Apple has released its new operating systems into the public beta phase. iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14 Sonoma, and watchOS 10 are now available for download by interested users without the need for a developer account. However, enrollment in Apple’s public beta program is required. These new operating systems come with a range of improvements for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. These include interactive widgets, a new stand-by mode for iPhones, and various innovations in Apple’s apps and services.
It is important to note that iOS 17 is not compatible with older iPhone models such as the iPhone X or iPhone 8. The minimum requirements now include the iPhone XS, XR, and iPhone SE 2. Some features may also require newer models. Apple typically releases its operating systems to the general public in September, although last year, the major iPadOS and macOS update was delivered in October.
While Apple’s public betas are generally considered to be more stable, the company still recommends installing them on secondary devices for testing purposes. Users should also be aware that downgrading to a previous version may not allow them to import their iOS backups from the newer version. Apple has released multiple pre-release versions of its operating systems for developers since June. This year, access to the beta versions is also possible with a free developer account. Early testers have reported relatively stability with the betas, but app crashes and errors can still occur. In the past, there have been occasional issues with banking and TAN apps.
