iOS 17.5 beta tests new Quartiles word game on News+

The latest iOS beta sneaks in a fun new word game called Quartiles for Apple News+ subscribers.

Quartiles is Apple's latest puzzle treat for News+ fans. (Image: Apple)

For those who can’t get enough of brain teasers and word games, Apple has cooked up a fresh challenge exclusive to News+ subscribers. Called Quartiles, this is the newest addition to the puzzle party on iOS 17.5.

The game is essentially a tile-based word-forming adventure. Each round kicks off with a 20-tile grid, and your mission is to spot words ranging from single letters to four-letter combos. And if you can snag all five four-letter words (aka “quartiles”) in a puzzle, you’ll score a 40-point bonus.

Quartiles joins the ranks of Crossword and Crossword Mini, making it the third puzzle game bundled with an Apple News+ subscription. The three games now sync with Game Center, so you can flaunt your top scores and challenge friends.

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You can find this game on the Apple News app on your iOS 17.5 beta-powered iPhone. There, head to the Following tab, then Puzzles. iPad and Mac users can also join the fun once they’ve updated to the latest betas.

Just keep in mind that for now, Quartiles seems limited to the US and Canada.

With iOS 17.5 likely dropping in May, the countdown is on for the official Quartiles launch.