• Build Number Update iOS 26.3 Beta 2 ships with build 23D5103D, confirming this as a minor refinement update rather than a feature-heavy release.
• Modem Firmware Upgrade Modem firmware is updated to 1.40.02 on the iPhone 17 series, indicating cellular reliability and connectivity improvements.
• Background Security Improvements Apple tested its new Background Security Improvements system via iOS 26.3A and 26.3B silent updates, installing security fixes without a full OS update.
• Wallpaper Categories Refined Lock Screen wallpapers now separate Weather and Astronomy. Weather wallpapers gain three visual variations instead of a single option.
• Transfer to Android Option A new Transfer to Android option appears under Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone, enabling direct nearby device transfers in collaboration with Google.
• Notification Forwarding Removed Notification forwarding to third-party smartwatches was removed in Beta 2. This feature is EU-only and appeared globally by mistake in Beta 1.
• Apple Intelligence & Google Gemini Apple officially confirmed Google Gemini will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri 2.0, via Apple’s Private Cloud Compute.
• Performance & Battery Performance remains comparable to iOS 26.2. Early Geekbench scores are slightly lower in beta testing, while battery life appears unchanged in daily use.
• Stability & Release Timeline iOS 26.3 Beta 2 feels stable overall. Beta 3 is expected next week, with the final 26.3 release likely in late January or early February 2026.

This summary covers iOS 26.3 Beta 2 (January 2026) based on developer testing and early beta feedback. Features and performance may change before final release.