Apple iOS 8 Release Date for iPhone 5c, 5s, iPad Air and iPad Mini: Now at Beta Stage 2

Jun 27, 2014 08:25 AM EDT

Apple's new iOS 8 operating system (OS) has now reached the second stage of Beta testing, after its initial unveiling at WWDC 2014 conference earlier this month.

The iOS 8 Beta 2 update was available on the Apple iOS development page since last Tuesday. An alternative way to participate in the public trial is to download over-the-air straight to the device. Release notes of the latest iOS 8 Beta release come courtesy of BGR, which says that a number of the early bugs have been fixed with beta 2. Even so, iOS 8 Beta 2 is just one of many beta updates that will follow during the testing phase.

Mobile devices confirmed to be receiving the iOS 8 include the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPad 2, iPad Mini, iPad Mini with Retina Display (a.k.a. 'iPad Mini 2)', and the fifth-generation iPod.

Absent from the list of devices getting the new update is the iPhone 4 smartphone as well as the original iPad tablet. Both devices were released four years ago, which is old by mobile device standards.

Apple has yet to announce exactly when the definitive version of the iOS 8 will be released. Based on prior history concerning Apple's launch cycles, it is very likely the world will be seeing the iOS 8 at about September this year.