iOS 12 Beta 2 Contains References To Apple Watch Series 4

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Leaks and rumors about the Apple Watch Series 4 have been circulating for months. The rumor mill expects Apple’s next-gen wearable device to launch alongside new iPhones in September. Apple has just released the iOS 12 beta 2 to developers, and some developers dug into the code to discover references to the Apple Watch Series 4 in the second beta. The new beta arrives just two weeks after Apple seeded the first beta to developers.

Apple has also released new beta versions of watchOS 5, macOS Mojave, and tvOS 12. We knew that the Series 4 Apple Watch would release later this year. But it’s good to see a bit of confirmation directly from Apple. Noted developer Guilherme Rambo said in a post on 9to5Mac that he has unearthed new Apple Watch Series 4 identifiers in the iOS 12 beta 2 code.

The presence of Apple Watch identifiers in the iOS code shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Apple Watch still relies on the iPhones for a lot of things including software updates. So, the iPhones have to be familiar with the new Watch models to work with them. There are a total of four Series 4 identifiers in the iOS 12 beta 2 code, meaning Apple will refresh all the four variants (LTE or non-LTE, 38mm or 42mm display).

According to Rambo, the identifiers discovered in the iOS 12 beta 2 are Watch4,1, Watch4,2, Watch4,3 and Watch4,4. The numbering pattern is similar to the Series 3’s identifiers: Watch3,1, Watch3,2, Watch3,3, Watch3,4. The code also contains model numbers of the upcoming devices including MTUD2, MTUK2, MTX92, and others. However, the code doesn’t reveal the Apple Watch Series 4’s technical specifications.

What’s new in iOS 12 beta 2?

The iOS 12 beta 2 contains tons of tweaks to new features. Apple has redesigned the charts for battery level and activity in Battery Usage. The Screen Time feature gets new options to sort screen time for a single device or for all your devices. It also offers more details on individual app usage. In Settings > Notifications, you’ll find a new toggle to turn off Siri suggestions for different apps. The iOS 12 beta 2 has also made the text size for the “Albums” and “Media Types” listings in the Photos app bigger than before to make it easier to read.

The iOS 12 was unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) earlier this month, and the first beta was released to developers soon after the unveiling. It focuses on performance and stability to improve user experience on the iPhones and iPads. It will allow apps to load faster, even on older devices. The iOS 12 will allow users to create personalized Animojis called ‘Memoji.’ Other features include a revamped Do Not Disturb app, an improved Stocks app, and Group FaceTime support for up to 32 people. Apple has also improved Siri with the new software.

Apple Watch Series 4 rumors

The Apple Watch Series 4 is expected to debut this fall alongside the iPhone X successors. According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Series 4 will have a 15% larger display than its predecessor. Apple will also reportedly switch from OLED screens to microLED technology with the next-gen Watch. The microLED screens are slimmer than OLED, and they don’t require a backlight.

It is unclear whether Apple will release a Watch with a circular screen, though the tech giant owns patents for a wearable device with a round screen. The rumor mill claims that the Apple Watch Series 4 bands will have additional features. Apple could integrate a flexible battery in the bands to offer a longer battery life.

The Apple Watch Series 4 will almost certainly have the Walkie-Talkie feature that Apple introduced with watchOS 5 at the WWDC. Walkie-Talkie is also part of the watchOS 5 developer beta. The watchOS 5 will not support the first-gen Apple Watch. The Series 4 Watch will have many health monitoring features such as a built-in EKG meter, sleep tracking, and a blood glucose monitor.

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