iOS 18.3.1—What’s In Apple’s Mystery New iPhone Update? – Forbes
Apple is poised to release iOS 18.3.1, a mystery new iPhone update that could include security … [+] patches and bug fixes.Update, Jan. 7, 2025: This story, originally published Jan. 6, now includes more details of the bugs that might be fixed iOS 18.3.1 and information on iOS 18.4 features and their impact on iPhone security and privacy.Apple is poised to release iOS 18.3.1, a mystery new iPhone update that could include security patches and bug fixes. That’s according to a new report in MacRumors, which cites its website’s analytics logs, “which have been a consistently reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions.”The iOS 18.3.1 update comes hot on the heels of iOS 18.3, which arrived at the end of January including some important security patches. According to MacRumors, the iOS 18.3.1 software update should be released within the next few weeks. So, what will iOS 18.3.1 contain?The iOS 18.3.1 update could be Apple’s way of releasing some important security fixes, especially if the flaws have already been used in attacks. Apple’s iOS 18.3 already included a hefty list of 29 fixes, including one for an already exploited issue in CoreMedia tracked as CVE-2025-24085 that could see a malicious application able to elevate privileges.Meanwhile, a Mac and iPad issue patched at the same time has recently gained traction, so look up those updates now and apply them if you haven’t already on your devices.Apple’s iOS 18.3 doesn’t seem to be particularly buggy and my iPhone 16 works fine so far. However, there may be some minor issues included in the release of iOS 18.3.1.Some users have complained of connectivity issues with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, camera app problems and the Apple Mail app freezing. Other people are experiencing glitches when switching between light and dark mode, increased battery drain and app crashes. This is in addition to Control Center woes and general niggles, with some problems confined to iPhone 15 Pros.Meanwhile, in iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence notification summaries for news and entertainment apps are temporarily disabled after inaccurate summaries. It is unclear if they will be turned back on in iOS 18.3.1, or in a later update, according to MacRumors.In about two months, Apple will issue its next major point upgrade iOS 18.4. Unlike iOS 18.3, iOS 18.4 will be a big update for iPhone features, including an turbo-charged Siri that can interact with what’s on your screen. The iOS 18.4 update will also include security patches and could be when Apple issues the next round of fixes following iOS 18.3.1’s release.The addition of AI for everyday help in Siri will certainly make things more intuitive, seeing the first noticeable benefits of Apple Intelligence, if it works well. However, you wouldn’t be blamed for wondering about iPhone privacy in iOS 18.4. How will Apple ensure your iPhone data remains secure and private?As Apple fans will know, the iPhone maker is a big advocate for security and privacy, processing data on the device where possible and sending it to its own Private Cloud Compute when required. It also include privacy controls to mage your use of Apple Intelligence as well as its partnership with Open AI’s ChatGPT.Apple’s iOS 18.3.1 is likely to include both security fixes and bug squashes, making it an iPhone update worth looking out for. There’s quite a gap between iOS 18.3 and the expected release of iOS 18.4 in April, so an update was probably needed in between to sort out any issues.I’ll update here as soon as I know more about iOS 18.3.1, so for now, go to Settings > General > Software Update and check there and follow my Forbes page for updates.One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:So, how can you be a power user?Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.
