Apple is expected to release the public version of iOS 26.1 today, November 3, and the first developer beta of iOS 26.2 will arrive as early as Tuesday, November 4, according to Bloomberg’s Marc Gurman.
The iOS 26.1 update is considered relatively minor, with the most notable change being a new “Tint” 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 improvements.
After Monday’s public release, Apple is expected to immediately move into its next software cycle. Gurman reports that the first developer betas for iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2 and other Apple platforms are expected to be released on Tuesday. Although the initial beta is not expected to contain any major new features, Apple often adds them in later betas.
There are no confirmed features for iOS 26.2, but two promised major updates are still expected before the end of the year. Apple has said that support for adding US passports to Apple Wallet will debut “before the end of the year”, although it is not confirmed whether 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, although 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.
