CNET Tips_Tech
Apple started this week by putting out a second RC (Release Candidate) version of iOS 18.2 for developers, indicating that the next version of the iPhone system (along with updates to the other main products) is imminent. Although the RC is usually the last version before shipping, sometimes last minute bugs get squashed in a followup RC release.
Normally a .2 release wouldn't warrant much attention, because it's often a set of bug fixes and refinements that didn't make it into the original release. However, this time it's notable because iOS 18.2 is bringing new Apple Intelligence features to the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro that have been teased for months and have become only recently available to people who chose to install the developer or public betas.
These include visual intelligence, which is one of the key features of the new Camera Control button, and the ability to experiment with Genmoji and generated images in Apple's Image Playground.
So what does that tell us about when we can expect the full release of iOS 18.2?
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When will iOS 18.2 be widely released?
Now that developers have the iOS 18.2 RC in hand, that suggests Apple is on a fast track to get the next version out soon. Most likely that will be tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec 10, if we gauge it by the last year's release of iOS 17.2 that arrived on the second week of December 2023.
To get ready, make sure you make a proper iPhone backup on the unlikely chance that the update goes sideways -- it's always a great idea to have a solid backup in place.
Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max with Siri's halo glow
James Martin/CNET
Which devices will run Apple Intelligence?
Remember that Apple Intelligence will work only with the following models that are equipped with the A17 Pro or later (iPhone and iPad Mini) and M1 or later (Mac and iPad) processors:
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPad Mini (Late 2024)
iPad Air (M1 and later)
iPad Pro (M1 and later)
iPad (M1 and later)
Mac computers with Apple Silicon (M-series)
If your devices are on that list, remember that you need to jump through a couple of hoops to activate Apple Intelligence.
Read more: Before iOS 18.2 arrives, make sure you know about these 9 hidden iOS 18 features and how to remove annoying banners and other distractions in Safari.
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