iPhone: Is there another iOS 18.7 before iOS 26?

Apple apparently prepares a final, larger iOS-18 update. Log files of several larger Apple websites, including that of Macrumorsshould contain entries for a previously unpublished “iOS 18.7”. Apple has not yet sent this into a beta test. As a reminder: The last iOS-18 version was 18.6.2, which contained an important security fix for a gap that attackers had already exploited. Most recently, it became known that the attacks apparently took place via WhatsApp in the form of a zero-click attack.

Two weeks up to iOS 26

What is in iOS 18.7 is still unclear. It can be assumed that Apple fixes the last known errors in the operating system, stuffed possible new security gaps and will prepare for the change to iOS 26, provided that they should not yet be complete. Because: With the completely new operating system, which, among other things, receives a new interface called Liquid Glass, can be expected in a few weeks.

If you assume Apple’s usual timetable, iOS 26 should appear around September 15th. That would be Monday after the iPhone 17 keynote, which will increase on September 9th. Apple has acted similarly in recent years, and the next iOS always appeared a week after the presentation of new smartphones. Accordingly, iOS 18.7 would have to appear this or the coming week so that there is still some “air” between the releases.

Three iPhones stay on iOS 18

Alternatively, it would also be conceivable that Apple IOS 18.7 and iOS 26 offer 26 download in parallel in order to fix the security gaps in iOS 26 at least partially in iOS 18.7. This year, some well-known iPhone models at Apple are from support. The iPhone XS, XS Max and XR are no longer compatible with iOS 26 and remain in iOS 18. The models were introduced in mid -September 2018, so they have been back on their backs almost seven years.

Apple usually maintains its operating systems in two steps: the current one is maintained with all fixes and innovations, while the previous one gets safety fixes. In some cases, its predecessor is also supplied with error deposits if they are heavy and dangerous enough. Unfortunately, it is always unclear whether Apple really stuffs all gaps in the preliminary version of the current operating system – usually there are always no some that contains the latest version. It is therefore advisable to stay up to date.