Apple drops new public betas for iOS 18.5 and macOS 15.5
If you're not a software tester, you might want to wait for more stable versions before you update your iOS or macOS.
If you’ve been keeping up with Apple’s recent software rollouts, the latest ones won’t exactly knock your socks off, but they do move the needle forward. Apple just released the second public betas of iOS 18.5 and macOS Sequoia 15.5, giving testers a peek at what’s likely the final tune-up before its 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC25) kicks off in June.
Both updates, which are now available to anyone enrolled in Apple’s public beta program, are largely focused on refinements. Think bug fixes, behind-the-scenes security patches, and small design tweaks—not flashy new features.
That said, iOS 18.5 does introduce a few interface updates for the Mail app, like the option to turn off contact photos and group messages by sender, bringing back the cleaner look some users preferred in iOS 17. There are also minor improvements to how AppleCare details are displayed in Settings.
Louis Eriakha
On the Mac side, macOS Sequoia 15.5 feels similarly light. So far, no headline features have emerged in the beta builds, suggesting Apple’s engineers are mostly in stability mode while quietly prepping for the iOS 19 and macOS 16 reveals expected at WWDC25.
If you’re the type who enjoys testing software before everyone else, you can grab the latest betas by heading to Settings ⇾ General ⇾ Software Update on your iPhone or System Settings on Mac—after signing up on Apple’s beta website.
Just remember: beta software isn’t always stable. So, unless you’re okay with the occasional bug, it’s best to keep these builds on your secondary devices.
For everyone else, the final versions of iOS 18.5, macOS Sequoia 15.5, and iPadOS 18.5 are expected to roll out sometime in in the next couple of weeks. But there's no official release date from Apple just yet.
Kelechi Edeh
