Apple Releases Third Betas of tvOS 18.1 and watchOS 11.1
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In a somewhat unusual move, Apple has just pushed out a third set of betas of tvOS 18.1, watchOS 11.1, and visionOS 2.1 without any corresponding new iOS, iPadOS, or macOS betas.
For those keeping track, Apple Intelligence will be the most significant feature in Apple’s next round of software point releases. However, that feature is limited to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, which means today’s new betas are strictly for those devices that won’t offer support for Apple’s new AI features.
That may be why Apple is pushing the third betas of its Apple TV, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro operating systems in advance of its iPhone, iPad, and Mac updates, as there’s more to tweak on the Apple Intelligence side. It’s unclear when we’ll see the next iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 betas, but they’ll hopefully arrive later this week.
Since the release of iOS 18.0 and the rest two weeks ago, Apple appears to be moving into the short strokes of its iOS 18.1 beta cycle. The fourth beta of iOS 18.1 came the day after the iOS 18.0 release, followed by a fifth beta last Monday. These were accompanied by corresponding iPadOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1 betas. If Apple sticks to that cycle, we should see a sixth beta of those any day now.
The beta cycle for Apple’s products is already a little different this year, thanks to Apple Intelligence. To get its new AI features out to developers as early as possible, Apple began a parallel iOS 18.1 beta cycle in July, seven weeks before iOS 18.0 was released to the public. The first three betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia were only available for devices that supported Apple Intelligence — the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and M-series iPads and Macs — and they were only for developers. Other devices weren’t added until the fourth round of betas came along two weeks ago.
Since no Apple TV, Apple Watch, or Vision Pro devices will support Apple Intelligence (yet), Apple had no reason to release any early tvOS 18.1, watchOS 11.1, or visionOS 2.1 betas. Hence, those devices got their first beta when the iPhone, iPad, and Mac got beta 4. The developer beta numbers between iOS/ iPadOS/macOS and tvOS/watchOS/visionOS have remained out of sync since.
However, that’s also when Apple began its public beta cycle for iOS 18.1 and the rest of its updates, so for public beta testers, all the numbers align. Public beta 3 of tvOS 18.1, watchOS 11.1, and visionOS 2.1 will likely arrive tomorrow and will hopefully be followed soon after by public beta 3 of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1.
What’s New in tvOS 18.1 and watchOS 11.1?
As point releases without Apple Intelligence, there’s not a lot going on with these Apple TV and Apple Watch updates.
While we’re still waiting on some Apple TV features, including new Snoopy and TV and Movies screen savers, those aren’t coming in tvOS 18.1; they’re not in the current betas, and Apple says not to expect them until “late 2024,” which probably means tvOS 18.2.
For now, the developer release notes for tvOS 18.1 only list some fixes for the Portraits and Memories & Slideshow screen savers and internal developer issues with subscription renewals, so this will likely be more of a maintenance release.
Similarly, watchOS 11.1 only lists mostly under-the-hood developer fixes. However, it could also add sleep apnea detection in additional countries where it didn’t receive the needed regulatory approvals until after watchOS 11.0 was released.
