iOS 12.4: 4 Things to Expect & 4 Things Not To

Apple’s confirmed a iOS 12.4 update and today we want to take you through some things you should, and shouldn’t, expect from the release.

Shortly after the release of iOS 12.3, Apple pushed its next milestone upgrade into beta testing. Developers and those in the public Beta Software Program can now try the iOS 12.4 update ahead of its official release later this year.

Milestone upgrades are far more exciting than your standard iOS release because they typically bring a mix of new features, enhancements, bug fixes, and patches. iOS 12.4 won’t be any different.

iOS 12.4 looks like it’ll be a much smaller release than iOS 12.2 and iOS 12.3. The iOS 12.4 beta doesn’t have much on board right now.

That said, the update is widely expected to bring support for Apple’s new Apple Card credit card and Apple employees are reportedly using the software to test the product ahead of launch.

With the beta making progress, a lot of iPhone and iPad users are curious about iOS 12.4. With that in mind we want to help you set proper expectations ahead of the update’s release.

Don’t Expect an iOS 12.3.3 Update

Apple’s iOS 12.3.2 and iOS 12.3.1 updates fixed some bugs, but they also brought some problems of their own.

iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users are complaining about a variety of issues and some might be hoping for a iOS 12.3.3 update ahead of iOS 12.4. Don’t hold your breath.

Apple typically puts new iOS updates into beta testing before it releases them to the public. There are exceptions, iOS 12.3.1 and iOS 12.3.2 (which is exclusive to the iPhone 8 Plus) for example, but most upgrades do a stint in testing.

While there are certainly problems with iOS 12.3.2 and iOS 12.3.1, we haven’t heard about any widespread issues that might push Apple to release another quick upgrade.

iOS 12.4 will probably be the next version of iOS 12.

Don’t Expect an iOS 12.4 Beta 7

Earlier this week Apple pushed the sixth iOS 12.4 beta to developers and those enrolled in the Beta Software Program.

Apple typically pushes five or six betas before it releases the official version of a milestone update so we’re getting extremely close to the official release date.

At this point, we’re confident that the next release will be the final version of iOS 12.4.

Expect the iOS 12.4 Release Date in July

Apple hasn’t set a release date for iOS 12.4 so it could roll out anytime. However, given its connection with the Apple Card, it looks like it’ll arrive sometime this summer.

Apple plans to launch its new credit card sometime in the summer. Summer in the United States started on June 21st and ends on September 23rd so we’ll see the update and the card arrive in that window.

The timing means iOS 12.4 will probably be one of the last, if not the last, versions of iOS 12. The iOS 13 update is in beta for the iPhone right now and we expect the company to focus on getting the new operating system ready for launch.

The final version of iOS 13 will likely roll out alongside new iPhones in September and we expect iOS 12.4 to roll out long before that.

Look for it to arrive sometime this month.

Don’t Expect to See It Right at 10AM

If you’ve owned an Apple device for a while you probably know the company usually releases iOS updates in and around 10 AM Pacific. You can expect the same from the iOS 12.4 update, but don’t worry if you hear about the release, but don’t see it popup for your device at 10:00 AM or 10:01 AM sharp.

These days, new iOS updates sometimes emerge 5-10 minutes after the clock strikes 10 AM Pacific. So if you’re looking to download iOS 12.4 right away, wait a few minutes and then check for a software update.

Expect a Big iOS 12.4 Download

The iOS 12.4 update is a milestone upgrade and milestone updates typically require a nice chunk of space on your internal storage.

iOS 12.4 might be smaller than iOS 12.2 and iOS 12.3, but you can still expect a fairly sizable download. This is something to keep in mind as we approach the release date.

If you’re running out of space on your phone, iOS will temporarily remove some downloadable parts of the apps installed on your device to make room for the update. If it can’t make enough room, you’ll need to manually delete files.

If you’re running out of space and you want to download iOS 12.4 right when it comes out, think about cleaning up your storage ahead of time.

The exact size of the iOS 12.4 update will depend on your device and the version of iOS you’re running on your device.

If you’re running iOS 12.3.1 you’ll see the smallest download size. If you’re running older version of iOS 12, you’re going to see a larger download due to the updates you skipped. They’ll be baked into your version of iOS 12.4.

If you don’t plan to upgrade to iOS 12.3.1 or iOS 12.3.2, you can expect a lengthy installation process.

Expect Bugs & Performance Issues

The iOS 12.4 update is going through beta testing, but problems will slip into the final release.

We can’t predict the exact list of issues ahead of time, but problems that always seem to popup after a new iOS release include severe battery drain, lag, crashes, connectivity issues, Exchange issues, and problems with first and third -party apps. We expect these very same issues to plague iOS 12.4.

This is why it’s important to get familiar with fixes for the most common iOS 12 problems right now. That way you’re ready for whatever iOS 12.4 throws your way.

