iOS 26 is expected to be an exhilarating upgrade, showcasing a Liquid Glass design, real-time translations, and improvements to CarPlay and Messages, as revealed at WWDC 2025 in early June. It appears we are on the brink of accessing it.
Apple announced that the iOS 26 public beta is set to launch in July, as cited by MacRumors, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicated last week that it would probably be released today — Wednesday, July 23. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman stated that “iOS 26 should enter the public beta stage this coming week.”
The imminent release of iOS 26 makes sense. Prior iOS updates were also rolled out in late June or July — iOS 18 on July 15, iOS 17 on July 12, iOS 16 on July 11, iOS 15 on June 30, and iOS 14 on July 9, according to MacRumors.
The 7 iOS 26 features exclusively available for newer iPhones
MacRumors reported that the initial public betas launched simultaneously will encompass the iOS 26 public beta alongside iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, HomePod software 26, and the AirPods firmware update.
To obtain the update, you must be a member of the Apple Beta Software Program. The program is complimentary, and anyone can enroll. Keep in mind, these features will be in beta, which means they could contain some bugs. As a member of the Apple Beta Software Program, users can share feedback with Apple regarding these issues.
It’s important to note that iOS 26 isn’t compatible with all iPhones. You need to own the iPhone SE (second generation and newer only), the iPhone 11, Pro, and Pro Max, the iPhone 12, Mini, Pro, and Pro Max, the iPhone 13, Mini, Pro, and Pro Max, the iPhone 14, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max, the iPhone 15, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max, the iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max, or the iPhone 16e.
If you’re a developer, these features are already available to you. As Mashable previously reported, Apple provides a free tier of its Developer Program, enabling some users to access these beta features even sooner.