Archives: iOS 26 features

iOS 26.3 Beta 2 — What’s New & Noteworthy

Software Update

iOS 26.3 Beta 2 — What’s New & Changes

Developer Beta

  • 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.

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iOS 26.2 Beta 1 – All New Features, Changes & Performance Summary

Software Update

iOS 26.2 Beta 1 — What’s New & Noteworthy

Developer Beta

  • Liquid Glass Intensity Slider Lock-screen clock’s Liquid Glass effect gains a new intensity slider under Customize → Liquid Glass. Sliding up increases tint and blur; sliding down produces a clearer, glass-like look.
  • Reminders Alarm Option You can now enable Urgent (Alarm) when creating a reminder — it plays an alarm even if Focus is active or the phone is muted. A global toggle and “Complete” shortcut are also available.
  • Podcasts — Auto Chapters & Mentions Apple Podcasts now supports automatically generated chapters, podcast mentions, and a From this episode section showing links and topics referenced by the host.
  • Apple News UI Redesign Navigation bar updated — Audio and Following now separate. Added horizontal “Discover” slider on the main feed for trending categories like Sports, Business, and Entertainment.
  • Enhanced Safety Alerts New Enhanced Alerts section under Notifications includes earthquake alerts, imminent threat warnings, and an option to share approximate location to improve alert delivery.
  • Sleep Tracking Changes Sleep Score levels updated: Very Low (0–40), Low (41–60), OK (61–80), High (81–95), Very High (96–100). Sleep Focus icon now purple instead of green.
  • Live Translation Expansion AirPods Live Translation expands to the EU starting with iOS 26.2. Apple confirms rollout expected in December — likely timing for the final 26.2 release.
  • Performance & Battery Performance remains consistent with 26.1. Early Geekbench results on iPhone 17 Pro Max ≈ 3856 single / 9767 multi. Battery drain minimal in short-term testing.
  • Stability & Release Timeline First beta feels stable and fluid. Expect multiple betas before final — estimated release around mid–December 2025.

This summary covers iOS 26.2 Beta 1 (November 2025) based on developer testing and early beta feedback. All names and trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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iOS 26.1 Beta 4 — Liquid Glass Toggle, Camera Fixes & More

Software Update

iOS 26.1 Beta 4 — What’s New & Noteworthy

Expected Final Release

  • Liquid Glass Toggle New option under Display & Brightness → Liquid Glass lets you switch between Clear and Tinted modes for a custom transparency effect throughout iOS 26.
  • Refined Glow Effect Tapping liquid glass elements no longer brightens the entire background — Apple subtly reduced the “blow-out” effect for cleaner visuals.
  • Display Zoom Preview Update Now shows the new iOS 26 wallpapers inside Display Zoom settings (though the Messages app preview still shows the old layout — a known bug).
  • Apple Intelligence UI Adjustment “Beta” badge removed and title now left-aligned to match other settings sections; may signal it’s nearing public release status.
  • Lock-Screen Camera Toggle A long-requested switch in Camera settings lets you disable “Swipe left to open camera” on the lock screen — no more accidental launches.
  • Bug Fixes & Known Issues Fixed: devices sleeping unexpectedly while using lock-screen apps. Known: Airdrop icon visual defect and Portuguese news queries fallback to web/chat search.
  • Performance & Battery Stable and fluid experience reported on iPhone 17 Pro Max (Geekbench scores ≈ 3786 single / 9742 multi). Battery life appears unchanged from beta 3.
  • Next Steps RC (build 23B5073A) expected around Oct 27 → public release week of Nov 3 → then 26.2 Beta 1 and 26.0.2 bug-fix update shortly after.

This summary covers iOS 26.1 Beta 4 (October 2025) based on developer testing and public beta observations. All names and trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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iOS 26 Release: Key Features That Make a Real Difference

Software Update

iOS 26 Features That Actually Make a Difference

Expected Release

  • Faster & Smoother Animations Navigation feels quicker and more fluid compared to iOS 18, making even older iPhones (11, 12, 13) feel refreshed.
  • Charging Time Estimates When plugged in, iPhones now show exactly how long until 80%, 90%, or 100% charge — handy when in a rush.
  • Anti-Spam Call Protection Unknown callers must provide their name and reason before the phone rings, reducing spam and scam attempts.
  • On-Screen Visual Intelligence Highlight objects in screenshots or on-screen to instantly search for products, items, or info related to what you see.
  • Bottom Search Bars New search bars at the bottom of Settings and Messages improve accessibility on larger devices.
  • Adaptive Power Mode Automatically saves battery by lowering brightness, delaying background tasks, or enabling Low Power Mode at 20%.
  • Enhanced Web Apps If a website is shared to the Home Screen, it automatically opens full-screen like a native app, providing better integration and a native-like experience.

This article summarizes the most impactful iOS 26 features (Sept 2025). Information is based on beta testing and expected public release notes. All trademarks and product names belong to their respective owners.

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