Apple has released the third beta of iOS 18.3 for developers, introducing a number of improvements and refinements to apps and features to improve the user experience. The first two betas of iOS 18.3 were relatively light and focused mainly on bug fixes. However, the latest beta brings some notable updates to features like notification summaries, camera controls, messages, and PDF editing.

Let’s take a look at all the new things in the latest iOS 18.3 beta 3.

Notification Summary

One of the major upgrades in the third beta is to notification summaries. For News and Entertainment categories, Apple has temporarily disabled notification summaries. Apple Intelligence will no longer summarize news information until further improvements are made, allowing the company to improve the accuracy and reliability of summaries in future updates. Apple also notes in the Settings app that the feature is in beta and subject to potential errors.

Additionally, Apple has introduced a clearer setup message for the notification summary. The new message cautions users that “summarization may alter the meaning of the original titles,” as MacRumors notes. With this update, summarized information is now italicized to distinguish it from standard information, providing better visual clarity.

Additionally, with iOS 18.3 beta 3, users can manage notification summaries directly from the lock screen. Swiping up on a notification and selecting the “Options” button now provides an interface to disable summaries for specific apps, providing a more convenient customization experience.

These updates are currently in beta and will soon be available to users on iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3.

Upgrades to camera controls

For iPhone 16 users, Apple has included a new feature in the camera control settings. The previous “AE/AF Lock” option has been renamed “Lock Focus and Exposure”, making it more intuitive for users unfamiliar with technical photography terms.

This new setting allows users to lock focus and exposure by lightly pressing the camera control button, mimicking the functionality of DSLR cameras.

Zenmoji integration into Messages

In the Messages app, Apple has added a new entry for Genmoji creation. Accessible via the “+” button in any conversation, the Genmoji option directs users to the creation interface, providing another way to personalize conversations with custom emoji.

Previously, Genmoji creation tools were only accessible through the emoji keyboard button. With the iOS 18.3 beta 3 update, this feature is now easier to access.

pdf editing warning

The latest beta introduces a new alert for PDF editing. When cropping a PDF via the screenshot interface, users are warned that the cropped content is not completely removed from the document. The message reads: “Content outside the cropped area will not be visible in most PDF viewers, but can be made visible in some apps”.

Availability

iOS 18.3 beta is currently available for registered developers. It will soon be available to public beta testers and eventually to all users. Interested users can download it through the Apple Developer Center or as an over-the-air update on devices enrolled in the beta testing program.