When iOS 18.2 was released just over a week ago, it unlocked a lot of long-awaited features like Image Playground, Visual Intelligence, and improvements to writing tools. Now it seems like another update could be just around the corner: version 18.2.1.
MacRumors found evidence of the update in their analytic logs, a source that has supposedly revealed quite a few iOS versions before release. Given that this is a minor update, it isn’t likely to come with new features or anything groundbreaking. Instead, it will most likely be targeted at bug fixes, although no specific problems have been named. You should expect this update to drop either in late December or early January, but a year-end release is more likely.
iOS 18.3 is also in development, with developers and beta testers putting the system through the motions. Given that it’s due to release in January, an update to the existing version of iOS—especially one likely meant to act as a hotfix instead of a major update—will probably release sooner rather than later.
Since the last update, iPhone 18.2 users have reported a few concerning bugs, including an uncomfortable amount of heat production. The new Apple Intelligence features put a strain on the iPhone’s hardware, so an update like this might include a way to reduce the load on older iPhones that aren’t equipped for it.
Apple internally tests software updates on company devices before releasing them. That way, developers are able to identify any potentially critical errors and correct them before the update goes live. Since 18.2.1 has appeared in analytics, it’s highly likely that it will release soon.
As for big new features coming to iOS 18.3, we really only know about one right now, and “big” might be a generous word to use for it: robot vacuum control.
Specifically, you’ll be able to use the Home app to control robot vacuums, in the same way you can currently use the app to control smart home lights and other devices.
The weird part is that Apple doesn’t currently produce a robot vacuum of its own, but that could happen in the future.
Everything else that’s currently in the developer beta for iOS 18.3 fits under the umbrella of “bug fixes and minor improvements,” unfortunately. That doesn’t mean there won’t be bigger features eventually to be unveiled, but things like Apple Intelligence will probably need to wait until iOS 18.4, at the earliest.
If your iPhone can handle iOS 18.2, it can probably handle iOS 19.
The last few iPhone updates have brought a lot of changes with them. Just take a look at iOS 18.2: it introduced a ton of AI-powered features that had never before been available. If you have an older phone, it’s easy to worry that its hardware won’t be up to snuff for the next round of updates. For now, you can breathe easy: if your iPhone can handle iOS 18, then it should also work with iOS 19, according to a new leak.
The news comes from the French site iPhoneSoft. Although Apple guarantees five years of support for its devices, some devices get supported for longer periods of time, but this tip suggests that any phone currently capable of downloading and installing iOS 18 will also work with iOS 19, although some features could be limited.
Restricting features to expand update compatibility is nothing new. It’s already a part of the iPhone update cycle; this last update introduced Apple Intelligence features that only the most recent iPhones can use. Even an iPhone 14 is too outdated to handle it.
The leak says that any device from the iPhone XR or newer will be compatible. This includes the iPhone XS, XS Max, and the 2020 iPhone SE. It also includes the iPhone 11 and forward. However, some iPads will be left behind with the launch of iPadOS 19.
The iPad Mini 5th gen, iPad 8th gen, iPad Air 3rd gen, and iPad Pro 2018 or later will all be compatible with the next update. Any devices that predate these will lack the power needed to run iOS 19.
