The risks of beta testing Apple's new systems and why you should (not) do it

The new operating systems introduced during the WWDC 2022 developer conference are already available in developer beta testing. There is practically nothing stopping you from installing them now and starting exploring their features. But there are several obstacles. Although it looks quite simple at first glance, you should think carefully about installing beta versions of operating systems, as they bring relatively large risks.

On the other hand, it's not just about the risks. The truth is that you will literally get access to all the new functions immediately, you will be able to test them as you like and include them in your daily life, which certainly does not have to be harmful. Practically, you will be one step ahead of others and you will not have to wait for a long time for the release of new systems to the public, which will not happen until this fall. So let's take a look at the mentioned risks and why you should (not) start beta testing.

Beta testing in general

First of all, it is necessary to be aware of the risks of beta testing in general. As the name itself suggests, these are not sharp versions and are therefore used exclusively for testing, finding errors and possibly fixing them. This is precisely why it is necessary to take into account a number of various shortcomings and non-functioning functions that can appear quite regularly and make the use of the device significantly more unpleasant. Although the presented novelties of the new systems may look nice, it is necessary to be aware of a rather fundamental fact - no one can guarantee their functionality. Quite often it happens that installing beta versions does more harm than good, and it can also test your nerves.

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In the worst cases, the so-called bricking the entire device. In this regard, the term "brick" is used on purpose, as you can turn your Apple product into a worthless paperweight that, for example, cannot even be turned on. Of course, something like this happens in exceptional cases, but it is good to be aware of this fact. Of course, the same risk is here in the case of every update. With betas, you're more likely to encounter a generally broken environment and system rather than such an extreme ending.

Why get into beta testing?

Although beta testing is associated with a number of different risks and problems, this does not mean that they always have to manifest themselves. In this regard, it is difficult to estimate whether everyone will encounter a given problem or not. On the contrary, there may be users/devices that don't encounter the slightest hitch all the time. Betas are quite unpredictable from this point of view - although they can offer a number of great novelties and functions, they do not guarantee their functionality at the same time.

For this reason, it is recommended to use an older or backup device for beta testing, which does not mind so much if something stops working. Installing beta versions on a primary product is really quite risky and definitely not worth it if you have to deal with a lot of problems afterwards. They just cost unnecessary time and nerves. So if you would like to try out new systems, you should definitely use the aforementioned backup devices to install them. As mentioned above, although you may not encounter the slightest snags, it is a good idea to avoid them as much as possible to prevent possible complications.