Apple Releases Third iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 Public Betas, New Developer Beta

by

Apple today released the third public betas of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, allowing the public to test the updates ahead of their September launch. The third public betas come a week after the second public betas. Apple has also released an updated version of the sixth ‌iOS 26‌ developer beta with a new build number.

iOS 26 Feature
Beta testers that have registered on Apple's website can download the ‌iOS 26‌ and ‌iPadOS 26‌ updates by opening the Settings app, going to the General section, tapping on Software Update, and choosing the ‌iOS 26‌ or ‌iPadOS 26‌ Public Beta options.

‌iOS 26‌ and ‌iPadOS 26‌ feature Apple's Liquid Glass design, with a visual aesthetic that focuses on transparency. Icons, menu buttons, navigation bars, and more reflect and refract light with subtle animations. There are pop-out menus in some areas, tab bars shrink down, and everything has a more rounded look.

iOS 26 on Three iPhones
There are new Apple Intelligence features like Visual Intelligence for screenshots, updated order tracking in the Wallet app, new features in Reminders, and Live Translation for the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps. Image Playground has ChatGPT style options, and Genmoji supports mixing two or more emoji characters to make something new.

ten messages features
2D photos have a more 3D look with a Spatial Scene feature, and Safari has updated navigation. In the Phone app, there are new Call Screening and Hold Assist features that will save you time, while the Messages app supports customizable backgrounds and polls. Apple Music has a DJ-like AutoMix feature, CarPlay has an overhauled interface, there's a new Apple Games app, and Preview has come to the iPhone for the first time.

ios 26 call holding
For more on all of the new features in the updates, we have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup and a separate iPadOS 26 roundup. ‌iOS 26‌ and ‌iPadOS 26‌ will launch in September.

Popular Stories

Apple Creator Studio

Apple Introduces New 'Creator Studio' Bundle of Apps for $129 Per Year

Tuesday January 13, 2026 6:11 am PST by
Apple today introduced a new Apple Creator Studio bundle that offers access to six creative apps, as well as exclusive AI features and content, as part of a single subscription. In the U.S., pricing is set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. Here are the six apps included with an Apple Creator Studio subscription:Final Cut Pro on the Mac and iPad Logic Pro on the Mac and iPad Pixelmator...
Read Full Article • 340 comments
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Apple Is Expected to Launch These Four MacBooks in 2026

Friday January 9, 2026 8:17 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. ...
Read Full Article • 118 comments
iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Apple Confirms Google Gemini Will Power Next-Generation Siri This Year

Monday January 12, 2026 7:38 am PST by
In a statement shared with CNBC today, Apple confirmed that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri that is slated to launch later this year. "After careful evaluation, we determined that Google's technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we're excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users," the statement...
Read Full Article • 267 comments
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

10 Reasons to Wait for This Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Thursday January 8, 2026 2:56 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
Read Full Article • 75 comments
iOS 26

Here's What's New in iOS 26.3 So Far

Monday January 12, 2026 1:15 pm PST by
Apple today seeded the second beta of iOS 26.3, nearly a month after the first beta. So far, the update includes a couple of new features for iPhones. iOS 15.3 through iOS 18.3 were all released in late January over the years, so it is thereby likely that iOS 26.3 will be released towards the end of this month as well. The update is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer. Below,...
Read Full Article • 46 comments
iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Elon Musk Reacts to Apple and Google Teaming on Gemini-Powered Siri

Monday January 12, 2026 11:38 am PST by
Elon Musk today expressed concern about Apple and Google partnering on a more personalized version of Siri powered by Google's generative AI platform Gemini. "This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that [they] also have Android and Chrome," wrote Musk, in a post on X. Musk serves as CEO of xAI, the company behind Gemini competitor Grok. It is unlikely...
Read Full Article • 224 comments
fcp pcp iwork creator studio

These Apple Apps Will No Longer Receive All New Features Without a Subscription

Tuesday January 13, 2026 10:50 am PST by
If you are not interested in subscribing to the new Apple Creator Studio bundle introduced today, you will officially start to miss out on some new features. Apple said some "exciting new intelligent features and premium content" in Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and Freeform will only be accessible with a Creator Studio subscription. In the U.S., a subscription...
Read Full Article • 347 comments
Apple Intelligence iPhone 16

Google Gemini Partnership With Apple Will Go Beyond Siri Revamp

Monday January 12, 2026 8:48 am PST by
Apple and Google today announced that Google Gemini will help power not only a more personalized version of Siri, but a range of future Apple Intelligence features. "Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology," the companies said, in a statement. "These...
Read Full Article • 231 comments
iOS 26

iOS 26.2.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhones

Monday January 12, 2026 8:19 am PST by
iOS 26.3 will likely be released to the public later this month, but it appears that Apple is preparing to push out another software update in the interim. Apple's software engineers have started testing iOS 26.2.1, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The update will likely be released at some point this week or next week. ...
Read Full Article • 31 comments

Top Rated Comments

Devyn89 Avatar
Devyn89
22 weeks ago

What's the battery life like on this release? ;)

I wonder if the new Apple Watch blood oxygen fix is included in this release.
Battery life quadrupled for me and my phone no longer ever needs to be charged ?
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
socialwill Avatar
socialwill
22 weeks ago
Maybe I am in the minority, but the new camera app selection slider is a PIA. It is harder to use, and has nothing to do with Liquid Glass. It is just the new way Apple thinks this is better, but it is harder to choose something without going the wrong way or completely bypassing what you want. Hopefully this is better in Beta 3.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LightProtector Avatar
LightProtector
22 weeks ago

... what a weird flex. Whom are you showing off for, exactly, with your superior app loading animation speed?
Know where performance matters to average users? Rendering time for websites in safari, or editing tasks in Photos. Actual quality of life stuff, which is where the iPhone has always shone.
Only an android user grasping at straws would fixate on something like app loading animation speed for bragging rights.
…for myself. I can do stuff faster on the phone because I’m less limited by animation. Phone feels faster and more powerful for me, not to brag to others ?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LightProtector Avatar
LightProtector
22 weeks ago

Doesn’t feel as smooth or faster than the previous one. Seems to have slowed down the animations again.
That’s unfortunate, I really liked the faster animations. iPhones are insanely powerful and the animations helped convey how fast it is.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
socialwill Avatar
socialwill
22 weeks ago

Maybe I am in the minority, but the new camera app selection slider is a PIA. It is harder to use, and has nothing to do with Liquid Glass. It is just the new way Apple thinks this is better, but it is harder to choose something without going the wrong way or completely bypassing what you want. Hopefully this is better in Beta 3.
Nope, still a PIA. How anyone would think this was an improvement for the camera app is lost on me. :mad:
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Parowdy Avatar
Parowdy
22 weeks ago

... what a weird flex. Whom are you showing off for, exactly, with your superior app loading animation speed?
Know where performance matters to average users? Rendering time for websites in safari, or editing tasks in Photos. Actual quality of life stuff, which is where the iPhone has always shone.
Only an android user grasping at straws would fixate on something like app loading animation speed for bragging rights.
Curb your attitude.
The faster opening AND CLOSING were very welcome QOL improvements while they lastet.
iOS only „shines“ for those you don’t care to look further.
You still have to process a video you want to share on WhatsApp or the like, something that sometimes feels like it takes as long as the video itself is.
iOS isn’t as polished as people like you want to think.
Want some proof? Scroll in photos and open the app switcher. It’s a stutter fest and it has been for years.

Stop hating on people that simply like their iPhone feeling more snappy in 2025 than in 2015.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments