Apple seeded the initial iOS 15.3 beta to developers later than usual Friday, along with the iPadOS equivalent. And on Monday, Apple added iOS 15.3 beta 1 and iPadOS 15.3 beta 1 to the Apple Beta Software Program. So far, no one has been able to find any new features in them.
watchOS 8.4 beta 1 and tvOS 15.3 beta 1 also went to developers Friday.
iOS 15.3 is coming down the pike
The build numbers for the latest iOS and iPadOS betas end in “g” in a countdown to “a,” so full release aren’t expected for a couple of months. Especially with the Christmas and New Year’s holidays coming up.
But exactly what Apple is testing remains something of a mystery. The release notes for these betas say only, “There are no new release notes for this beta software update.”
Developers haven’t yet turned up any changes, either. iOS 15.3 beta 1 and iPadOS 15.3 beta 1 seemingly contain only bug fixes. Whether Apple will add new features in subsequent betas is anyone’s guess.
More betas
The build number for the just-released watchOS 8.4 beta 1 ends in “f,” while the one for tvOS 15.3 beta 1 ends in “e.” But all four updates of these Apple operating systems are likely to launch simultaneously, perhaps in January (or more likely in February).
A macOS Monterey 12.2 beta 1 with an “f” build number went out Thursday. A public launch of it also isn’t expected until well into 2022, though public beta testing has begun.
Testing 1, 2, 3
As of Monday, iOS 15.3 beta 1, iPadOS 15.3 beta 1 and macOS 12.2 beta 1 are all available for public testing. Accessing them only requires joining the Apple Beta Software Program. Developers have access to all three as well.
Currently, watchOS 8.4 beta 1 and tvOS 15.3 beta 1 are only for developers. But if Apple follows its previous habits, public beta versions will come along soon. In the meantime, getting access to these pre-release editions requires joining the Apple Developer Program, which costs $99 a year.
All this beta testing comes a few days after the public debut of iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 and watchOS 8.3, along with tvOS 15.2 and macOS 12.1.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
