Apple is keeping up the pace with iOS 26, and the company just released the seventh developer beta of the upcoming iPhone software. That’s right—we’re only about a month away from the official launch of iOS 26, and things are starting to look polished.
So, what’s exciting about this update? Let’s dive in.
A Fresh Look and Smarter iPhones
Apple says iOS 26 will deliver a stunning new design, Apple Intelligence features, and big upgrades across core apps like Phone, Messages, Maps, CarPlay, Apple Music, and Wallet.
This is Apple’s most ambitious iOS update in years, and from the betas we’ve seen so far, it’s clear they’re paying attention to user feedback.
What Changed in the Recent Betas?
If you’ve been following the beta journey, here’s a quick recap:
- Beta 2: Gave us better legibility in Control Center, a cleaner Safari menu, and stronger accessibility with borders in High Contrast Mode.
- Beta 3: Introduced new wallpaper colors and transparency tweaks. Some of those changes were rolled back in later versions.
- Beta 4: Brought back notification summaries for news and entertainment apps. Apple had paused this earlier after complaints that AI-generated summaries could distort headlines.
- Beta 5: Responded directly to users—reintroducing the Select button in Mail and even letting you toggle the classic Camera swipe direction.
- Beta 6: Made things snappier with faster animations, added new ringtones, but then removed that Camera swipe toggle (Apple giveth, Apple taketh away).
- Beta 7: Feels like we’re getting close to the finish line—polishing performance and stability ahead of the official release.
Will Your iPhone Get iOS 26?
Here’s the good news: iOS 26 will run on iPhone SE (2nd gen) and up, plus all iPhone 11 models and newer.
Here’s the not-so-great news: if you’re still holding on to an iPhone XR, XS, or XS Max, iOS 18 will be your last major update. You’ll still get important security patches, but the shiny new iOS 26 features won’t be coming to your device.
Also, keep in mind—Apple Intelligence features (things like smarter Siri, advanced writing tools, and on-device AI) will only be available on the latest iPhones: iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models.
When Can We Expect the Full Release?
If history repeats itself, the official rollout of iOS 26 should arrive in mid-September, right alongside the iPhone 16 launch. That gives Apple just enough time to test, tweak, and stabilize the update with these final betas.
Final Thoughts
Apple is clearly setting iOS 26 up to be a big step forward, with design refinements and AI smarts leading the way. For those on newer iPhones, it’s going to feel like a whole new device experience. For older iPhone users—it might be the gentle nudge to finally upgrade.
👉 Are you planning to install the beta, or are you waiting for the official release?
