The wait is over for WordPress lovers. WordPress 5.3 Beta 1 is here. Following the tradition, we at Cloudways have come up with a quick review that highlights all the new updates in the latest WordPress release.
Let’s start with the schedule of release of various WordPress versions and then dive into how you can check out the features of this release.
Proposed WordPress 5.3 Schedule
Mark your dates. Here is the complete schedule of WordPress 5.3 release.
- 23 September 2019: Beta 1
- 30 September 2019: Beta 2
- 7 October 2019: Beta 3
- 15 October 2019: Release candidate 1
- 22 October 2019: Release candidate 2
- 29 October 2019: Release candidate 3
- 5 November 2019: Release candidate 4 (if needed)
- 12 November 2019: General release of WordPress 5.3
How to Test WordPress 5.3 Beta 1
To test WordPress 5.3 beta, you can download the WordPress Beta Tester plugin (choose the “bleeding edge nightlies” option).
Welcome Twenty Twenty (The New Default Theme)
WordPress 5.3 comes with a new default Twenty Twenty theme. This theme is based on the Chaplin, released early this year. Twenty Twenty includes full support for the block editor (still a matter of debate in the community), customized fonts and colors, post meta settings, and much more.
Block Editor: Features & Improvements
The best thing about WordPress 5.3 is that all twelve prior releases of the Gutenberg plugin would be merged in a single feature-packed block editor. This is exciting news for the block editor fans who will now have a lot of features at their disposal.
Some of the features are as follows.
- Improved columns block (width support + patterns)I
- Improved Separator block (color support)
- Improved Latest Posts block (support excerpt, content)
- Improved Button block (support target, border-radius)
- Improved Block Style Variations API
- Improved Group block and grouping interactions
- Improved Data Module API (useSelect/effect)
- Improved Snackbar notices
- Improved Typewriter Experience
- Improved Fix a number of Accessibility report issues
- & many more.
If you are interested in a particular release, here is a list of every Gutenberg release to date: 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.9, 5.8, 5.7, 5.6, 5.5, and 5.4.
Admin Interface Enhancements
WordPress 5.3 incorporates a newly designed admin interface. The developers have also fixed many accessibility issues, including color contrasts on form fields and buttons, WordPress color scheme, better zoom management, and more.
Big Images are Coming to WordPress
The image size has been a consistent pain point for WordPressers and almost everyone has complained of how WordPress deals with large image files. Well, in this release, Automattic has addressed the issue and the block editor can easily manage and display all image sizes.
So now, “ High-Resolution Pictures isn’t a Problem Anymore.”
Automatic Image Rotation During Upload
In WordPress 5.3, users can easily rotate the uploaded images according to the EXIF orientation.
Site Health Checks
WordPress now offers a native site health checker that identifies issues with the website. In addition, this tool would inform users about the available updates. As you might have guessed, it is located under the Tools section.
Admin Email Verification
WordPress 5.3 is set to introduce an admin email verification screen that will pop up every six months.
What’s New for Developers
WordPress 5.3 also has good stuff for developers. Here’s a sneak peek:
Time/Date Component Fixes
Developers now have reliable and easy to work with date and time components. For more details, Visit Date/Time component improvements in WordPress 5.3.
PHP 7.4 Compatibility
WordPress 5.3 fully supports PHP 7.4 (released earlier this year).
Note: “Please test this beta release with PHP 7.4 to ensure all functions continue to work smoothly and do not raise any new warnings.”
Learn about Other Changes for Developers.
What The Community is Saying About WordPress 5.3
Ben
“Just seen the block editor improvements, looking good!”
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lyrwp
Bjarne
“Looking great! And not without a dash of self-irony 😀 “Your images will be correctly rotated upon upload according to the EXIF orientation. This feature was first proposed nine years ago. Never give up on your dreams to see your fixes land in WordPress!””
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BjarneOldrup
Thien
“After years, this is how #WordPress admin interface looks like in 5.3. Honestly, I love the current style than Gutenberg’s style.”
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisisthien
Final Words
I personally like block editor features and improvements. What do you like the most in the new WordPress 5.3? 😉
Feel free to share in the comments below.
KUDOS TO ALL THE CONTRIBUTORS!
Danish Naseer
Danish Naseer is a WordPress Community Manager at Cloudways. He is passionate about designing, developing, and engaging with people to help them. He also actively participates in the community to share his knowledge. Besides that, he loves to watch documentaries, traveling and spending time with family. You can contact him at [email protected]
