This is the first iteration on macOS and iOS post-WWDC, after a recent May 14th update spent roughly a month and a half in a development state.

Individuals can opt-in via the Software Update section of the System Settings app, as long as your Apple ID is associated with an Apple Developer account.

Key Points about the updates

• It’s unclear as to what this update brings just yet, with websites like MacRumors suggesting Apple Intelligence may be coming in China. Regulations present challenges to this goal at the time.
  .
• Apple plans to partner with Alibaba and Baidu for AI features within China
  .
• Now with macOS 26 Tahoe and iOS 26 betas out, Sequoia as well as iOS 18 will start to decrescendo in development and focus.
  .
• Apple has been internally testing iOS 18.6 since March, according to MacRumors. It is likely there will be a 18.7 release in September.
  .
• Build versions:
  .
  
  • iPadOS 18.6 beta 1 (22G5054d)
    .
  • macOS 15.6 beta 1 (24G5054d)
    .
  • tvOS 18.6 beta 1 (22M5054b)
    .
  • audioOS 18.6 beta 1 (22M5054b)
    .
  • visionOS 2.6 beta 1 (22O5754c)
    .
  • watchOS 11.6 beta 1 (22U5054b)
    .

.

The focus is the future

As mentioned on 9To5Mac in an article: “Inside Apple, the vast majority of software engineers’ time has been dedicated, likely for a while now, to preparing iOS 26 and the other new OS versions.”

Much like any beta seeded late in an OS’s life cycle, there isn’t anything groundbreaking expected to change or be added. Instead, these will be iterative and security measures focused on operating stability.