iOS 18.3 RC Released | What’s New?

The iOS 18.3 Release Candidate (RC) version, previously known as the Golden Master by Apple, has been released with a significant update size. This update addresses concerns from users experiencing network and call failure issues in version 18.2.1 while introducing new features and improvements.

The iOS 18.3 Release Candidate (RC) update size is notably large at 7.38 GB due to the complete reinstallation of the operating system, ensuring stability and resolving potential issues from beta versions. For users upgrading directly from version 18.2 or earlier, the update will be smaller—around 1-1.5 GB—and includes a new modem firmware if applicable. Before updating, available free space was recorded as 153.1 GB with modem firmware at version "1.40." Post-update changes include reduced free space by approximately 600 MB and an updated build number now labeled as "22D60," reflecting adjustments made in this release.

Key Updates in iOS 18.3 RC iOS 18.3 introduces several updates, including a new calculator feature where pressing equals repeatedly multiplies the result by two each time. Apple HomeKit now supports robotic vacuum cleaners for compatible devices, and notification summaries have been refined with regular text formatting and customizable settings to address errors or preferences.

Enhanced Visual Intelligence and Camera Features Visual Intelligence can identify plants, animals, event flyers for calendar integration (with venue maps), but may show inconsistencies like misidentifying fake plants as real ones. New camera controls allow locking focus/exposure via half-pressing buttons; however dark mode compatibility issues persist with icons in accessibility settings. A warning has also been added when cropping PDFs that uncropped content might still be visible on certain apps.

The battery health of iOS 18.3 remains unaffected, maintaining a consistent level at 100% with proper care and usage habits. Regular practices like avoiding full charges to 100%, keeping the charge between 20% and 80%, help preserve battery longevity effectively. Compared to its predecessor, iOS version 18.2.1, users can expect improved overall battery life.

iOS 18.3 introduces improved storage management, ensuring users face no issues with space utilization. The system data occupies around 10.16 GB, but regular usage typically keeps it between 1-2 GB on most devices due to optimized Apple intelligence features like the image playground.

The iOS 18.3 update does not include new modem firmware but offers significantly better network performance compared to the problematic call failures in iOS 18.2.1, which had poor connectivity issues. Overall system performance is smooth with quick app launches and seamless scrolling without noticeable problems. Benchmark scores show slight improvements over previous versions, maintaining strong CPU and GPU results within expected ranges.

The next update for the phone, iOS 18.3 final stable version, is scheduled to be released next week.

Updating to iOS 18.3 RC is not recommended for users on the stable version, as the official release will be available within a week. However, beta testers can proceed with updating if they wish.