iOS 17.6 Beta 4 is Out! – What’s New?
Hi everyone, Aaron here for Zollotech. Today, Apple released iOS 17.6 Beta 4. This latest beta is now available for developers, and public beta testers should get it soon—either by the time you’re watching this video or sometime tomorrow. This release came as a bit of a surprise since many anticipated the iOS 17.6 RC (Release Candidate). It seems Apple has planned the RC for a later date, pushing back the final release of iOS 17.6. We’ll discuss more about that timing later, but let’s dive into this update.
The update size came in at 431.1 MB on my iPhone 15 Pro Max and was about the same on the iPad Pro M4. Alongside this, Apple also released updates for iPadOS 17.6 Beta 4, watchOS 10.6 Beta 4, tvOS and homeOS 17.6 Beta 4, macOS 14.6 Beta 4, VisionOS 1.3 Beta 4, and other macOS updates for previous devices.
Let’s start by looking at the build number and discussing what’s new. Going into General, then About, you can see the build number is 21G5075a. The ‘a’ at the end usually signifies we’re very close to a final release, so we can expect the next one to be the RC version.
Interestingly, this update does not include a new modem update. iOS 17.6 Beta 2, Beta 3, and Beta 4 all share the same modem update. As far as new features, Apple continues to refine iOS 17.6. For example, there’s a small but noteworthy update for Family Sharing with an accept or decline button. This appears when you add someone to your Family Sharing group. Unfortunately, my Family Sharing is already filled, so I can’t demonstrate this, but it’s a handy addition.
Apple has made various wording changes throughout the system. For instance, in your Sign-In and Security settings, under Legacy Contact, the invite wording has been updated. Additionally, there are updates to the TV app, Find My, and even minor tweaks to the Apple Pencil functionality on iPads.
There are also changes in the wording for contactless payments and for messages that appear when your device detects water in the charging port. Another minor yet useful tweak is in the Photos app: deleting photos will now delete them permanently, aligning with user expectations.
This update also addresses several bugs. Many users have reported issues with storage, but with this update, it appears Apple has optimized storage management. For example, users are seeing an increase of 2 to 4 GB of free space after updating, thanks to improvements in storage calculation and management.
AirDrop has also seen improvements. Previously, some users experienced issues where AirDrop would switch off and couldn’t be toggled back on without a hard reset. This seems to be fixed in this update. Other fixes include resolving Bluetooth headphone connection issues and alarm and timer bugs.
One of the notable bug fixes is for the standby mode. Previously, users reported that pressing and holding the standby screen to unlock with Face ID wasn’t working correctly. This update appears to have resolved that issue. However, the wallpaper dimming bug, where vibrant wallpapers desaturate when you return to the home screen, remains unfixed.
Screen Time bugs are still present, but they seem less prevalent in this beta. As for performance, everything runs smoothly, with no major hiccups. Scrolling and general UI interactions are fluid, which is a positive sign as we near the final release.
Benchmark tests show stable performance. In Geekbench 6, the scores were 2,950 for single-core and 7,137 for multi-core, which is consistent with previous results. Battery life seems promising, though it takes a few days to get a complete picture. In my testing, iOS 17.6 Beta 3 provided excellent battery life, and Beta 4 appears to maintain that trend.
If you’re already on the iOS 17.6 beta track, updating to Beta 4 is a good idea. If you’re on iOS 18 betas, you won’t have the option to switch back. For those on iOS 17.5.1 facing issues, moving to iOS 17.6 Beta 4 could be beneficial, although it’s generally not recommended to switch to a beta unless necessary.
We expect the iOS 17.6 RC to arrive next week, likely on Tuesday, with the final release possibly coming the week of the 29th. This timeline aligns with last year’s schedule for iOS 18 betas and public releases. Thus, the iOS 17.6 final release should coincide with the iOS 18 Beta 4 and Public Beta 2.
Before wrapping up, I want to give a shoutout to Gadget Kings PRS, the best phone repair shop around. Whether you need screen repairs, battery replacements, or any other phone-related fixes, Gadget Kings PRS has got you covered. Check them out at Gadget Kings PRS.
iOS 17.6 Beta 4 is a minor yet refined update, focusing on wording changes, bug fixes, and performance improvements. While it doesn’t introduce groundbreaking new features, it prepares the ground for a stable final release. Let me know your experiences with iOS 17.6 or iOS 18 betas in the comments below.
If you enjoyed this video, please give it a like and subscribe for more updates. As always, thanks for watching, this is Aaron, and I’ll see you next time!
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