Apple has recently rolled out iOS 17 Public Beta 2 and Beta 4 Re-Release, available to developers and public beta testers who are part of Apple’s beta programs. The updates can be accessed over the air in software updates.
Update Sizes and Build Numbers
The size of the update depends on the version from which you are upgrading. For instance, if you are upgrading from iOS 17 Developer Beta 3 to iOS 17 Public Beta 2, the update size is 1.27 gigabytes. However, if you are upgrading to Beta 4 Re-Release, the update size is a mere 370 megabytes.
The build number for both Public Beta 2 and Beta 4 Re-Release is 21A 5291j. Apple delayed the release of Public Beta 2 and released it alongside a new build with Beta 4 Re-Release. This delay was likely due to a bug in MacOS 14 Beta 4, which caused a blank screen and sometimes resulted in devices not functioning properly. This issue has been resolved with the MacOS Beta 4 Re-Release.
New Features and Changes
The new updates bring several new features and changes. For instance, there are performance gains, which will be discussed later. There are also several new features introduced with Beta 4, which are also present in the Beta 4 Re-Release:
- In the settings, under General and then Airdrop settings, there is a new setting for bringing devices together. This can be turned off if desired. Under Accessibility, in Display and Text Size, there is a new option for preferring horizontal text in languages that support vertical text.
- The Home Screen and App Library icon have been fully updated. In Messages, the Plus icon on the left has been redesigned with circular icons, and the More button has also been changed to circular. In the Photos app, the latest photo no longer shows; instead, it’s just the photo app icon.
- In the Health app, the overall look of logging an emotion or mood for our state of mind has been updated. In Music, if you’re playing a song and want to Airplay that song, there is a new animation. In the Control Center, there’s a new icon for the remote for Apple TV.
- In the App Store, under Arcade, there are now options for different categories of games you might want to play, such as adventure, action, and more.
Performance and Battery Life
The overall performance seems to have improved with these updates. However, the heat of the phone feels about the same, indicating that it’s processing something in the background. As for battery life, some users have reported improvements with Beta 4, but others have seen a decrease in battery health and charging.
Should You Update?
If you’re already on the betas, it’s recommended to update to the latest version. However, if you haven’t installed iOS 17 yet, it might be better to hold off as the battery isn’t as good as iOS 16.6, and there are some bugs that still need to be worked out.
Future Releases
Based on previous years, it’s expected that iOS 17 Beta 5 will be released next week. Apple may also be updating iOS 16 again to fix issues with screen time, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. However, there’s no confirmed timeline for this yet.
In conclusion, the iOS 17 Public Beta 2 and Beta 4 Re-Release bring several new features and improvements. However, users should be aware of potential issues with battery life and heat. As always, it’s recommended to back up your device before installing any updates.
