In July 2018, Ionic announced the beta release of Ionic 4, a significant update that introduces improved performance, modern web standards, and multi-framework compatibility. This version, described as the best yet, embraces Web APIs such as Custom Elements, CSS Variables, and Shadow DOM, making it framework-agnostic, while still maintaining strong ties with Angular. The update facilitates a seamless transition for developers, especially those using Angular, by supporting familiar tooling and standards like the Angular CLI and Router. Ionic 4's architecture leverages Web Components, enhancing performance and reducing framework dependency, and the release includes a revamped documentation system to improve user experience. The beta invites developers to test and provide feedback to refine the final release.