Apple's next major software update is iOS 18.1. The release is centered around Apple Intelligence. The first wave of AI features will arrive in iOS 18.1. You can currently download the update as a public beta. But its full public release will come soon. Here's when to expect iOS 18.1 and its new features.
iOS 18.1 and Apple Intelligence Set for October
Apple has committed to releasing the first Apple Intelligence features in October.
That means iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 will also debut in October.
But looking at recent history, we can pinpoint an even tighter time frame.
Apple tends to follow predictable patterns when updating its software. For example, here are the exact days the last three iOS .1 releases were released.
- iOS 17.1: October 25
- iOS 16.1: October 24
- iOS 15.1: October 25
If Apple follows tradition, we'll see iOS 18.1 debut about a week before the end of October.
There's one factor, though, that could mean the release will happen even sooner.
Mid-October Launch Possible
Mark Gurman says he expects iOS 18.1 to launch “by mid-October.” He bases that timeline on Apple's goal to have all critical bugs ironed out by early this week, a target he says is typically reached two to three weeks before the public launch.
If Gurman's prediction is correct, a mid-October debut would mean iOS 18.1 will arrive earlier than any update in the last year.
That wouldn't necessarily be too surprising, though.
Apple was clearly hoping to introduce Apple Intelligence as part of iOS 18.0 so it could be rolled out to the iPhone 16.
The company is currently spending millions advertising the iPhone 16, and that advertising is entirely focused on Apple Intelligence. As a result, releasing 18.1 earlier than in previous years makes sense.
Here are some of the Apple Intelligence features coming to iOS 18.1
- Powerful notification summaries
- A new Siri with a number of upcoming updates
- Text editing tools
- Cleanup and memory creation in Photos
- Mail and Safari content summaries
- plus AI-powered Focus mode, transcript summaries, and more
You'll need a supported iPhone to run Apple Intelligence. But if you don’t have it, the update still brings some nice improvements: call recording and transcription, updates to the Connection tile in Control Center, and more.
Wrap Up: iOS 18.1 Is Coming Very Soon
While early October is probably out of the question, mid- to late October is a good time to keep an eye out for iOS 18.1 arriving on your iPhone.
If Apple follows its usual pattern, expect the release around October 23rd or 24th (the 25th is a Friday, and Apple doesn’t typically release software on Fridays).
But if Gurman is right, we could see iOS 18.1 and Apple Intelligence about a full week earlier.
What are you most excited about about iOS 18.1? Let us know in the comments.
