MacRumors

Apple may adopt tandem OLED display technology for its iPhone lineup as early as 2028 if panel supplier LG Display has its way, according to a new report from DealSite.co.kr.

LG Display is currently a leader in tandem OLED technology, ranking first in the number of published U.S. patent applications in the tandem OLED field with 348 patents.

The company is said to have been actively promoting the adoption of tandem OLED structures for future iPhones, and is specifically targeting iPhone models planned for release in 2028. However, the final decision remains with Apple.

Tandem OLED technology stacks two organic light-emitting layers, delivering improved brightness, extended lifespan, and better power efficiency compared to single-layer displays currently used in iPhones. Apple already uses this technology in its M4 iPad Pro models, where LG Display captured a 65% share of panel shipments, with Samsung picking up the rest of the orders.

The technology has already proven to be viable in mobile devices, with Chinese smartphone maker Honor equipping its Magic6 PSR Porsche with tandem OLED panels from BOE last year.

Assuming its efforts to sway Apple pay off, LG Display is preparing for potential capacity challenges, as tandem structures require stacking two emission layers which could reduce manufacturing throughput. The company is reportedly planning investments to address these production constraints.

A report earlier this month claimed that the tandem OLED Apple has been reviewing for iPhones involves stacking two layers for the blue sub-pixel only, while keeping red and green on a single layer. This method is apparently known in the industry as "simplified tandem."

LG Display was said to have proposed simplified tandem OLED to Apple based on confidence in its technology, and actually suggested tandem OLED for iPhones several years ago.

If Apple ultimately chooses to use tandem OLED panels for iPhones, it is likely to rely on multiple suppliers for the technology to ensure production capacity and maintain price competitiveness. That suggests Samsung and BOE may also be called upon. As with all rumors running this far into the future, Apple's plans could of course change.

With iOS 26 (currently in beta), Apple has finally caught up with rival podcast apps like Overcast by adding more fine-grained playback speed controls to the Podcasts app.

While competitors have long offered precise speed adjustments, Apple's rigid presets often left you caught between speeds that felt either too slow or uncomfortably fast.

In previous versions of iOS, Apple's stock Podcasts app provided only four fixed playback speed options: 1.25x, 1.5x, 1.75, and 2x. That's changed in iOS 26, and users now have a lot more flexibility.

Not only has Apple increased the range of playback speeds from 0.5x to 3x, the updated setting also allows you to adjust the speed in 0.1x increments, thanks to a new, more granular adjustment interface.

How to Adjust Podcast Playback Speed

Here's how to find your perfect playback speed.

1. Open the Podcasts app and start playing any show.
2. Open the fullscreen playback controls.
3. Tap the playback speed button (1x) in the bottom left.
4. Tap one of the preset playback speed options. Alternatively, drag your finger over the preset options to invoke a dial allowing for 0.1x incremental adjustments.

The expanded range opens up new possibilities: Super slow speeds may be useful for listening to podcasts where the host speaks too fast, as well as language learning or transcription work, whereas the upper speeds can be used to boost the pace of plodding narrators, or help you when you just want to skim-listen to a show.

Best of all, the new playback speed setting remembers your preference for each individual podcast, so you shouldn't need to adjust it every time you return to the same show.

Apple will roll out iOS 26 to compatible iPhones in September 2025.

Apple today announced its "Awe Dropping" iPhone-centric event, which is set to take place on Tuesday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. There are a long list of products that are coming, but we thought we'd pull out five feature highlights to look forward to.

