iOS 18.4 Beta Review: Smarter AI, Enhanced Notifications & more

Apple’s release of the iOS 18.4 beta introduces a suite of enhancements and features that promise to elevate the user experience across its devices. This update focuses on expanding Apple Intelligence capabilities, refining user interactions, and integrating new functionalities into the ecosystem.

Expansion of Apple Intelligence

A significant highlight of iOS 18.4 is the broadened language support for Apple Intelligence. Previously limited to U.S. English, the AI assistant now accommodates French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese. Additionally, localized English variants for Singapore and India have been introduced. This expansion aims to make Apple’s AI features more accessible to a global audience, enhancing usability and personalization.

Priority Notifications

To address the challenge of notification overload, Apple has unveiled the Priority Notifications feature. Leveraging on-device processing, this system intelligently identifies and elevates critical alerts, displaying them prominently on the Lock Screen. Users can activate this feature by navigating to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications. This enhancement ensures that essential information is readily accessible, streamlining the user experience.

Image Playground Enhancements

The Image Playground app receives a creative boost with the addition of the “Sketch” style. This new option joins the existing Animation and Illustration styles, offering users a broader palette for artistic expression. Accessible by tapping the “+” icon within the app, the Sketch style enables the creation of hand-drawn-like visuals, enriching the creative toolkit available to users.

Apple News+ Food Section

Culinary enthusiasts will appreciate the new Food section within Apple News+. This feature offers a vast collection of recipes, restaurant reviews, and kitchen tips, curated from renowned publishers such as Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Good Food, and Serious Eats. Recipes are presented in an easy-to-follow format, complete with a “cook” mode that provides step-by-step instructions in full-screen view. This addition transforms Apple News+ into a comprehensive culinary resource, catering to both novice cooks and seasoned chefs.

Ambient Music Controls

iOS 18.4 enriches the auditory experience by introducing Ambient Music controls within the Control Center. Users can now access curated soundscapes designed to suit various moods and activities, including Chill, Productivity, Sleep, and Wellbeing. Each category offers a selection of ambient sounds or music, providing a customizable backdrop for different aspects of daily life. This feature enhances the device’s role in promoting mental wellness and focus.

Vision Pro App Integration

For Apple Vision Pro users, a dedicated app has been introduced to streamline device management and content discovery. This application allows users to browse and download apps from the visionOS App Store, explore immersive experiences from Apple TV and the Spatial Gallery, and manage device settings, including the Guest Mode feature. The integration of this app into the iPhone ecosystem underscores Apple’s commitment to providing a cohesive and user-friendly experience across its devices.

Additional Enhancements

Beyond the major features, iOS 18.4 includes several subtle yet impactful improvements:

• Mail Categorization on iPad: The Mail app on iPad now features categorization, organizing incoming emails into sections such as Primary, Newsletters, Social, and Deals. This enhancement, previously available on iPhone, brings a more structured email experience to iPad users.
• Privacy Indication Dots: To enhance user awareness, the small dots indicating active camera or microphone usage have been repositioned to the left side of the menu bar and are now more prominent, thanks to a black background.
• Siri Voice Options: Two new Australian voices have been added to Siri’s repertoire, offering users more choices for their virtual assistant’s accent and tone.
• Genmoji Keyboard Update: The Genmoji icon on the Emoji keyboard now includes a label, making it more apparent where users can create personalized Genmoji characters.
• Default App Settings: Users now have the flexibility to set their preferred translation app as the default. Additionally, in compliance with EU regulations, users in the European Union can select a default navigation app, offering greater customization and choice.

Conclusion

The iOS 18.4 beta exemplifies Apple’s dedication to continuous innovation and user-centric design. By expanding Apple Intelligence’s linguistic reach, refining notification management, enhancing creative tools, and integrating new applications, Apple ensures that its ecosystem remains dynamic and responsive to user needs. As these features transition from beta to public release, users can anticipate a more enriched and personalized experience across their Apple devices.