Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 26, offering general users early access to one of the most significant updates to the iPhone operating system in years. With a bold new design language, smarter AI integration, and major app upgrades, iOS 26 is set to officially roll out in mid-September 2025, likely alongside the iPhone 17 launch.
What’s New in iOS 26 Public Beta
This public beta includes all the headline features introduced in earlier developer builds:
- Liquid Glass Design: A complete aesthetic overhaul with translucent UI elements, spatial wallpapers, and fluid motion effects across the lock screen, Control Center, and core apps. It draws inspiration from visionOS to create a more immersive experience.
- Apple Intelligence: A suite of on-device AI features that powers smart summaries, content generation, visual understanding of screenshots, and smarter Siri interactions. Many of these features are optimized for newer iPhone models with advanced chipsets.
- Live Translation: Real-time multilingual translation integrated into Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps. This makes conversations with users across different languages seamless and app-free.
- Enhanced Phone App: Features like Call Screening and Hold Assist give users more control over incoming calls and waiting lines.
- Messages Upgrades: Customizable chat themes, in-message polls, improved sticker tools, and RCS support for richer communication.
- Revamped Core Apps: The Photos app gets better organization, search, and memory features. Safari offers smarter search suggestions and AI-driven article summaries.
- AutoMix in Apple Music: Seamless song transitions, ideal for workouts or parties. This joins other creative enhancements like the new Apple Games app, replacing the legacy Game Center.
Beta 4 Refinements Included
The public beta version is built on Developer Beta 4, which introduced subtle but meaningful refinements:
- Improved transparency and blur effects in the Liquid Glass theme.
- Dynamic wallpapers that change with system settings and context.
- CarPlay enhancements with more customizable dashboard layouts.
- AI notification summaries that help users prioritize content based on urgency and relevance.
- Dark adaptive backgrounds for the notification center to improve readability.
Device Compatibility
The iOS 26 public beta is available to users with iPhone 11 and newer models. However, many Apple Intelligence features are limited to newer devices—especially those running A18 chipsets and later. This means while most users can try out the new interface and visual design, AI tools may be limited based on hardware.
Users can enroll via Apple’s Beta Software Program. While the enrollment is free, Apple strongly recommends backing up your device before installation, as early beta versions may have performance bugs or app incompatibilities.
Why This Public Beta Matters
This is Apple’s most ambitious iOS update since the flat design of iOS 7. With a focus on smarter software, deeper customization, and spatial design, iOS 26 positions the iPhone as not just a smartphone—but a fully personalized digital assistant.
The Liquid Glass design modernizes the user interface for a more dynamic, depth-aware experience. Meanwhile, Apple Intelligence makes everyday tasks—like summarizing emails, filtering notifications, or translating conversations—easier and more intuitive. Together, these updates reflect a strong push toward contextual, AI-powered user experiences across the Apple ecosystem.