• That Super Thin iPhone - Apple's September 9 event will see the unveiling of the first redesigned iPhone we've had in years, with Apple set to introduce an ultra thin iPhone 17. We don't know the name of the device just yet, but "iPhone 17 Air" makes sense given Apple's other product names. It should be around 5.5mm thick, which will make it the thinnest ‌iPhone‌ to date. It's not without compromises, though, so it'll only have a single-lens camera and battery life could be shorter than expected.
• Satellite for the Wrist - The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is rumored to include satellite connectivity, allowing wearers to get help in an emergency using a satellite connection in remote areas where Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity are unavailable. Unfortunately, it sounds like it's going to be an Ultra only feature, so don't expect it for the Apple Watch Series 11.
• AirPods Heart Rate - Apple is finally refreshing the AirPods Pro, and along with improved Active Noise Cancellation, better sound, and a refined design, rumors suggest that the AirPods will get in-ear heart rate tracking, much like the Powerbeats Pro 2.
• New "Pro" Camera Design - The ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ is going to be the star of the event, but Apple is redesigning the iPhone 17 Pro models too. There's a new pill-shaped camera bump that's much bigger than before, plus we're expecting a more durable build for the back that primarily uses aluminum instead of glass. It's not quite clear why the cameras are changing, but there are rumors of a 48-megapixel Telephoto lens with up to 8x optical zoom.
• Colors, Cases, Lanyards and More - Apple usually chooses muted colors for the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models, but this year we're getting some shade of orange. It might be more copper than orange, but still, it's sounding like it might be a little brighter than Apple's typical safe color choices. The ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ will come in a light blue, and there are some interesting case rumors too. Apple is supposedly introducing new "TechWoven" fabric cases to replace the ill-fated FineWoven cases everyone hated, and it looks like Apple's case lineup is going to get little cutouts to support straps and lanyards.

Read More

If you want more information on all of the features expected for the ‌iPhone 17‌ series, the new Apple Watch models, and the AirPods Pro 3, make sure to check out our roundups and guides. Warning: there are definitely spoilers.

• iPhone 17
• iPhone 17 Pro
• iPhone 17 Air
• Apple Watch Ultra 3
• Apple Watch Series 11
• Apple Watch SE
• AirPods Pro 3

How to Watch

Apple's "Awe Dropping" event will start at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, September 9. Apple will livestream the event on its website on YouTube, and through the Apple TV app on supported devices.

For those unable to watch the livestream, MacRumors will be providing full event coverage on MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive Twitter account, plus we'll do a much deeper dive into all the announcements post event.

Apple today updated the Apple Invites app, introducing a new widget that can be added to the Home Screen. Apple says that the widget can be used to count down to your next event.

After updating to the latest version of the Apple Invites app, you can add the new widget to your ‌Home Screen‌ by long pressing, tapping on Edit, and then choosing the "Add Widget" option.

There are three widget sizes, including small, medium, and large. The widgets are all the same, and are designed to tell you how many days there are remaining until an upcoming event.

Tapping on a created event opens up the Invites app where you can see more information about it.

Apple introduced the Invites app back in February, and it has received a few updates since then. Invites is an event planning app that supports creating custom invitations with unique background images, fonts, and relevant information like directions and weather.

Invites is free to download, but it is an iCloud+ service, which means an ‌iCloud‌+ subscription is needed to create an event. ‌iCloud‌+ is Apple's paid ‌iCloud‌ storage upgrade option, with plans starting at $0.99 per month.

The Invites app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Apple is no longer allowed to advertise the Apple Watch as a carbon neutral product in Germany, reports Reuters. A regional court in Frankfurt, Germany decided that Apple is violating competition law with the claim.

Environmentalists with Deutsche Umwelthilfe complained that Apple was misleading consumers by stating that the Apple Watch was a carbon neutral product, and the court ultimately agreed. The environmental group hailed the ruling as a win against "greenwashing."

Back in 2023, Apple said that the Apple Watch was one of its first carbon neutral devices, furthering its goal to make every product carbon neutral by the end of 2030.

Apple uses clean energy to manufacture the Apple Watch, and to reduce carbon emissions for Apple Watch manufacturing, it also uses 30 percent renewable material by weight and ships 50 percent of the devices without air transportation. Apple claims that this results in a 75 percent reduction in product emissions, with the company using "high-quality carbon credits" to address the remaining emissions.

Germany takes issue with the carbon credits that Apple is claiming are valid for neutralizing Apple Watch carbon emissions. Apple has established environmental projects under its Restore Fund, supporting forest restoration projects in Paraguay and Brazil.

Apple outlined the project back in 2024. It is working with Forestal Apepu to develop fast-growing eucalyptus forests for timber production on deforested lands, while also protecting remaining natural forest areas. Ecologists believe that monocultures like the one Apple is supporting harm biodiversity and require too much water.

