iOS 18 Beta 2: New iPhone Mirroring and Enhanced SharePlay Coming Soon

Highlights

• iOS 18 Beta 2 introduces iPhone Mirroring for seamless Mac integration.
• Enhanced SharePlay screen sharing adds new collaboration tools.
• Not all iOS 18 features available in Beta 2; some will roll out later.
• Public beta release scheduled for July, following the developer beta.

Apple announced that iOS 18 beta 2 will be available for developers next Monday—a fortnight since iOS 18 was first unveiled at WWDC 2024.

This update will feature two new features: iPhone Mirroring and advanced SharePlay screen sharing capabilities.

2 New Features Coming With the Beta

Setting iPhone Mirroring on the Mac to allow Mac users to share their iPhone screen on the Mac for interaction with the iPhone, getting notices, and drag-and-drop between devices seamlessly.

This feature will further integrate the Apple ecosystem and enhance user workflow.

Enhanced screen sharing with SharePlay adds new collaboration tools that have users drawing on shared screens to instruct others, while some will even take control of another user’s screen in order to do things directly.

This could be a real game-changer in remote collaboration and support scenarios.

Apple Intelligence Not Available in the EU

Apple spokesperson Fred Sainz confirmed these additions in a statement to The Verge.

The news was announced alongside the revelation that some iOS 18 features, including Apple Intelligence, won’t make it to the EU this year due to the Digital Markets Act.

Worth noting, not all features announced for iOS 18 are available in this beta.

Some will be added throughout, while others may not arrive until after the public release of iOS 18 later this year.

Apple’s also mentioned that some Apple Intelligence features will begin beta testing this summer—though it’s not clear what that specifically entails.

The iOS 18 beta 2 release will happen with new beta releases of iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, tvOS 18, visionOS 2, and watchOS 11.

These updates likely include bug fixes and more streamlining of existing features.

Sometime in July, Apple will send out a public beta for further testing of the new operating system, while the Monday developer beta is bound to be released on schedule.

These incremental roll-outs coupled with the features likely reflect the seriousness of the company in testing and polishing up the features for any last-minute changes before the final release.

FAQs

What new features are included in iOS 18 Beta 2?

iOS 18 Beta 2 includes iPhone Mirroring for Mac users and enhanced SharePlay screen sharing capabilities, adding new collaboration tools.

How does iPhone Mirroring benefit Mac users?

iPhone Mirroring allows Mac users to share their iPhone screen on the Mac, interact with the iPhone, receive notifications, and use drag-and-drop between devices, enhancing the Apple ecosystem integration.

What enhancements does SharePlay screen sharing bring?

The enhanced SharePlay screen sharing feature includes tools for drawing on shared screens to instruct others and the ability to take control of another user’s screen for direct interaction, improving remote collaboration and support.

Will all iOS 18 features be available in the beta release?

Not all features announced for iOS 18 will be available in Beta 2. Some features will be added throughout the beta period, and others may not arrive until after the public release of iOS 18 later this year.

Also Read: Apple’s iPhone 16 to Revolutionize with AI Integration in iOS 18

Also Read: Apple’s iOS 18 Is Likely to Be Its Most Ambitious Update Yet: Mark Gurman