Apple’s latest iPhone software cycle, iOS 26, is well underway. The next update, iOS 26.2 unless there’s a pesky bug that needs squishing before that, will introduce new features, and may be the time that iOS 18 holdouts will have to upgrade. Here’s all you need to know.
Apple iPhone 17
VCG via Getty ImagesiOS 26.2 Release Date
The expected arrival date for the next update hasn’t changed. It’s mid-December, unless there’s a hiccup. I’m still plumping for Monday, Dec. 15 or Tuesday, Dec. 16. If it were delayed until even a little later, it could be bumped to January, but I’m not expecting that. I’ll update this if it looks like the date is slipping.
ForbesApple iOS 26.2 Release Date: Unprecedented Change Revealed For Next iPhone UpdateBy David PhelaniOS 26.2: What’s In The New Release
The next update will have plenty of new features. Many of them are small tweaks — the big update to Siri isn’t expected until 2026, for instance — plus, of course, security updates and bug fixes.
There’s a lot coming, starting with tweaks to the look of Liquid Glass, according to the current developer and public betas. A slider for the lock screen will let users adjust the transparency of the effect, and it’ll be introduced into the Measure app. New animations are promised in the menus.
A big change is coming to AirDrop so that if you want to share something with a person who’s not in your contacts, you can create a one-time code. That means you don’t have to make AirDrop accessible to all even for 10 minutes.
Apple Music lyrics (my go-to for private karaoke sessions) will be available offline, too. The Sleep Score will be adjusted to the figure it comes up with will be lower. Don’t be put off, see it as a challenge to sleep even better!
Users in Japan will have the capability to set the side button to launch voice assistants other than Siri. This may come to the EU and possibly more widely as well. More on that here.
The features list isn’t set yet as the beta releases continue. I’ll report back as more details emerge.
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