Apple leases the land for its forest projects, and because many of the leases expire in 2029, the German court said that the future of the forest project was not secure.

An Apple spokesperson told Reuters that it plans to stop using the carbon neutral labeling for Apple Watches to comply with upcoming EU legislation.

Apple is launching a new retail store location in India, with Apple Koregaon Park set to open on Thursday, September 4 at 1:00 p.m. local time.

Apple Koregaon Park is located in Pune, in the state of Maharashtra. Apple already has two retail store locations that are operational in India, including one in Mumbai and one in New Delhi.

Earlier this week, Apple announced a third store located in Bengaluru, which will open two days before Apple Koregaon Park. Apple Koregaon Park will be Apple's fourth retail store in India when it opens.

"Namaskar, Pune," reads Apple's store announcement for the location. "The first Apple Store in the city opens its doors soon. We can't wait to see your vibrant ideas come to life at Apple Koregaon Park."

Apple is using the same peacock-feathered Apple logo for Apple Koregaon Park that it is using for the Hebbal store in Bengaluru, with a wallpaper available from Apple's website.

Apple launched its first two stores in India back in 2023, after launching the online store in the country in 2020.

Apple created a unique interactive Apple logo for its September 9 event, which can be interacted with on the main Apple.com website. The website currently features an animated Apple logo front and center, which changes when touched.

On an iPhone or an iPad, holding a finger over the Apple logo shifts it to a darker orange the longer you hold, and when swiping, the colors will change and follow your finger. On the Mac, you can use a mouse or a trackpad for the same effect.

The Apple logo for the "Awe Dropping" event is designed to look like a thermal map or the output that you might see on a thermal camera. The colors change from shades of blue to shades of orange, perhaps a nod to the new ‌iPhone‌ colors that are expected.

Rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Pro models could be available in orange and dark blue, while the iPhone 17 Air is expected to come in a light blue shade.

Apple used to do interactive augmented reality Apple logo designs that could be projected into the room with you, but the company stopped doing that in 2023. Since then, Apple has created animated Apple logos, some of which can be interacted with on the Apple.com website.

The upcoming September 9 event will see Apple unveiling new iPhones and Apple Watch models, and perhaps a new version of the AirPods Pro. It's set to take place at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

After this morning's announcement of Apple's upcoming iPhone-centric event on September 9, Apple has added an event placeholder to its YouTube channel.

Apple will stream the "Awe Dropping" event on YouTube, on its Apple Events website, and in the Apple TV app, so there are multiple ways to watch it.

YouTube users can click on the video placeholder and select the "Notify me" option to get a notification when the livestream is up. There's also an included countdown.

If YouTube has your location information, the notification and countdown will be displayed in local time, which makes it a good way to double check when you will need to tune in to watch the event. Apple's events are almost always at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, which is 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, evening in Europe, and early morning in countries in Asia and Australia.

The dedicated Apple Events website also has an option to add the event to your calendar for a cross-platform reminder.

For those who are unable to watch, MacRumors will be providing full event coverage on MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive Twitter account so you can follow along with the announcements.

Apple will hold its annual iPhone-centric event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, according to an announcement that went out today. The event will start at 10:00 a.m., with select members of the media invited to attend.

At the September 2025 iPhone event, Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 lineup, which includes an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. It will come alongside the standard ‌iPhone 17‌, iPhone 17 Pro, and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max.

The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models are expected to feature a new, more durable build with an aluminum frame, along with a redesigned bar-shaped rear camera module. All the ‌iPhone 17‌ models will get updated A19 or A19 Pro chips, and ProMotion could be standard across the line.

The ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ will be Apple's thinnest and lightest ‌iPhone‌ to date, and it will replace the "Plus" ‌iPhone‌. It's expected to feature a 6.6-inch display, Apple's C1 modem, and a single-lens rear camera.

Apple will also unveil the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3, marking the first time in three years that all Apple Watch models have been updated at the same time. Other possibilities include AirPods Pro 3 with an updated design, a new HomePod mini, and a refreshed Apple TV 4K.

In addition to new hardware, Apple will provide launch dates for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, and the rest of its upcoming software.

