- By Prateek Levi
- Wed, 12 Mar 2025 04:17 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
iOS 18.4 Beta 3 rolled out: Apple users have been waiting for while for a stable release of the latest iOS update and finally, here we have the third beta for iOS 18.4, and this one comes with a fresh batch of new features, that will help in enhancing your iPhone experience.
This latest Beta update has worked upon Apple's AI suite and brings some much-needed upgrades like easier access points, has worked on countering the notification overload problem, and some user-friendly perks.
Let's take a look at what this iOS 18.4 beta has got in store this time.
Visual Intelligence and the Action Button
With iOS 18.4, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 users can now assign the Action Button to launch Visual Intelligence, Apple's object recognition tool.
This is especially useful for iPhone 15 Pro users, as they don’t have the dedicated Camera Control button found on the iPhone 16 models.
To enable this feature, go to Settings > Action Button, scroll through the options, and select Visual Intelligence as your preferred action.
Once set up, simply point your camera at an object and press the Action Button to identify it.
You'll have two options:
Search – Runs a standard web search for the object.
Ask – Lets you pose specific questions, with ChatGPT providing insights about what you’re looking at.
Apple Intelligence made easier to access
Now there is a dedicated section for Apple Intelligence in the control center, making AI features more accessible just a tap away.
This new section brings Type to Siri front and center, making it more accessible alongside Visual Intelligence and Talk to Siri for quick interactions.
Setting it up is simple—just open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right on newer iPhones) and long-press until the icons start jiggling.
Then, tap the plus icon, scroll down to find the Apple Intelligence & Siri section, and select Visual Intelligence to add it to your Control Center for easy access.
Pause Your Download
Finally a practical move in iOS 18.4, now you get the ability to pause app downloads directly from the updated list in the App Store.
Before this either you had to cancel and give up on the whole installation process or access pause controls through the app icon itself. With this new feature all that hassle has been done away with and you just need to simply press the pause button while a download is in process.
Notification Priorities
The overload of notifications has bothered us all it is given if you own a smartphone, and at this time, who doesn't?
This new iOS update helps in reducing your stress from these constant notifications, with the new Priority Notifications feature. After you have enabled it only the most important alerts show themselves in their own section on the Lock Screen, helping you in focusing on the most urgent.
To turn this feature on, go to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications and toggle it on. Then, choose the specific app notifications you want to display in the priority section.
The Vision Pro is here
For those who have the Visio Pro will now be able to locate a dedicated companion app for it after installing the iOS 18.4 update.
With this, you will be able to browse and download Visio Pro content directly from you iPhone without the need to put on your headset. You will have access to immersive 3D video and movies.
Other Notable Features that have made an entry
Apple has introduced several updates and features in the latest iOS 18.4 beta, expanding language support, refining AI tools, and enhancing user experience.
New Language Support
iOS 18.4 now includes support for Chinese, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, and Korean. Additionally, localized English is now available for users in Singapore and India.
Image Playground Enhancements
The long-awaited Sketch style is now available, joining the existing Animation and Illustration options.
Genmoji Update
Apple has refined the Genmoji icon on the keyboard, now labeling it clearly as "Genmoji."
New Emojis
Seven new emojis, initially teased by the Unicode Consortium, have been added in this update.
Additional Features in iOS 18.4
Apple News+ Food Section – A new Food category will be added to Apple News+, offering subscribers recipes, healthy eating tips, restaurant recommendations, and more.
Apple Maps Language Preference – Users can now set a preferred language for directions, independent of their device’s default language.
Ambient Music Controls – New Control Center toggles allow users to switch between Chill, Productivity, Sleep, and Wellbeing ambient sound modes.
CarPlay UI Update – Vehicles with larger displays can now showcase three rows of apps for better navigation.
Visual Intelligence for Action Button – Apple has integrated Visual Intelligence into the Action Button, expanding support to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16e.
Control Center Expansion – A new Apple Intelligence section has been added, featuring Talk to Siri, Type to Siri, and Visual Intelligence for quick access.
