The iOS 18 beta is different from what we expect in the general release this fall. Beta testers receive a version that has recently left its alpha phase, so issues and bugs are to be expected. The purpose of the beta phase is to gather user feedback to fix these bugs and address any user interface issues.
Beta versions can also be incomplete and not the final product, especially in the case of iOS 18, which did not include Apple Intelligence features in the initial beta. This state means that the iOS 18 beta is more prone to bugs, glitches, and instability.
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The general release will have fixed these bugs and issues using user feedback gathered during the beta phase, delivering a more complete software that will not be as error-prone.
An example of this process is when Apple released the iOS 17 beta in 2023. The first beta included the “End” button during a call that had been moved from the center to the right, which was a big change for iPhone users. Disapproving feedback from beta testers resulted in Apple moves the ‘End’ call button back to the center of the screenwhere users were accustomed.