Try out new iPhone features early with the iOS 12 public beta

Want to try out the latest version of iOS ahead release later this year? Now's your chance: Apple's just kicked off the public beta program for iOS 12.

To try out the new version of Apple's mobile operating system, you'll need to sign up through the company's beta software portal. After this, you'll be able to install the iOS 12 beta over the air, without losing anything you've already got on your iPhone or iPad.

Apple recommends that you avoid installing iOS 12 on your primary device, as the operating system may still exhibit stability issues. In addition, beta operating systems can increase battery drain and result in compatibility issues with unoptimised apps. 

That being said, we've been running the developer beta on an iPhone X since it became available at the start of the month (#YOLO) and the experience has been mostly fine. The battery goes a little quicker and our test phone has frozen once or twice, but the it's been surprisingly smooth otherwise. Your mileage may vary.

If you want to take the plunge and install the iOS 12 beta on your main iPhone or iPad, you can always roll back to an earlier version of iOS if anything goes wrong. This does however require wiping your phone and reinstalling iOS 11, so make sure you take a backup before you upgrade to the iOS 12 beta.

Announced earlier this month, iOS 12 will bring new features including digital wellbeing tools, notification grouping, group FaceTime and more to existing iPhones and iPads. In addition, Apple says performance improvements are at the heart of iOS 12, especially when it comes to older devices. The company claims that apps will launch 40% faster, the keyboard will come up 50% faster, and the camera will be 70% faster on older iOS devices thanks to the software.

While each new version of iOS typically sees Apple axe support for at least one iPhone or iPad, any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 11 will be able to upgrade to iOS 12. This means iPhones as old as the iPhone 5s will see Apple's latest mobile operating system.

All iPad Pro and iPad Air models will get the update when it comes to Apple's tablets. The standard "iPad" will be upgraded to iOS 12, as will the iPad mini 2 and up. Only the sixth generation iPod touch will be upgraded to iOS 12.

We're expecting to see the final version of iOS 12 launch in September alongside new iPhones.

Looking for a new iPhone? Compare plans here.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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