iOS 18.4 Beta Unveils Smarter Apple Intelligence, More Customization, and More Tasty Surprises

iOS 18.4 beta brings Apple Intelligence upgrades, new app customization options, a Vision Pro tool, and an Apple News+ Food section, among others.

Apple is rolling out iOS 18.4 Developer Beta 1, and it’s packed with changes that refine Apple Intelligence, introduce new customization options, and—perhaps most unexpectedly—add a dedicated Apple News+ Food section.

While some anticipated major Siri upgrades didn’t make the cut this time, the update still brings meaningful enhancements across the board. Here’s what’s new.

Apple Intelligence: Smarter, More Multilingual

Apple’s AI-powered assistant just got a language upgrade. iOS 18.4 expands Apple Intelligence support to French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. Even English now gets localized versions for India and Singapore.

Priority Notifications

A key addition in this beta is Priority Notifications, which uses on-device AI to highlight critical alerts, ensuring users don’t miss important updates. It’s off by default, but Apple has tucked it neatly into the notification settings for those who want to give it a try.

Apple News+ Food: Your New Digital Cookbook

This one’s for the foodies. iOS 18.4 introduces Apple News+ Food, a new section inside Apple News designed to deliver thousands of curated recipes from top-tier publishers like Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Good Food, and Serious Eats.

What makes it stand out? A cook mode that simplifies the process, offering a full-screen, step-by-step guide so you can follow along seamlessly in the kitchen. Expect this feature to launch with the public iOS 18.4 release in April.

More Control Over Default Apps

Apple continues to loosen its grip on default apps. With iOS 18.4, users worldwide can now select default translation apps. Meanwhile, EU users—thanks to the Digital Markets Act—get even more freedom, with the ability to choose a default navigation app beyond Apple Maps.

Vision Pro and Mail Upgrades

Apple isn’t leaving Vision Pro users out in the April update, but Somehow missed them in beta. iOS 18.4 is including a new app designed to manage Vision Pro headsets, adding more control for early adopters of Apple’s mixed-reality device.

The Mail app is also getting a refresh across Mac and iPad, though Apple hasn’t detailed the full extent of changes just yet.

Besides these major upgrades Apple has included more in this beta. Some Minor Improvements Include:

• New "Preferred Language" option in Apple Maps
• Third row of icons added in CarPlay
• "Genmoji" replaces the previously used icon in CarPlay
• Disable Apple Intelligence reports, email summaries, Smart Replies, and automated iPhone reboots via Mobile Device Management.
• “Library” and “shows” Widgets added in Apple Podcasts.

What’s Missing? Siri’s Big Update

One notable omission? Siri’s rumored overhaul. While Apple has hinted at deeper Apple Intelligence integration, it seems those changes aren’t quite ready for prime time. Apple has stated that "Apple Intelligence will continue to expand with new features in the coming months, including more capabilities for Siri."

Developers can download iOS 18.4 Beta 1 right now. For everyone else, expect a public release in the coming weeks, likely before April.