts - the perform bad and screw with the audio.
Always try on a secondary device - no matter the temptation.