Software Update
iOS 26 Beta 9 — What’s New
- Build & Size Beta 9 build 23A5336a, ~10GB+ on Apple Intelligence devices (smaller on others).
- Bug Fixes & Backend Changes Mostly stability updates, security tweaks, and backend fixes — late betas rarely bring visible UI changes.
- ESIM Code Updates New strings spotted in code: “Contact carrier to set up eSIM” and “Unsupported plan detail.”
- Release Notes Fixes Core Data issue fixed, Apple Intelligence Foundation Models bug resolved, “Create Image” action now works in Shortcuts and Spotlight, Messages backgrounds now persist correctly.
- Liquid Glass UI No visual change vs Beta 8 — still the same translucent design across system apps and Control Center.
- Animations No speed changes from Beta 8. Animations remain smooth and fluid, though some users still find them “too fast.”
- Known Issues Wallet icon in Privacy → Location Services is still broken. Maps has some new gesture callback issues.
- Performance & Battery Performance is stable, same as Beta 8. Battery life is solid for a beta but not yet on iOS 18 levels.
- Cross-Platform Rollout Beta 9 also released for iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and HomePod software.
- What’s Next iOS 26 Release Candidate expected Sept 9 after Apple’s iPhone 17 event. Final release likely Sept 15.
This article is an independent summary of iOS 26 Beta 9 changes based on public developer release notes, transcript analysis, and community reports (Sept 2, 2025). All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners.