Apple releases iOS 18.6 beta 1 as iOS 26 development ramps up
A week after Apple introduced iOS 26 during the WWDC keynote, the company is now seeding iOS 18.6 beta 1 to developers. At this moment, it's unclear what's new with this update. However, this is likely one of the lightest iOS 18 updates; after all, the iOS 26 beta is already available, and Apple aims to release this big update later this fall.
Historically, iOS x.6 versions don't bring many improvements, but sometimes new features are released. With iOS 17.6, Apple introduced the following functions:
Today's Top Deals
Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales
Best Ring Video Doorbell deals
Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98
Apple News+ got Live Activity support for Home Screen and Lock Screen, so users could follow games and other factual stories
It also brought a new Messages app setting that lets users filter unknown senders if they're international senders.
That said, Apple could prepare a few new tweaks with iOS 18.6 during this beta cycle. With the previous software update, Apple added these changes:
The update fixes the Contact Photos issue by offering Mail users a new menu that lets them toggle the feature with a simple tick. That should have always been the case.
Apple added a new Pride wallpaper to celebrate the 'strength and beauty of LGBTQ+ communities around the world.'
Parents now receive a notification when the Screen Time passcode is used on a child's device.
Buy with iPhone is available when purchasing content within the Apple TV app on a 3rd party device.
Fixes an issue where the Apple Vision Pro app may display a black screen.
Support for carrier-provided satellite feature is available on all iPhone 13 models.
With iOS 18.5 already being a light-on-features update, it's only natural that iOS 18.6 will follow that during the beta cycle. Looking in retrospect, iOS 18 did more cosmetic changes than breakthrough improvements, as Apple Intelligence didn't have the expected impact.
BGR will let you know if we find anything new with iOS 18.6 beta 1.
Don't Miss: Today's deals: Nintendo Switch games, $5 smart plugs, $150 Vizio soundbar, $100 Beats Pill speaker, more
More Top Deals
Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free
See the
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
24 minutes ago
- CNET
Prime Day Headphone Deals: 20+ Discounts on Apple AirPods, Beats and More
Amazon's Prime Day sale is one of the biggest shopping events of the year, and it's right around the corner. The massive sale officially kicks off on July 8 this year, but you don't have to wait until then to score major savings. If you've been looking for a chance to upgrade your headphones for less, now's the time. We've already spotted tons of deep discounts on top-rated headphones and earbuds from popular brands like Beats, Apple and Sony. It can be overwhelming to pick the best deal for your needs, especially with something as complicated as audio gear. But don't worry -- we're here to help. Our shopping experts have rounded up some of the top bargains you can currently grab, below. We'll continue to update this roundup throughout the event, so make sure to check back often for the best deals. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Want to save even more? You could earn a $150 Amazon gift card instantly on approval of a Prime Visa card,* and Prime members will earn up to 5% cash back on purchases through Amazon. Prime Day earbud deals Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen): $169 The AirPods Pro 2 are a fan favorite for good reason. They sport excellent sound quality, with active noise canceling, an adaptive transparency mode and spatial audio -- all powered by Apple's H2 chip. Details Save: $80 $169 at Amazon Close EarFun Air Pro 3: $56 These are some of our favorite affordable earbuds and now they are almost 50% off. However, this deal is only for Prime members. Non-members can get them for $76, still a decent $24 discount. Details Save $44 $56 at Amazon Close Apple AirPods (4th gen): $149 Apple's latest ANC earbuds have a 30-hour battery life and an advanced H2 chip to support spatial audio, and Amazon is offering a rare chance to grab a pair on sale right now. If you don't want noise cancellation, the basic pair is also on sale for $119, which saves you $10. Details Save $30 $149 at Amazon Close More Prime Day earbud deals: Prime Day headphone deals Apple AirPods Max headphones: $480 Apple AirPods Max are usually more expensive, but now you can save $69 on these cream-of-the-crop headphones. Best paired with an Apple device because of the spatial audio virtual surround for iPhones and iPads and multipoint Bluetooth, allowing you to automatically switch between iOS devices. Details Save $69 $480 at Amazon Close Beats Solo 4: $100 The Beats Solo 4 are some of our favorite over-ear headphones. While they are not a noise-canceling model, they do support lossless audio. They also offer solid voice-call performance and have a substantial 50-hour battery life. Details Save $100 $100 at Amazon Close More Prime Day headphone deals: JBL Tune 770NC Prime Day workout headphone deals Shokz OpenRun Pro: $160 A decent price on our favorite bone-conduction headphones for running. Our testing found them to be lightweight and sound great, while still leaving your ears free to hear the outside world. Details Save $20 $160 at Amazon Close Treblab Z2 active noise-canceling workout headphones: $90 These noise-canceling headphones reduce background noise and distractions so you can focus on your workouts. They offer IPX4-rated sweat resistance for intense gym sessions and an impressive 35-hour battery life. Details Save $40 $90 at Amazon Close Baseus Bowie MC1 clip-on earbuds: $50 Prime members can snag these clip-on earbuds with adaptive bass boost and noise cancellation on sale now. The earbuds earned a spot on our best workout headphones of 2025 list as our favorite affordable clip-on option for workouts. The earbuds provide a secure, comfortable fit while you're running or hitting the gym. Details Save $20 $50 at Amazon Close More Prime Day workout headphone deals: What is Prime Day? Amazon began its annual Prime Day sale in 2015. And ever since, bargain hunters have eagerly awaited its return every summer. The Prime Day sale event has historically taken place in July and this year is no exception. Amazon often has other sales throughout the year, including a second Prime Day-like sale in October and the Big Spring Sale. Prime Day is just a couple of days away and we're covering all the essentials, including everything from signing up for Amazon Prime and returning Prime Day purchases to getting Prime Day deals free and using extra Prime perks. Will tariffs affect this year's Prime Day deals? Tariffs are top of mind for most Americans and they could affect this year's Prime Day event. Prices on items like electronics could very well increase, with companies like Apple trying to avoid tariffs by moving manufacturing operations elsewhere. The tariffs are currently paused but only until July, right when Prime Day begins. How to keep up with the best Prime Day sales There are a lot of ways to ensure you're getting the latest scoop on Prime Day offers. The CNET Deals team covers all the best price drops, discounts and deals every day from across the web, highlighting the best offers. We'll be tracking all the major retailer sales around Prime Day and sharing the promotions you need to hear about and there are plenty of ways to hear from us. One option is to bookmark to check out our latest coverage. You can also follow @CNETDeals on X to see everything we publish or sign up for our CNET Deals newsletter for a daily digest of deals delivered to your inbox. Another great option is to sign up for CNET Deals text alerts for curated deals during major shopping events. Remember to install our CNET Shopping browser extension to help ensure that purchases you make all year round will be at the lowest price.