Apple plans to stream the fall event live on its website, on YouTube, and through the ‌Apple TV‌ app. For those unable to watch, MacRumors will be providing full event coverage on MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

Apple's iOS 26 update, currently in beta, brings a nice optional upgrade to screen capture quality with HDR (High Dynamic Range) capture support. The new feature captures or video-records what's on your iPhone's screen while preserving rich colors and detail.

HDR screenshots are particularly valuable when capturing content with high contrast – like bright app interfaces against dark backgrounds, HDR videos, or detailed photos. The enhanced dynamic range preserves details that would typically be lost in standard screenshots, making them ideal for sharing visual content or documenting app interfaces with greater fidelity.

How to Enable HDR Screenshots

The following steps show you how to switch from standard to HDR screenshot capture:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap General.
3. Tap Screen Capture.
4. Under "Format," tap HDR.

That's all there is to it. Your iPhone will now capture all screenshots in HDR format, and video record in HEVC HDR10 format, providing superior image quality with enhanced dynamic range. Just be mindful that the trade-off is larger file sizes, as HDR captures store more image data than standard PNG screenshots and HEVC screen recording.

To return to standard screenshot capture, simply select SDR (Most Compatible) under the same "Format" section in the settings menu.

Additional Screen Capture Features

iOS 26 also includes other useful screen capture options in the same Settings menu. You can enable Full-Screen Previews to display screenshots in a larger view instead of showing a thumbnail, turn on Automatic Visual Look Up to identify objects in your screenshots, and enable or disable CarPlay Screenshots for capturing car display screens.

Apple executives have reportedly discussed acquiring Mistral AI and Perplexity, The Information reports.

Services chief Eddy Cue is apparently the most vocal advocate of a deal to buy AI firms to bolster the company's offerings. Cue previously supported propositions of Apple acquiring Netflix and Tesla, both of which Apple CEO Tim Cook turned down. Other executives such as software chief Craig Federighi have reportedly been reluctant to acquire AI startups, believing that Apple can build its own AI technology in-house.

Mistral AI is a Paris-based artificial intelligence company founded in 2023 that develops open-weight large language models designed to be smaller, faster, and easier to deploy than many competitors, while still delivering strong performance across reasoning and coding tasks. The company positions itself as a European alternative to American players like OpenAI and Anthropic.

Perplexity is a U.S.-based artificial intelligence company that builds an AI-powered search and answer engine combining large language models with real-time web indexing to provide cited, conversational responses. Unlike traditional search engines, it prioritizes transparency by showing sources alongside answers, positioning itself as an alternative to Google for information retrieval.

Apple is said to be hesitant to do a deal, which would likely cost billions of dollars. Apple has rarely spent more than a hundred million dollars on an acquision, with Beats at $3 billion and Intel's wireless modem business at $1 billion.

If a federal ruling ends the $20 billion deal between Apple and Alphabet that makes Google the default search engine on its devices, the company could be compelled to acquire an AI-powered search startup to fill that gap. For now, Apple apparently told bankers that it plans to continue with its strategy of focusing on smaller deals in AI.

Amazon this week is providing low prices on multiple models of the iPad mini 7, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. Colors on sale at this price include Purple, Space Gray, and Blue.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Compared to past sales, this is about $20 higher than the all-time low price and a solid second-best option, considering we haven't seen that record low price return since Prime Day. You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $499.00, which is another $100 discount and available in multiple colors.

Deals on the cellular models are a bit more sparse, but you can get the 128GB cellular iPad mini 7 for $549.00, down from $649.00, which is another second-best price on this tablet. Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

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Parallels Desktop 26 for Mac has just been released, bringing new features and performance enhancements to the virtualization software, including full support for Apple's forthcoming macOS Tahoe operating system.

In an effort to reduce user confusion, Parallels Desktop 26 now follows the same new versioning practice that Apple's operating systems have adopted this year. This release also provides full support for background process changes Apple has made in macOS 26 Tahoe, ensuring setup routines and Coherence mode run smoothly.

As well as full macOS Tahoe support, this version provides full compatibility with Windows 11 25H2. Windows VMs can now also view the actual available disk space on the Mac host, giving users better control over storage and helping to prevent freezes, slowdowns, and crashes during large installations or disk-heavy operations.

