Public beta 2 for macOS 15.2, iPadOS 18.2, and more adds these new features

One week after the first public betas launched, Apple has released new public beta 2 builds for macOS Sequoia 15.2, iPadOS 18.2, tvOS 18.2, and watchOS 11.2. Here’s everything that’s new.

New features in public beta 2

There were a ton of new features and changes introduced in the first public betas last week.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, the list of changes in beta 2 is relatively short:

• the TV app in iPadOS 18.2 now has a customizable tab bar so you can make it your own
• videos played inside the Photos app no longer zoom in/out with a tap, but rather they revert to the iOS 17 behavior of playing fullscreen from the start
• various tweaks to different interface elements, like the redesigned AirDrop icon

Overall, public beta 2 seems focused largely on performance improvements and bug fixes. Anecdotally, the release appears more stable than before.

iPadOS 18.2, macOS 15.2, and their companion updates will ship publicly in December. So the closer we get to launch day, the more Apple’s focus will be on stabilizing the updates rather than adding new features.

Benefits of Apple’s public beta program

If you haven’t yet joined Apple’s public beta program, it provides an opportunity to test future software features weeks in advance.

For example, in the public betas for iPadOS 18.2, macOS 15.2, and more, you get access to:

• Image Playground, the new AI image generation app
• Genmoji, for creating your own original emoji (currently iPad and iPhone-only)
• ChatGPT integration with Siri and the AI writing tools
• Image Wand in Apple Notes
• Find My lets you share a lost item’s location with others
• the Mac’s Menu Bar gains a new Weather widget
• and a lot more

The beta software program is free to sign up for, after which you can install the forthcoming updates on your devices right away.

The main drawback is that beta software is more prone to have bugs and other performance quirks than a public release.

Have you installed public beta 2? Let us know of anything new you discover via the comments.

Best iPad and Mac accessories

• 100W USB-C power adapter for fast charging
• AirPods Pro 2 (currently just $189, discounted from $249)
• tomtoc Tablet sleeve bag for protection and style
• Anker USB-C 8-in-1 hub with Ethernet, HDMI, SD, more
• Baseus 10ft USB-C cable for extended reach