Everything new in iOS 18.1 developer beta 4

Apple on Tuesday released a new beta version of iOS 18.1 to developers, intended for all devices that support iOS 18. Previously, the iOS 18.1 beta versions were intended for testing Apple Intelligence and related features, meaning the software was only available for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models.

The recently released iOS 18.1 Developer Beta 4 is compatible with every iPhone model that can run iOS 18.0, including the iPhone XS and iPhone XR, and introduces new features that are compatible with these devices.

The fourth developer beta of iOS 18.1 expands support for Apple’s new call recording feature. In previous betas of iOS 18.1, the call recording feature was only available on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple’s latest developer beta allows older iPhone models compatible with iOS 18 to record calls directly in the Phone app.

During a phone call, users will have the option to tap the icon in the upper left corner of the screen to begin recording the call. Once call recording is activated, all participants will hear a voice prompt informing them that their call is being recorded. Once the call is finished, the recorded audio can be found in the Notes app, along with an audio transcription of the call.

While the call recording feature itself does not require Apple Intelligence, users will still need an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max to get a recording summary. The call summary feature will also be available in the iPhone 16 series, as the entire line includes hardware that supports Apple Intelligence.

For devices that support Apple Intelligence, namely the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the fourth developer beta of iOS 18.1 brings a small but useful change related to Siri.

Type-to-Siri now displays a variety of text-based suggestions that change based on user input. With this new feature, the virtual assistant will attempt to complete a user’s question or sentence and determine what they might be looking for.

For example, typing just the phrase “What’s” gives Siri several different suggestions. The assistant delivers suggestions in the form of questions based on user input, such as: “What’s the weather like?”

This will give Siri the ability to open various apps like Calendar, Messages, Notes, Reminders, Shortcuts, Weather, and more. The virtual assistant also received a new setup screen with iOS 18.1, as well as some minor interface changes and visual improvements.

Apple’s latest iOS 18.1 developer beta includes a few more changes and improvements related to the camera. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max can now take 3D photos, and all devices compatible with the update have gained the ability to pause video while recording. It’s worth noting, however, that this last option is simply a carryover from the public version of iOS 18.0.

iPhone 16 can record 3D videos and take 3D photos

The Connectivity section of Control Center also received a minor update. The icons for AirDrop, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular data options are now much larger and organized in a two-by-two grid. This change is purely stylistic and doesn’t introduce any additional functionality.

Overall, iOS 18.1 developer beta 4 is significant in that it supports all iPhone models that can run iOS 18, not just the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Older devices have received new call recording and video pausing features, while Apple Intelligence continues to evolve with various improvements on newer iPhones.

Apple Intelligence lets users edit and change the tone of texts, remove distractions from images, and summarize emails, all using generative AI software. Apple’s latest iOS 18.1 beta builds on these features with additional improvements to Siri.