iOS 18.6 RC beta and more now available as launch nears

Apple has released new RC (release candidate) betas of iOS 18.6, macOS 15.6, and more to developers and public beta testers alike. Here’s what to expect.

RC indicates iOS 18.6 launch is imminent

Today Apple released brand new betas to developers and public beta users at the same time.

However, those betas are not part of the iOS 26 release cycle.

Instead, they’re the RC betas for iOS 18.6 and its companion updates.

New RCs include:

• iOS 18.6
• iPadOS 18.6
• macOS 15.6
• tvOS 18.6
• watchOS 11.6
• HomePod 18.6
• plus visionOS 2.6 for developers only

Apple has been preparing these software updates alongside its major new OS versions launching this fall.

Today’s Release Candidate versions arrive just one week after beta 3 arrived, an acceleration of the release cycle. Until now, Apple has also saved public betas until a day after the developer builds.

Both of these signs indicate a public iOS 18.6 launch is imminent.

It’s possible Apple could ship iOS 18.6 and these other updates later this week. At the latest, we can expect a launch around next Monday, July 28.

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot to get excited about with iOS 18.6. New features appear minimal.

Apple has several EU-related changes coming to third-party app marketplaces and app downloads. But aside from those updates, we haven’t discovered any new iOS 18.6 features yet.

We’ll keep you posted on any new discoveries related to iOS 18.6. But with major OS updates like iOS 26 on the horizon, Apple almost certainly is focusing on stability and performance improvements in iOS 18.6.

Are you running the iOS 18.6 beta? Discover anything new? Let us know in the comments.

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