Apple Releases New iOS 12.1.3 Beta After Rushing to Release iOS 12.1.2

Apple on Wednesday seeded the first beta version of iOS 12.1.3 to registered developers.

The beta release comes just a few days after Apple pushed iOS 12.1.2 out to the public as an emergency fix for a couple of problems, including eSIM activation bugs and recent patent issues with Qualcomm in China.

Because of that, iOS 12.1.3 actually contains most of the same content that iOS 12.1.2 contained. In fact, the first iOS 12.1.3 beta is actually labeled a second beta — likely because iOS 12.1.2 only had one beta before it was released.

Why the Rushed Release?

As far as why that is, it has to do with a recent court decision in China that’s a part of a larger legal spat between Apple and Qualcomm.

Just recently, a Chinese court ruled that Apple’s iPhone 6s through iPhone X devices were in violation of two Qualcomm patents relating to app switching and resizing or reformatting photos for smartphone wallpapers.

In the wake of that decision, Apple said it would issue a software update to address any concerns over potential violation of two Qualcomm patents. That update turned out to be iOS 12.1.2, undoubtedly released earlier than expected.

So the software update, released on Monday, was tweaked to be an iPhone exclusive update that contained slight animation changes as a workaround for that import ban.

It’s worth noting that the software update isn’t likely to ease tensions between Apple and Qualcomm. The latter company has protested the fact that Apple continued to sell its devices after the court decision, which it claims is more wide-ranging than Apple thinks.

What’s New in iOS 12.1.3?

When it comes to iOS 12.1.3, it isn’t clear what changes it will implement. But it’s likely to be an incremental update focused on bug fixes and performance improvements.

For example, the first iOS 12.1.2 beta was confirmed to have fixed an iPad Pro bug that caused crackling or popping audio content. Since iOS 12.1.2 ended up being an iPhone exclusive, it’s likely that the iPad bug fix will be included in iOS 12.1.3.

How Do I Get It?

Registered Apple developers should now be able to download the beta via the Developer Center or as an over-the-air update if the proper configuration profile is installed on a device.