For businesses and IT teams, there are new centralized controls via the Parallels Desktop Enterprise Management Portal that allow IT admins to enforce settings like shared folders, USB access, clipboard sharing, and network modes across all users, ensuring virtual machines comply with organization security requirements.

Meanwhile, IT admins can now monitor and manage Windows OS updates inside VMs using Jamf Pro or other mobile device management (MDM) platforms. Scripts available from Parallels' GitHub also enable IT admins to check update status and initiate scans or installations directly from the management console.

This latest update builds on new features steadily introduced over the past year, including support for Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools, x86 emulation preview to support legacy apps, OBS Camera integration for enhanced video workflows, and support for applications like Dragon Medical One to meet specialized industry needs.

Parallels Desktop 26 for Mac is available in Standard, Pro, Business, and Enterprise editions, and can be purchased or upgraded to at parallels.com/desktop or from authorized resellers. For more information, including the option to download a free trial, see the Parallels website.

Spotify is rolling out a new direct messaging feature that allows users to share music, podcast, and audiobook recommendations directly within the app. Messages is launching this week in select markets for Free and Premium users aged 16 and older.

The feature integrates into Spotify's existing sharing functionality - tap the share icon while listening to content in the Now Playing view and select a friend to message. Recipients can accept or reject message requests, and they can respond in kind with text and emoji reactions.

Messages are limited to one-on-one conversations between users who have previously interacted through Spotify features like Jams, Blends, or Collaborative Playlists, or those who share a Family or Duo plan. All shared content is stored in a Messages inbox accessible through your profile picture.

Spotify says conversations that take place over Messages are protected with industry-standard encryption and subject to the platform's existing content moderation policies.

The feature isn't meant as a replacement for sharing Spotify content over Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and the like – the company wants users to continue using these social media integrations, with Messages on Spotify designed to complement them.

It's the second new Spotify feature to launch in as many weeks, following the introduction of a mixing feature that allows Premium subscribers to create seamless transitions between playlist tracks.

Apple has quietly expanded availability of its music transfer tool to seven additional countries, allowing users to import playlists and libraries from competing streaming services directly into Apple Music.

The feature initially launched in Australia and New Zealand in May 2025, and is now available in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to an updated Apple Support document.

The transfer tool lets users migrate their saved music, albums, and playlists from services like Spotify through a partnership with SongShift. Users can initiate transfers through the Apple Music app on iPhone/iPad via the Music app settings menu (On iPhone, go to Settings ➝ Apps ➝ Music ➝ Transfer Music from Other Music Services).

If you don't see the above option, go to music.apple.com in your web browser, sign into your Apple Account, then click your profile picture in the top-right corner and select Transfer Music.

Apple Music attempts to match songs in its catalog, flagging items that need review when exact matches aren't found. Only user-created playlists can be transferred, not service-generated ones.

The expansion may indicate Apple is readying the tool for further international rollout in the coming months.

Apple is planning to completely change the design of the iPhone over the course of the next three years, leading to a radically different "‌iPhone‌ 20" to celebrate the ‌iPhone‌'s 20th anniversary in 2027.

Here's what's coming.

2025

In 2025, Apple plans to debut the iPhone 17 Air, a much thinner version of the ‌iPhone‌. Rumors suggest that it could be as thin as 5.5mm, which would make it the thinnest ‌iPhone‌ to date.

Apple is prioritizing the new, slimmed down chassis over features, and there will be some compromises. The ‌iPhone 17 Air‌ is expected to have a single-lens camera and lower battery life because Apple has to use a thinner battery. Still, it is an all-new design, and it helps Apple start the move to slimmer smartphones.

2026

The first foldable ‌iPhone‌ is coming in 2026, and that will be the biggest change to Apple's smartphone lineup in ‌iPhone‌ history. Over the weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman shared a few more details on the device, adding to what we already know.

