Beta 5 of MacOS Sierra 10.12.4, iOS 10.3, tvOS 10.2, watchOS 3.2 Available

Apple has released the 5th beta versions of MacOS Sierra 10.12.4, iOS 10.3, tvOS 10.2, and watchOS 3.2 to users participating in the beta testing programs.

The latest beta release of macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 5 can be downloaded now from the Mac App Store via the Updates tab. iOS 10.3 beta 5 can be downloaded from the Software Update section of the Settings app, as can the watchOS and tvOS betas.

The primary visible feature being tested in macOS 10.12.4 is Night Shift, which adjusts the warmth of the computer display as the evening hours set in or subside, similar to how the same Night Shift feature works in iOS for iPhone and iPad users . Currently Mac users of virtually any macOS or Mac OS X version release can achieve a similar effect using the Flux app. Aside from Night Shift in MacOS, most of the other changes appear to be various bug fixes.

Current iOS 10.3 betas include a “Find My AirPods” feature that is being tested to help locate the wireless earbud product, whereas tvOS and watchOS betas mostly focus on bug fixes.

Typically Apple releases beta updates for their system software suite concurrently, though for whatever reason macOS 10.12.4 beta 5 came out a day earlier than beta 5 of iOS 10.3, tvOS 10.2, and watchOS 3.2.

Apple will usually release numerous beta versions before a final release to the general public, thus it could reasonably be expected for the final versions of these system software releases to be unveiled sometime in the coming weeks.