iOS 18.4 Beta 1: 50 New Features and Changes [Video]

In the newest episode of iOS Decoded, DMN dives deep into the updates of iOS 18.4, highlighting numerous features that might be new to you. Our walkthrough showcases a comprehensive look at the innovative proximity setup option for Mac, methods to prioritize notifications, the freshly introduced Ambient Music feature, and much more. Don’t forget to subscribe to DMN on YouTube for more insights on iOS 18.4.

Below is a summary of five of the standout features we identified in the 18.4 beta. For an extensive overview of all 50 features, be sure to check out the embedded video above.

Ambient Music

Apple is rolling out a new ambient music feature in iOS 18.4. Users can easily access it via the Control Center and choose from four ambient music styles: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.

Every music style correlates with a particular playlist that matches its theme. For instance, the Chill style includes playlists such as Piano Chill, Ambient Chill, Lo-Fi Jazz, and Pure Chill. Additionally, users can customize these playlists by editing the toggle in Control Center.

If you find the default playlists lacking, you can also choose to add a playlist from your personal Apple Music library. Since these are Control Center toggles, they can be accessed from other locations, like the Lock Screen or via the iPhone’s Action Button.

The Ambient Music UI resembles a simplified version of the Music app. It offers a straightforward now-playing interface featuring controls for play, pause, skip, volume, and AirPlay. Users do not access detailed artist, album, or song information, illustrating Apple’s intent for Ambient Music to be a user-friendly option for quickly engaging with a specific sound experience.

Proximity Setup for Mac

For users exploring the macOS 15.4 beta alongside the iOS 18.4 beta, a new proximity setup feature is available for initializing a Mac. This function operates similarly to the existing proximity setup for new iPhones or iPads.

Apple News+ Food Recipes

The new Apple News+ Food section provides subscribers with culinary articles, recipes, and videos directly in the News app. This feature is optimized for both iOS and iPadOS, showing its strengths particularly well on larger iPad screens, especially for step-by-step recipes that include integrated timers.

Interestingly, within the beta’s source code, DMN discovered hints indicating that the Food+Recipes feature may be in the pipeline for Apple’s upcoming HomePod smart home device. This capability appears to be an excellent fit for a kitchen-counter device.

New Photos Filters

The Photos app has received some exciting updates in iOS 18.4, including a valuable new feature allowing users to filter images based on their ‘Shared With You’ status. With this functionality, locating all the photos shared by friends and family becomes a breeze.

Updated SIL Animation and Brightness

The Secure Indicator Light (SIL), which alerts users when key components like cameras or microphones are in use, has received a fresh animation in iOS 18.4. When a Live Activity takes over the Dynamic Island, the SIL shifts outside of it, set against a virtual black bezel. The SIL also leverages the OLED display to achieve greater brightness, emulating the appearance of a real LED light.

DMN’s Perspective

While there was initial speculation that iOS 18.4 would introduce new Siri functionalities related to Apple Intelligence, those updates have been delayed. Regardless, iOS 18.4 is rich with new features and improvements, and this list of five highlights merely scratches the surface. Be sure to view the complete walkthrough for an exhaustive overview of what’s new.