With just two months to go until WWDC, where Apple is expected to reveal iOS 19, the company has kept things moving with a series of updates and developments this week. The final version of iOS 18.4 has now been released to the public, bringing a range of enhancements—including improved audio for USB-C AirPods Max. Meanwhile, Apple is already testing iOS 18.5, and new leaks suggest iOS 19 may drop support for several older iPhones.
Here’s a breakdown of this week’s key developments:
iOS 18.4 Officially Released
After weeks of beta testing, iOS 18.4 is now available to all users. Although the much-anticipated personalized Siri upgrades didn’t make the cut and are delayed, this update still delivers several notable tweaks and features for iPhone users. Apple also rolled out updates across its entire ecosystem, including iPadOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, watchOS 11.4, tvOS 18.4, and visionOS 2.4. The iWork suite—Keynote, Numbers, and Pages—also received feature updates.
iOS 19 Could Drop Support for Several iPhones
A previously accurate source has leaked what appears to be a preliminary compatibility list for iOS 19. If the report holds up, three older iPhone models will no longer be supported—unlike iOS 18, which maintained the same device compatibility as iOS 17. The first developer beta of iOS 19 is expected on June 9, with a public release slated for September.
AirPods Max Get Firmware Update With Lossless Audio (USB-C Only)
Apple has pushed out a long-awaited firmware update for the USB-C version of the AirPods Max, enabling support for lossless and ultra low-latency audio. Unfortunately, users with the older Lightning version are left out, as these improvements are exclusive to the updated hardware.
Haptic Buttons Still in the Pipeline
Solid-state buttons with haptic feedback aren’t dead yet. Despite being cut from both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro lines, Apple is reportedly still working on this technology for future models. Though we won’t see it on the iPhone 17 Pro, it appears the concept is alive internally and may resurface down the line.
iOS 18.5 Beta 1 Now Available
Just days after the iOS 18.4 release, Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 18.5 to developers. It’s a minor update so far, with only a few small tweaks noted. However, additional changes may emerge in future beta builds. Apple’s focus is clearly beginning to shift toward iOS 19.