iOS 18.2 Brings Improved Features to Apple's Podcasts App, but Core Issues Remain Unresolved

In the iOS 18.2 update, Apple's Podcasts app received two improvements aimed at enhancing podcast discovery. Users can now select their favorite podcast categories and benefit from a personalized Search page. While these updates are appreciated, a core issue with the Up Next interface in the Home tab remains unaddressed. The Up Next feature suffers from information density issues, slow swiping functionality, hidden episodes, a cluttered feed and difficulties in adding one-off episodes to the queue. Although there are workarounds for these problems, they highlight the need for Apple to revise the Up Next hub with better user experience.