Expect New Versions of macOS, watchOS and tvOS

Apple will almost certainly roll out new versions of macOS, watchOS, and tvOS alongside the iOS 12.4 update.

The company is currently testing watchOS 5.3 for Apple Watch, tvOS 12.4 for Apple TV, and macOS Mojave 10.1.4 for its Mac lineup.

Like iOS 12.4, these updates should bring a solid mix of features, enhancements, and patches when they arrive.

Don’t Expect a Fast iOS 12.4 Jailbreak

Jailbreak developers released iOS 12 jailbreak tools earlier this year, but they’re limited to older versions of iOS 12.

If you want to jailbreak a device running iOS 12 it has to run iOS 12.0, iOS 12.0.1, iOS 12.1, iOS 12.1.1, or iOS 12.1.2. The jailbreak tools don’t work with iOS 12.1.3, iOS 12.1.4, iOS 12.2, iOS 12.3, iOS 12.3.1, iOS 12.3.2, or iOS 12.4 beta.

Jailbreak releases are extremely unpredictable, but we’d be surprised if developers push a quick jailbreak for iOS 12.4 and the remaining versions of iOS 12.

If a new jailbreak comes, it’ll probably arrive later in the year.

Install iOS 12.5.6 for Better Security

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If you're on the fence, here's one of the best reasons to install iOS 12.5.6 right away. iOS 12.5.6 has a vital security patch on board and it will protect your device(s) from harm. If you want the details, head over to Apple's website. If you missed the iOS 12.5.5 update, it brought three security patches to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. You can learn more about the trio on Apple's security site.  If you missed iOS 12.5.4, you'll get that update's important security upgrades with your iOS 12.5.6 update. If you're interested in the particulars, head on over to Apple's website for more. If you skipped iOS 12.5.3, you'll get its security patches with your upgrade. Both of its patches were related to WebKit. If you want to learn more about them, head on over to Apple's security site.  If you skipped iOS 12.5.2, you'll also get its security patch with your upgrade. You can read more about it over on Apple's website.  If you also skipped iOS 12.5, you'll also get its patch with your upgrade. Apple's outlined the update's patch in detail on its security site.  If you missed iOS 12.4.9, you'll also get its four security patches with your upgrade. You can read more about those right here.  If you skipped iOS 12.4.7, you also get the update's three security patches (two for the Mail app and one for Wi-Fi) with your upgrade to iOS 12.5.6. If you're running software that's older than Apple's iOS 12.4.4 update, you'll want to download iOS 12.5.6 in the near future because it brings iOS 12.4.4's security patch to your device. You can read about it right here. If you're running software older than iOS 12.4.2, you'll get an its patch with your upgrade. You can read about the security contents of iOS 12.4.2 right here.  If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.4.1, you'll get iOS 12.4.1's security patch with your iOS 12.5.6 update. You can read about that patch right here.  If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.4, you get iOS 12.4's patches with your iOS 12.5.6 update.  iOS 12.4 brought 19 security patches to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. If you're interested in the specifics, you can read about them on Apple's security site.  If you're running software older than iOS 12.3, your iOS 12.5.6 update carries iOS 12.3's security patches on board. The iOS 12.3 update brought 23 patches and you can read about all of them right here on Apple's site.  If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.2, you'll get iOS 12.2's security patches with your version of iOS 12.5.6. iOS 12.2 brought a whopping 41 security patches to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. You can read more about the iOS 12.2's patches over on the company's website.  It's important to note that Apple's iOS 12.2 update patched up an exploit that allowed websites to use motion sensors to "fingerprint" devices. The exploit, discovered by researchers in Europe, uses JavaScript to snag data from a device's accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer when the user visits an infected website. If the attack is successful, a device can be tracked around the internet.  Fortunately, Apple's patched up the issue. If you skipped it, you'll probably want to move to iOS 12.5.6 soon. If you're on software older than iOS 12.1.4, you get four important security patches including fixes for a widespread FaceTime eavesdropping bug that lets you call someone via FaceTime and hear the audio coming from their phone before they pick up the phone. If you're on software older than iOS 12.1.3, you get some additional patches with your version of iOS 12.5.6. Again, they're baked into your upgrade. Apple lists a grand total of 23 patches on board iOS 12.1.3 and you can read about all of them over on Apple's website.  If you're on software older than iOS 12.1.1, you should install the iOS 12.5.6 update on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch today.  The iOS 12.1.1 update brought 17 patches for potential security exploits. They'll will help protect your phone. You can read about them here. If you're running software older than iOS 12.1, you'll get 24 patches from that update with your version of iOS 12.5.5. If you're on software that's older than iOS 12.0.1, your iOS 12.5.6 update brings two additional patches. Both patches are for potential lock screen exploits. Long story long, if you store sensitive data on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you have some really good reasons to upgrade to iOS 12.5.6 today.

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