Apple is expected to release the public version of iOS 26.1 today, November 3, with the first developer beta of iOS 26.2 arriving as soon as Tuesday, November 4, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The iOS 26.1 update is considered relatively minor, with its most notable change being a new “Tinted” toggle for the Liquid Glass design. This new setting allows users to increase the opacity of interface elements to improve readability, addressing feedback from users who found the default transparent aesthetic difficult to read. The update also includes other small refinements.
Following Monday’s public release, Apple is expected to immediately pivot to its next software cycle. Gurman reports that the first developer betas for iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and other Apple platforms are likely to be released on Tuesday. While the initial beta is not expected to contain major new features, Apple often adds them in later beta builds.
There are no confirmed features for iOS 26.2, but two major promised updates are still anticipated before the end of the year. Apple has stated that support for adding U.S. passports to the Apple Wallet will debut “before the end of the year,” though it is not confirmed if this will be tied to the 26.2 update. Additionally, the company has promised to add end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging in a “future software update,” making iOS 26.2 a possible, though unconfirmed, window for its debut.
Based on Apple’s previous release schedules, the final public version of iOS 26.2 is expected to launch in mid-December.
