Apple held its Worldwide Developers Conference a month ago, during which it previewed the latest operating system upgrades across all of its devices, including iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, TVOS, WatchOS, and more. These updates give Apple users, regardless of whether they have the latest hardware, the opportunity to have a device refresh — and this year, perhaps more than ever.
During the event, Apple launched Liquid Glass, a new look for all of its devices that embodies a glass-inspired aesthetic and is the biggest redesign in 13 years. It also introduced a handful of exciting features, from the viral AutoMix feature for Apple Music to the Apple Shortcuts AI makeover.
Also: How to clear your iPhone cache (and why it greatly improves the performance)
Although the official launch of Apple’s latest operating systems won’t happen until the fall with the introduction of the latest iPhone lineup, here’s what you need to know about the public betas, which will be released soon and give you a preview of all of the latest features.
When will iOS 26 public beta be released?
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on social media last week, the iOS 26 public beta is likely to arrive on or around July 23.
Also: Your iPhone is getting a major upgrade – 10 best features I can’t wait to try in iOS 26
In his most recent Power On newsletter, Gurman clarified, “All indications are that iOS 26 should go into the public beta phase this coming week,” which still points to that mid‑to‑late July timeframe.
Apple hasn’t officially confirmed a date yet, but reports strongly suggest the public betas will open on Tuesday, July 23.
How do I participate in the Apple Beta Software Program?
To enroll, all you have to do is visit the Apple Beta Software Program site and click the blue sign-up button. The Apple Beta Software Program is free and open to anyone with an Apple Account who accepts the Apple Beta Software Program Agreement.
Also: How to download the iOS 26 beta on your iPhone right now (and which models support it)
Once you enroll and the public beta is available, you’ll go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and click on iOS 26 Public Beta. It is worth highlighting that the betas are called betas for a reason — they are not the final product and can come with bugs that can hurt your device’s performance by slowing it down and draining battery. Apple recommends downloading the beta on a device that is not your primary device and backing up all your information before you install it.
What devices are getting a new beta for their operating system?
The public betas will be available across the entire Apple ecosystem of devices, including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, MacOS Tahoe 26, TVOS 26, HomePod software 26, WatchOS 26, HomePod Software 26, and AirPods Firmware.
Also: Every iPhone model getting iOS 26 (and which ones don’t support it)
The devices eligible for the beta include:
- iOS 26: iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
- iPadOS 26: iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11‑inch (1st generation and later), iPad Air (M3), iPad Air (M2), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (A16), iPad (8th generation and later), iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad mini (5th generation and later)
- macOS Tahoe 26: MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later), MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later), MacBook Pro (16‑inch, 2019), MacBook Pro (13‑inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports), iMac (2020 and later), Mac mini (2020 and later), Mac Studio (2022 and later), Mac Pro (2019 and later)
- watchOS 26: Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Ultra 2
- AirPods Firmware: AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 (with and without ANC)
What new features should we expect?
Apple announced a slew of new features across every single device in its ecosystem, and you can read more about all of the announcements in ZDNET’s event roundup. However, here’s an overview of the biggest announcements:
iOS 26
The new Liquid Glass design is one of the biggest upgrades coming to all devices with the iOS 26 refresh. It is a really exciting upgrade to be on the lookout for because it will make your phone feel and look brand new. It is a whole new aesthetic, making everything from your home screen to apps to settings look different. It also mimics real-life physics, reacting to how you tap, swipe, and even hold your phone.
Also: 7 AI features coming to iOS 26 that I can’t wait to use (and how you can try them)
As mentioned in the intro, the new AutoMix feature is also available. This is an on-command, AI-powered DJ that transitions songs almost as well as a professional, matching the key and tempo of the music. A less fun, but extremely necessary upgrade is a cleaner camera app redesign, which removes the clutter and confusion of the current one with the addition of Library and Collections tabs.
Phone calls and text messaging are also getting upgrades, including a new screen-calling feature, which can detect spam for you; Hold Assist, which can let you know when you are off hold and an agent is actually ready to help you; and FaceTime and text-message AI-powered live translation, to name a few.
iPad OS 26
iPadOS will also have the aforementioned Liquid Glass, Live translations in Messages, FaceTime, and Calls, AutoMix, and Call Screening. The biggest win for iPad users is the new windowing system, which lets users resize web pages and apps similar to how you would on a laptop. This is huge for power users as you can now work with multiple windows and tabs at once, making it much easier to multitask.
Also: iPadOS 26 is turning my iPad Air into the ultraportable laptop it was meant to be
MacOS Tahoe 26
In addition to the features above that are coming to both iOS 26 and iPad OS 26, MacOS is also getting Live Activities from iPhone on Mac. This will allow users to sync activities directly with their iPhones, providing access to recent calls and contacts, making the handoff between devices more seamless.
Also: Your MacBook is getting a big upgrade for free. 5 features I can’t wait to try on MacOS 26
WatchOS 26
The new Workout Buddy feature was one of the standouts of WatchOS. It is an AI-powered feature that uses your actual fitness data history, which it has collected over time, to provide real-time insights while you work out. For example, as you are running, it can give you words of encouragement or insights on how you are performing compared to previous times.
Also: 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 features to AirPods with Apple’s advanced H2 audio chip. With the update, your AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4 can control your device’s camera shutter via the Camera app for a compatible third-party camera app. Additionally, iOS 26 will improve the audio quality of the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, introducing studio-quality audio for voice recordings.
Also: 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 on your iPhone. Once you update your phone, any new AirPods features within it should become available, provided your iPhone is compatible with the latest iOS version and your AirPods are compatible with those features.
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