After over a month of beta testing, Apple has officially rolled out the Release Candidate (RC) for iOS 18.3, marking a step closer to the final public release. Unlike the feature-heavy iOS 18.1 and 18.2 updates, iOS 18.3 focuses on refining existing features and addressing issues, particularly with Apple Intelligence and Camera Control.
The most notable enhancement in iOS 18.3 is the expansion of visual intelligence capabilities within Camera Control on iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models. First introduced in iOS 18.2, Camera Control allows users to engage with the world through AI-powered interactions. With this update, visual intelligence now offers two additional functions: the ability to add events directly to the Calendar app when detecting dates on posters or flyers and the capacity to identify plants and animals. These updates not only enhance everyday usability but also underline Apple’s commitment to seamless app integration, as seen with features like retrieving Maps listings for businesses by simply pointing the camera.
In addition to these upgrades, Apple has made subtle but impactful design changes, such as updating Camera Control icons for improved visibility in Dark Mode and renaming the AF/EF toggle to “Lock Focus and Exposure.”
Notification summaries within Apple Intelligence have also seen significant changes. Following complaints about misinformation in news headline summaries, Apple has temporarily disabled this feature for the News and Entertainment categories. The notification summaries now appear in italicized text for better distinction and can be managed directly from the Lock Screen. Apple has clarified that these updates are part of a beta program, emphasizing the potential for errors.
Bug fixes in this RC address several issues, including a Calculator glitch that repeated the last operation when pressing the equals sign and a problem with the keyboard disappearing during typed Siri requests. A fix for Apple Music ensures that audio playback stops as intended when the app is closed.
Although iOS 18.3 may seem light on features compared to its predecessors, it lays the groundwork for a more robust update expected with iOS 18.4 in April. Apple is also adding references to the anticipated CarPlay 2.0 experience, signaling more comprehensive updates in the pipeline.
The iOS 18.3 RC is available for developer and public beta testers, alongside updates for other platforms, including macOS 15.3, tvOS 18.3, watchOS 11.3, and visionOS 2.3.
