02-05-2025
Apple iOS 18.5 Release Date: New iPhone Update Is Just Days Away
Updated May 2 with more details of what will be in the update.
Apple's next iPhone update is almost upon us. When iOS 18.5 is released, it's probably going to be one of the last versions before the focus switches to iOS 19, to be unveiled on Monday, June 9. Here's the latest indication of when iOS 18.5 will come and a warning that if you're expecting a lot of new features, you will likely be disappointed.
Historically, the .5 version of iOS software almost always lands in mid-May, as pointed out by 9to5Mac. Last year, iOS 17.5 landed on Monday, May 13 for instance. Last month, I reported that the exact same date, May 13, a Tuesday this year, was a strong possibility.
The date above is still a likely choice, as is the day before, Monday, May 12. Apple used to routinely prefer Tuesday releases but more recently Monday has been a favorite day, too.
There could be more iOS 18 releases – last year we saw iOS 17.6 in July and iOS 17.6.1 in August. Then, iOS 17.7 and iOS 17.7.1 were released alongside iOS 18 releases in September, principally for users who wanted the latest security updates but were reluctant to jump on board with the new OS so soon after initial release. Still, iOS 18.5 is one of the last.
A report from 9to5Mac in the last few days points out that there are few features in iOS 18.5, and 'very little has been changing from one beta update to the next. As a result, Apple has little reason to prolong the testing cycle,' it says.
And something else has happened that only takes place when the final release is nearly ready. 'Additionally, this week Apple shipped developer and public betas of iOS 18.5 and its companion updates on the same day. This normally only happens late in a beta cycle, when the launch is near,' the report says.
There's another factor: improved Siri. Earlier in the release cycle, the promised Siri upgrade with Apple Intelligence seemed to be slowing things down. As soon as Apple announced it was coming later, things sped up again, it felt like.
Things could change, but right now, the content found in the beta releases is pretty sparse. While new features could still be added, it's unlikely so close to Release Candidate, which is the final beta before general release.
There are small tweaks to Mail, to make it easier to adjust the app's settings, and a new banner which can appear if you have the Back Tap action turned on. It's possible that Apple Intelligence will be activated for China and it's likely there will be new Pride wallpapers. That's more or less it.
For all the above reasons, I'm sticking with my previous prediction, that Monday, May 12 or Tuesday, May 13 are still the most likely dates for iOS 18.5, unless there's a last-minute issue, in which case the following week steps up.
The next big indicator will be the appearance of the Release Candidate. If that happens on Monday, May 5 or Tuesday, May 6, then the following week for the general release looks like a shoo-in.
