Hands-on: iOS 18.2 beta 3 changes and features [Video]

iOS 18.2 beta 3 isn’t inundated with tons of user-facing changes like the previous two iOS 18.2 betas, but there are a few interesting changes included. Alongside a new Camera Control setting for iPhone 16 users, the third 18.2 developer beta features a new customizable tab bar for the TV app on iPad, and a much-needed update to the video playback UI in the Photos app. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for the details.

What’s new in iOS 18.2 beta 3?

Camera Control – Require Screen On

As explained by 9to5Mac editor-in-chief Chance Miller, iOS 18.2 beta 3 includes a new setting for iPhone 16 users related to Camera Control. In previous versions of iOS, attempting to launch the configured camera app using the Camera Control button required two presses when the screen was off – one press to wake the device, and one press to launch the Camera app. In iOS 18.2 beta 3, there’s a new preference to alter this behavior.

By navigating to Settings → Display & Brightness, you’ll find a new Require Screen On switch at the bottom of the page. This switch, which is enabled by default, can be disabled to allow camera app launching with just a single press of the Camera Control button, even when the iPhone’s screen is off.

Video: iOS 18.2 beta 3 changes/features

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Photos app video playback UI update

Perhaps the most noteworthy change in iOS 18.2 developer beta 3 is an update for the video playback UI in the Photos app. iOS 18 introduced a UI that hid the thumbnail previews of the rest of your photos while viewing a video in full screen. iOS 18.2 remedies this issue by superimposing the thumbnails on top of the video, allowing you to easily navigate between other content while viewing your videos.

Writing tools copy and paste menu update

When opening the copy and paste menu while highlighting text, the Writing Tools option now appears in the first section of the menu. In previous versions of iOS you’d have to scroll through the menu in order to find Writing Tools.

Find My – ‘Share Item Location’ details

Apple provided new details about the Share Item Location feature that first appeared in the second developer beta of iOS 18.2. New details on participating airlines, functionality, and device compatibility were noted via a press release. It’s largely expected that this and other flagship iOS 18.2 features like ChatGPT integration, will launch next month, perhaps as early as the week of December 2nd.

iPadOS 18.2 beta 3 Customizable Tab Bar for TV app

Lastly, there’s a new customizable tab bar for the TV app in iPadOS 18.2 beta 3. These customizable tab bars aren’t new, as apps like Music have had once since iOS 18 launched. But up until now the TV app had no such bar, which can be customized using elements from the traditional side bar that appears on the left side of the display area.

Having a customizable tab bar in the TV app is particularly useful with the large variety of channel integrations and filters available for TV and movie collections.

9to5Mac’s Take

As we highlighted in our roundups of iOS 18.2 beta 1 and beta 2, ChatGPT integration is without a doubt the standout feature, and a major part of the phase two rollout of Apple Intelligence. But these other new additions, especially the Photos app fix, are noteworthy changes that will make iOS better. What do you think? Sound off in the comments with your thoughts.