Apple held its Worldwide Builders Convention a month in the past, throughout which it previewed the newest working system upgrades throughout all of its units, together with iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, TVOS, WatchOS, and extra. These updates give Apple customers, no matter whether or not they have the newest {hardware}, the chance to have a tool refresh — and this yr, maybe greater than ever.
Throughout the occasion, Apple launched Liquid Glass, a brand new search for all of its units that embodies a glass-inspired aesthetic and is the most important redesign in 13 years. It additionally launched a handful of thrilling options, from the viral AutoMix feature for Apple Music to the Apple Shortcuts AI makeover.
Additionally: How to clear your iPhone cache (and why it greatly improves the performance)
Though the official launch of Apple’s newest working methods will not occur till the autumn with the introduction of the newest iPhone lineup, here is what it is advisable to know in regards to the public betas, which shall be launched quickly and provide you with a preview of the entire newest options.
When will iOS 26 public beta be launched?
In line with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on social media final week, the iOS 26 public beta is prone to arrive on or round July 23.
Additionally: Your iPhone is getting a major upgrade – 10 best features I can’t wait to try in iOS 26
In his most up-to-date Power On newsletter, Gurman clarified, “All indications are that iOS 26 ought to go into the general public beta section this coming week,” which nonetheless factors to that mid‑to‑late July timeframe.
Apple hasn’t formally confirmed a date but, however stories strongly recommend the general public betas will open on Tuesday, July 23.
How do I take part within the Apple Beta Software program Program?
To enroll, all it’s a must to do is go to the Apple Beta Software Program site and click on the blue sign-up button. The Apple Beta Software program Program is free and open to anybody with an Apple Account who accepts the Apple Beta Software program Program Settlement.
Additionally: How to download the iOS 26 beta on your iPhone right now (and which models support it)
When you enroll and the general public beta is accessible, you may go to Settings > Common > Software program Replace > Beta Updates and click on on iOS 26 Public Beta. It’s price highlighting that the betas are known as betas for a motive — they don’t seem to be the ultimate product and might include bugs that may damage your gadget’s efficiency by slowing it down and draining battery. Apple recommends downloading the beta on a tool that’s not your major gadget and backing up all of your info prior to installing it.
What units are getting a brand new beta for his or her working system?
The general public betas shall be out there throughout your entire Apple ecosystem of units, together with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, MacOS Tahoe 26, TVOS 26, HomePod software program 26, WatchOS 26, HomePod Software program 26, and AirPods Firmware.
Additionally: Every iPhone model getting iOS 26 (and which ones don’t support it)
The units eligible for the beta embody:
- iOS 26: iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Professional, iPhone 16 Professional Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Professional, iPhone 15 Professional Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Professional, iPhone 14 Professional Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Professional, iPhone 13 Professional Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Professional, iPhone 12 Professional Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Professional, iPhone 11 Professional Max, iPhone SE (2nd era and later)
- iPadOS 26: iPad Professional (M4), iPad Professional 12.9‑inch (third era and later), iPad Professional 11‑inch (1st era and later), iPad Air (M3), iPad Air (M2), iPad Air (third era and later), iPad (A16), iPad (eighth era and later), iPad mini (A17 Professional), iPad mini (fifth era and later)
- macOS Tahoe 26: MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later), MacBook Professional with Apple silicon (2020 and later), MacBook Professional (16‑inch, 2019), MacBook Professional (13‑inch, 2020, 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports), iMac (2020 and later), Mac mini (2020 and later), Mac Studio (2022 and later), Mac Professional (2019 and later)
- watchOS 26: Apple Watch SE (2nd era), Apple Watch Sequence 6, Apple Watch Sequence 7, Apple Watch Sequence 8, Apple Watch Sequence 9, Apple Watch Sequence 10, Apple Watch Extremely, Apple Watch Extremely 2
- AirPods Firmware: AirPods Professional 2, AirPods 4 (with and with out ANC)
What new options ought to we anticipate?
Apple introduced a slew of latest options throughout each single gadget in its ecosystem, and you may learn extra about the entire bulletins in ZDNET’s event roundup. Nevertheless, here is an summary of the most important bulletins:
iOS 26
The brand new Liquid Glass design is likely one of the greatest upgrades coming to all units with the iOS 26 refresh. It’s a actually thrilling improve to be looking out for as a result of it’s going to make your telephone look and feel model new. It’s a complete new aesthetic, making every thing from your own home display screen to apps to settings look totally different. It additionally mimics real-life physics, reacting to the way you faucet, swipe, and even maintain your telephone.
Additionally: 7 AI features coming to iOS 26 that I can’t wait to use (and how you can try them)
As talked about within the intro, the brand new AutoMix function can also be out there. That is an on-command, AI-powered DJ that transitions songs virtually in addition to knowledgeable, matching the important thing and tempo of the music. A much less enjoyable, however extraordinarily vital improve is a cleaner digicam app redesign, which removes the litter and confusion of the present one with the addition of Library and Collections tabs.
Telephone calls and textual content messaging are additionally getting upgrades, together with a brand new screen-calling function, which may detect spam for you; Maintain Help, which may let you already know when you’re off maintain and an agent is definitely prepared that can assist you; and FaceTime and text-message AI-powered dwell translation, to call a number of.
iPad OS 26
iPadOS can even have the aforementioned Liquid Glass, Dwell translations in Messages, FaceTime, and Calls, AutoMix, and Name Screening. The most important win for iPad customers is the brand new windowing system, which lets customers resize net pages and apps just like how you’d on a laptop computer. That is enormous for energy customers as now you can work with a number of home windows and tabs directly, making it a lot simpler to multitask.
Additionally: iPadOS 26 is turning my iPad Air into the ultraportable laptop it was meant to be
MacOS Tahoe 26
Along with the options above which might be coming to each iOS 26 and iPad OS 26, MacOS can also be getting Dwell Actions from iPhone on Mac. This can permit customers to sync actions immediately with their iPhones, offering entry to latest calls and contacts, making the handoff between units extra seamless.
Additionally: Your MacBook is getting a big upgrade for free. 5 features I can’t wait to try on MacOS 26
WatchOS 26
The brand new Exercise Buddy function was one of many standouts of WatchOS. It’s an AI-powered function that makes use of your precise health knowledge historical past, which it has collected over time, to supply real-time insights when you work out. For instance, as you might be working, it can provide you phrases of encouragement or insights on how you might be performing in comparison with earlier instances.
Additionally: Big upgrades are coming to your Apple Watch – 8 features I can’t wait to use on WatchOS 26
AirPods firmware
iOS 26 brings two options to AirPods with Apple’s superior H2 audio chip. With the replace, your AirPods Professional 2 or AirPods 4 can management your gadget’s digicam shutter through the Digital camera app for a appropriate third-party digicam app. Moreover, iOS 26 will enhance the audio high quality of the AirPods Professional 2 and AirPods 4, introducing studio-quality audio for voice recordings.
Additionally: Your AirPods are getting 2 major upgrades for free thanks to iOS 26 – here’s what they are
AirPods updates are folded into iOS updates in your iPhone. When you replace your telephone, any new AirPods options inside it ought to change into out there, supplied your iPhone is appropriate with the newest iOS model and your AirPods are appropriate with these options.
Get the morning’s prime tales in your inbox every day with our Tech Today newsletter.