Forbes
40 minutes ago
- Forbes
Best Prime Day iPad Deals: Save 17% On An iPad Air Or iPad Pro
Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, but some of the best Prime Day iPad deals are already live—so there's no need to wait to start shopping. Our editors have been sifting through early Prime Day offers and found steep discounts on a variety of iPads. For example, you can save up to 17% on the Apple iPad (9th Generation) Wi-Fi 256GB or 14% on the Apple iPad (10th Generation) Wi-Fi 64GB. You can save up to 17% on the best Prime Day iPad deals ahead of the shopping holiday. Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers There are also deals on high-performance iPads built for remote workers, like theApple iPad Pro (13-Inch) Wi-Fi 1TB, which is currently 9% off. We don't expect prices to drop on iPads again until Cyber Week in November, so if you see something that catches your eye, we recommend grabbing it now. Below, you'll find all the best offers worth browsing. Apple iPad Air 11-Inch M3 Wi-Fi 128GB: Now $499, Was $599 (17% Off) Apple iPad Air 13-Inch M3 Wi-Fi 128GB: Now $699, Was $799 (13% Off) Apple iPad Air 13-Inch M3 Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB: Now $849, Was $949 (11% Off) Apple iPad Pro 13-Inch M4 Wi-Fi 256GB: Now $1,099, Was $1,299 (15% Off) Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation) Wi-Fi 64GB: Now $454, Was $499 (9% Off) Apple iPad Pro (11-Inch) Wi-Fi 512GB: Now $1,097, Was $1,199 (9% Off) Apple iPad Pro (13-Inch) Wi-Fi 1TB: Now $1,914, Was $2,099 (9% Off) What's The Best Time Of The Year To Buy An iPad? While Apple rarely offers deals on any of its iPads, the sales you can find happen during major holiday shopping events, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and, of course, Amazon Prime Day. That makes right now one of the best times to purchase an iPad. What's A Good Price For An iPad? That depends. The best price for an iPad depends on the model, features and storage. An entry-level iPad that's good for streaming and note-taking typically costs anywhere from $300 to $450. More feature-packed models, like the Apple iPad Air 13-Inch M3 Wi-Fi 128GB and the Apple iPad Pro 13-Inch M4 Wi-Fi 256GB , cost upwards of $500 and can run as high as $1,300. Keep in mind that devices with a higher storage capacity or newer processing chip will cost more than an older model or one with lower storage. What Is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon Prime Day is one of the e-tailer's major shopping holidays, and is a great chance to save on products across categories, including tech, mattresses and appliances. The savings event typically takes place in July and has lasted two days in past years. This year, the sale holiday starts at 12:01 a.m. PDT July 8 and runs through 11:59 p.m. PDT July 11—four full days.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Save Up To 32% With The Best Prime Day AirPods Deals Already Live
Amazon Prime Day 2025 is right around the corner: The four-day event officially starts on Tuesday, July 8, and already we're starting to see discounts on a variety of popular consumer tech items like Apple AirPods. Among the deals currently live are 32% off the AirPods Pro 2, our pick for the best Apple wireless earbuds, and 13% off the Apple AirPods Max (USB-C), for those who prefer an over-the-ear option. The best early Prime Day AirPods deals includes discounts on the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max. Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailer Below, we've rounded up the top deals we've seen so far on AirPods and related charging accessories—like the Magsafe Wireless Charger for 18% off. While we expect to see additional deals drop through the week, discounts on Apple products tend to remain fairly steady through big sale events like this, so it may not be worth it to wait if you see a price that's to your liking. Read on for the best Prime Day AirPods deals available now, and consider checking out our roundup of the best Amazon Prime Day 2025 deals if you want a fuller look at what's on sale. MOST POPULAR
