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iOS 12.1 Public Beta 5: iPhone XR Buyers Beware Edition

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Wait before you upload that latest beta!

Anthony Karcz

First things first, if you're getting a shiny new iPhone XR on Friday, stop reading this right now, go make sure Automatic Updates is set to Off in your Settings, then uninstall your Public Beta Profile.

If you don't, there's going to be a moment on Friday, after the elation of unboxing your new shiny iPhone XR has worn off, where your stomach does a sick little flip. That's because you'll go to restore your new device from your latest iOS 12.1 Public Beta 5 backup only to have iOS tell you that no compatible backup can be found.

Apple won't release beta profiles for the iPhone XR until after they've officially hit the streets. So by Sunday, you'll likely be able to register your new device with the Apple Beta Software Program. However, that profile you have on your device right now isn't going to cut it. You might remember having to jump through the same hoops for your iPhone XS last month.

Alternately, this is a great time to pull the ripcord if you're tired of being in the Beta program. iOS 12.1 is, by all accounts, nearly finished and all you have to do in order to get the final version is wait until this time next week.

What's Fixed

Other than the publicized charging and connectivity fixes introduced back in Public Beta 2 (and iOS 12.0.1) there's very little that we actually know is fixed in Public Beta 5. It's safe to assume there's plenty of backend code being tweaked, but the development cycle for minor releases is opaque. The only way we know if there are additional fixes is if Apple tells us or a code spelunker finds a clue.

What's New

As with the rest of the iOS 12.1 testing cycle, no release notes have accompanied Public Beta 5. That said, we do know there are plenty of new or restored features, making it a very active cycle, unusually so for right after a major release. In addition to Group FaceTime being restored, there are 70 new emojis and the ability to manipulate the f-stop on the fly in the Camera app (something that wowed crowds at the iPhone event this past summer). It's been a satisfyingly packed build.

What's Next

Don't expect there to be much else going with iOS 12.1. Likely, Public Beta 5 will be the final build that Apple ships to the public next week. They may even do it sooner to coincide with the release of the iPhone XR. Either way, it's time to put on a scary mask and go get some candy. We beta testers got our Halloween treat just a bit early.

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