iOS 18.1 public beta 2 now available, here’s what’s new

Apple has released iOS 18.1 public beta 2. The new update offers the latest iOS 18.1 enhancements to iPhone users in the public beta program, including Apple Intelligence features. Here’s what’s new in this latest release.

Installing the latest iOS 18.1 public beta

If you are already a member of Apple’s public beta program, you can find beta 2 by opening Settings ⇾ General ⇾ Software Update on your iPhone. If not, you can enroll in the program free via Apple’s website.

Apple is expected to ship iOS 18.1 in a wide public release in just a few weeks. Mid-to-late October is the most likely release date. But today’s public beta provides an opportunity to get advance access to all of the new features that are coming soon.

The biggest highlight of iOS 18.1 is the Apple Intelligence features it brings. It includes the new and improved Siri, AI notification summaries, powerful writing tools, and a lot more.

Outside of AI, iOS 18.1 also includes call recording and transcription in the Phone app, Control Center enhancements, and more.

Today’s public beta 2 is based on the same build as yesterday’s developer beta 5.

New features added in beta 2

Despite the expected public launch in just a few weeks, the new iOS 18.1 public beta still offers a number of new features and improvements.

Here’s everything that’s new in today’s beta 2 release:

• Control Center gains two new connectivity controls, Wi-Fi and VPN, plus an option to reset to the default layout
• iPhone Mirroring now supports drag and drop when running the latest beta for iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1
• The iPhone 16’s Camera Control adds the ability to switch to the selfie camera
• Apple Intelligence writing tools have been added to the Notes app’s toolbar
• RCS is now supported by more carriers, including TracFone and C Spire in the US
• Shortcuts gains a new action for triggering Control Center
• Plus a handful of other design and interface changes

As the list above makes clear, Apple isn’t done refining the various improvements coming in iOS 18.1.

Moving forward, it’s likely we’ll see weekly releases of new public betas. But as the October public launch draws closer, those updates will focus more on bug fixes and general stability rather than making noteworthy changes.

Discover any other changes in public beta 2? Be sure to let us know via the comments.