Apple's 2026 flagship ‌iPhone‌ will fold like a book, featuring an outer display when closed and a larger interior display when open. Apple has been working to reduce the crease, so the foldable ‌iPhone‌ will look like a single piece of glass.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the foldable ‌iPhone‌ will have a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner display. When it's unfolded, it'll be even thinner than the ‌iPhone 17 Air‌. It'll measure 4.5 to 4.8mm when open, and between 9 and 9.5mm when closed.

There will again be compromises, with Apple dropping Face ID and using Touch ID authentication instead. It will also be limited to a dual-lens rear camera, instead of a triple-lens setup, though there will be two front-facing cameras to make sure there's a selfie cam when it's open and when it's closed.

The foldable ‌iPhone‌ will be sold alongside more standard iPhone 18 models.

2027

For the ‌iPhone‌'s 20th anniversary in 2027, Apple has big plans. You might think that the 20th anniversary ‌iPhone‌ will be a foldable device, but that's not the plan.

Apple is working on an ‌iPhone‌ with a wraparound display that curves around all of the edges, so there will be no bezels at all. It will look like a single piece of glass, with no squared edges and no cutouts at the front.

Apple is preparing for the all-glass ‌iPhone‌ with the 2025 and 2026 iPhones, and with the new Liquid Glass design in iOS 26.

Which ‌iPhone‌ are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below.

Apple today released the fifth public betas of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and tvOS 26, allowing the public to test the updates ahead of their September launch. The fifth public betas come a week after the fourth public betas, and the updates correspond with the eighth developer betas that were released earlier today.

Public beta testers that have registered on Apple's website can download the latest ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and macOS 26 public betas by opening the Settings or System Settings app, going to the General section, tapping on Software Update, and choosing the ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, or macOS 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.

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.

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.

macOS Tahoe has the same Liquid Glass design as ‌iOS 26‌, and it extends to app icons, folders, the Dock, in-app navigation, menus, the Control Center, and the Menu Bar. The Control Center and the Menu Bar are customizable, and you're also able to customize folders, app icons, and widgets.

Safari has an updated tab design and a redesigned sidebar, and Apple has brought the Phone app to the Mac for making phone calls through Wi-Fi Calling. The Phone app supports the new Call Screening and Hold Assist features.

Spotlight has been overhauled with improved search and the ability to execute hundreds of actions without opening up an app. There's a new Games app with a Game Overlay feature, and developers have access to Metal 4.

More on what's new can be found in our iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe roundups. This is likely to be the final public beta of ‌iOS 26‌ before the release candidate and the launch version.

Apple today provided developers with iOS 26 beta 8, which means that beta testing is likely coming to an end. Apple typically only seeds eight developer betas of an iOS update before the software gets a final launch.

Apple did not go beyond eight betas for iOS 18, iOS 17, iOS 16, iOS 15, iOS 14, or iOS 13. Way back in 2018, iOS 12 did have a ninth beta, a tenth beta, an eleventh beta, and a twelfth beta, but no other new versions of iOS have been updated as frequently ahead of a planned September launch date.

With ‌iOS 18‌, Apple released the eighth beta on August 28, and there were no subsequent betas. Since the eighth ‌iOS 26‌ beta came on August 25, the timing is similar.

Apple could always deviate from its testing cycle and throw in another beta if there are still major bugs to be worked out, but Apple software engineers are likely focused on getting the ‌iOS 26‌ release candidate ready. There were no major changes found in the eighth beta of ‌iOS 26‌, and we are still waiting on the final public beta.

Ahead of when ‌iOS 26‌ sees an official launch in September, Apple will provide a finalized release candidate as the last testing step. If Apple follows its past pattern, we'll get the release candidate for ‌iOS 26‌ just after the September iPhone event.

Rumors suggest Apple will hold this year's ‌iPhone‌ event on September 9, so the release candidate would be made available on that date. iOS launches typically happen a few days before new ‌iPhone‌ models come out. Apple often holds ‌iPhone‌ pre-orders on the Friday after an event, and then the next Friday is the official launch date. So ‌iPhone‌ pre-orders will likely be on September 12, with a launch on September 19. With that timeline, ‌iOS 26‌ will launch to the public sometime between September 15 and September 17.

We are also not expecting to see any additional betas of iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, and watchOS 26 before the release candidates come out on ‌iPhone‌ event day.