Apple Intelligence vs iOS: What’s New in 18.6.2?
Apple has officially rollout iOS 18.6.2, and it’s now available world wide for every device that supports iOS 18.
If you don’t see the update immediatelly, head over to Settings > General > Software Update. Sometimes it takes a refresh — just swipe back and open the Software Update page again, and the update should appeared.
Keep in mind, if you’re testing the iOS 26 beta, you won’t saw this release because beta versions are already ahead from public build. To move back the public version, you’d need restore your iPhone using Mac or Windows computer.
On my iPhone 16 Pro Max, the update came in about 738.2 MB, and looks to be similar size across other devices. Apple has also pushed out updates for its other platforms:
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iPadOS 18.6.2
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iPadOS 17.7.10
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macOS 15.6.1
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macOS 14.7.8
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macOS 13.7.8
The build number for iOS 18.6.2 is 22G1000. This update doesn’t bring any modem firmware changes, so if you're updating from iOS 18.6 or 18.6.1, you won’t notice difference in connectivity.
Overall connectivity with iOS 18.6.2 seems about the same as before, which is good news since performance on 18.6 was already solid. This isn’t really a feature-packed update — most of the big changes will arrive with iOS 26 — but it is an important security update.
Apple clearly highlights this with the note: “This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.”
One small thing I noticed that feels slightly new compared to 18.6.1 is in Settings > About, where you’ll now see a “Learn More” option. It’s shown up in some versions before, but it’s nice to see it here. I just wish Apple included more detailed release notes in that section.
Now, let’s talk security. If you head to Apple’s security release website, you’ll find iOS 18.6.2 and iPadOS 18.6.2 listed alongside other updates, even for older devices. The biggest change here is a fix for ImageIO.
The issue: processing a malicious image file could cause
memory corruption. Apple
is aware this flaw may have been
actively exploited in a
sophisticated, targeted attack.
The fix: Apple patched it by improving
bounds checking to
prevent out-of-bounds writes.
That was serious enough for Apple to push this update quickly, which tells you how important it is to install.
Digital ID Expands
Aside from security, Apple also rolled out a small new feature in Apple Wallet. Users in Montana can now add their driver’s license or state ID digitally, carrying it just like a physical card.
If this option isn’t available where you live, it’s not Apple holding things up — your local government needs to work with Apple to support it. For now, Montana joins the list of states that already offer Digital ID support.
Another reason some people don’t see the Digital ID option is that local governments need to partner with Apple to support it. That process takes time, so if it isn’t available in your state yet, it’s not Apple’s fault — it’s up to your state to enable it.
New AirPods Firmware (8A343A)
Alongside iOS testing, Apple also released a new AirPods beta firmware update, bringing the version to 8A343A. I installed it on my device, and the difference is noticeable.
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The connection is faster and more stable compared to the previous beta.
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Random disconnects I experienced before seem to be resolved.
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The case firmware also updated, and the version now matches correctly.
This beta firmware isn’t available to the general public yet, but for testers, it’s already showing improvements.
Bug Fixes
On iOS 18.6.2, Apple seems to have ironed out a few smaller issues:
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Notification stutter: Previously, swiping or interacting with notifications sometimes felt laggy. This now feels smooth and responsive.
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Wallpaper dimming bug: When using vibrant wallpapers, they would sometimes dim when swiping between the notification center and the home screen. This bug is still present on iOS 18, but interestingly, it’s fixed in iOS 26 beta. It seems Apple had to make deeper code changes to resolve this.
Performance
Performance overall remains about the same as iOS 18.6.1 and 18.6 — which is to say, very stable and refined. Apps open quickly, scrolling in the App Library is fluid, and features like the camera launch instantly.
This update doesn’t bring noticeable speed boosts, but it maintains the strong reliability Apple has built into the last few versions.
Heat & Thermals
iOS 18.6.2 runs surprisingly cool, even during the initial background processing that happens after installing a fresh update.
Using a thermal camera, here’s what I measured:
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iOS 26 beta 7 (idle): ~30°C
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iOS 18.6.2 (idle, post-update): ~32°C
That’s nearly identical, which shows Apple has done a good job keeping temperatures under control. The small bump is expected since the phone is still indexing and running background tasks after installation.
Overall, thermals remain excellent — the phone stays cool under normal usage.
Battery Life & Health
Battery life is harder to judge immediately after an update since iOS needs a few days to settle. Still, early signs look promising.
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On my test iPhone 16 Pro Max (not my main device), battery health shows 100% capacity with just 19 cycles.
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On my daily driver with iOS 26 beta 7, the battery is at 95% health with 301 cycles, which is still within Apple’s expected range (around 80% after 1,000 cycles).
To add more context, reader reports help. One iPhone 16 Pro Max with 100% battery health delivered:
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4h 10m screen-on time
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2h 21m screen-off time
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With over 60% battery remaining
That suggests iOS 18.6.2 offers strong efficiency, using only 25–30% of the battery for moderate daily use.
Should You Install iOS 18.6.2?
Yes — I highly recommend updating.
This release includes a
critical security patch,
addressing a serious exploit related to malicious image files. Even though
Apple doesn’t always list every minor bug fix, updates like these often
include background stability improvements too.
If you’re already on iOS 18.6 or 18.6.1, the update installs quickly and doesn’t bring any noticeable downsides.
What’s Next for iOS?
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iOS 18.7 (Possible)
Apple may release one final iOS 18.x update before iOS 26 officially launches, but so far there are no clear signs. -
iOS 26 Beta 8 / Release Candidate
Expected as soon as Monday or Tuesday next week. -
Apple Event & iPhone 17
Invitations could arrive that same week, with the event likely around September 8th. If Apple follows its usual schedule:-
Pre-orders: September 12th
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iOS 26 public release: September 15th–16th
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iPhone 17 launch: September 19th
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It’s shaping up to be a busy few weeks for Apple fans.
Benchmarks
I ran Geekbench on iOS 18.6.2, and here are the results:
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Single-core: 3,492
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Multi-core: 8,551
While slightly lower than some past scores, this is within the normal margin of error. Performance should even out after the update finishes background indexing.
Storage Usage
iOS 18.6.2 takes up slightly less space than iOS 26:
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iOS 18.6.2: 18.66 GB
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iOS 26 beta: 19.81 GB
So, it’s a bit lighter while still providing essential fixes.
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