{"id":195021,"date":"2025-12-20T15:34:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T15:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/195021\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T15:34:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T15:34:11","slug":"top-stories-ios-26-3-beta-major-apple-leaks-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/195021\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Stories: iOS 26.3 Beta, Major Apple Leaks, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You&#8217;d think things would be slowing down heading into the holidays, but this week saw a whirlwind of Apple leaks and rumors while Apple started its next cycle of betas following last week&#8217;s release of iOS 26.2 and related updates.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/top-stories-2025-12-20.jpg\"   alt=\"top stories 2025 12 20\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1030670\"\/><br \/>This week also saw the release of a new Apple Music integration with ChatGPT, so read on below for all the details on this week&#8217;s biggest stories!<\/p>\n<p>Top Stories<br \/>\niOS 26.3 Beta 1 Features: What&#8217;s New So Far<\/p>\n<p>With iOS 26.2 and other 26.2 updates now available to the general public, Apple has started beta testing on the next round of 26.3 updates. With work on this round of updates typically spanning the holidays, they tend to be smaller in scale, but there are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/12\/15\/ios-26-3-beta-1-features\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">still a few notable changes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"iOS 26\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1406\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1029939 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iOS-26.3-Feature.jpg\"  data- loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>iOS 26.3 brings changes that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/12\/15\/ios-26-3-iphone-android-transfer-tool\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">make it easier to switch from iPhone to Android<\/a>, with corresponding changes to Android making the reverse process simpler as well. Users in the European Union will also be gaining a setting that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/12\/15\/ios-26-3-notification-forwarding\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">allows iPhone notifications to be forwarded to third-party devices<\/a>, increasing interoperability.<\/p>\n<p>iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak<\/p>\n<p>Macworld&#8217;s Filipe Esp\u00f3sito last week <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/12\/12\/alleged-ios-26-4-and-ios-27-features\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"iOS 26\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1406\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1029934 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iOS-26.4-and-27-Feature.jpg\"  data- loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>As always, Apple&#8217;s plans could change, so there is no guarantee that any or all of these features will end up being released to the general public, but some of the leaked features include:<\/p>\n<p>iOS 26.4: Revamped Siri powered by Apple Intelligence<br \/>\niOS 26.4: Redesigned Health app, potentially involving a previously rumored Apple Health+ subscription service<br \/>\niOS 26.4: Credit card AutoFill improvements for third-party apps<br \/>\niOS 27: Improvements to collections in the Photos app and AirPods pairing<br \/>\niOS 28: New metrics for Apple Watch sleep tracking<\/p>\n<p>Apple Leak Confirms Work on Foldable iPhone, AirTag 2, and Dozens More Devices<\/p>\n<p>More information on the sourcing of that software leak has subsequently surfaced, and it apparently comes from an early build of iOS 26 (then still known as iOS 19) that was on a leaked prototype iPhone.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"apple beta 26 lineup\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1005210 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/apple-beta-26-lineup.jpg\"  data- loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>In addition to numerous features planned for future software updates, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/12\/15\/ios-software-leak-apple-features\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">which we&#8217;ve outlined in more detail<\/a>, the leak also reveals <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/12\/15\/apple-leak-unreleased-devices-codenames\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">dozens of devices in Apple&#8217;s product pipeline<\/a>, including many of the expected evolutionary updates to existing products but also some new products that have either been previously rumored or newly revealed.<\/p>\n<p>Notable additions include the first foldable iPhone, Apple&#8217;s upcoming smart home products, the rumored low-cost MacBook powered by an A18 Pro chip, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/12\/16\/apple-developing-imac-with-m5-max\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">iMac with a high-powered M5 Max chip<\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n<p>Apple Aims to Boost Popularity of iPhone Air 2 in Two Ways<\/p>\n<p>A new report this week from The Information outlined some details on Apple&#8217;s iPhone product roadmap, including word that Apple is looking at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/12\/16\/iphone-air-2-two-rumored-changes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">two key improvements for the second-generation iPhone Air: a second rear camera and a lower price tag<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"iphone air silver\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1018105 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/iphone-air-silver.jpg\"  data- loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>The current iPhone Air has reportedly not sold well due to compromises related to camera capabilities, battery life, and perceived value for the price, with suppliers reportedly already winding down production due to the number of already-produced units still available for distribution.<\/p>\n<p>The same report claimed that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/12\/16\/iphone-18-pro-features-report\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">next year&#8217;s iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will include under-screen Face ID<\/a> with the front camera becoming a punch hole at the top-left corner of the screen. Apple is reportedly also adding a mechanical iris to one of the device&#8217;s rear cameras, which will allow for variable aperture to control the amount of light reaching the sensor.<\/p>\n<p>Leak Reveals Foldable iPhone Details<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ve already heard a lot about Apple&#8217;s first foldable iPhone that&#8217;s expected next year, but a new report from a frequent leaker on Chinese blogging site Weibo has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/12\/15\/leak-reveals-foldable-iphone-details\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">added a few new details to the existing rumors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"iphone fold text\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1029302 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/iphone-fold-text.jpg\"  data- loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>The foldable iPhone will reportedly use a Touch ID power button on the side of the device rather than Face ID in order to save internal space, and it will include a 7.58-inch internal display with an under-screen camera. When folded, the outside will feature a 5.25-inch display with a punch-hole camera.<\/p>\n<p>ChatGPT&#8217;s Apple Music Integration Is Now Live<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s now a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2025\/12\/17\/chatgpt-apple-music-integration\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">dedicated Apple Music app for ChatGPT<\/a>, which allows ChatGPT to make music recommendations and build playlists.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"apple music chatgpt\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1030496 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/apple-music-chatgpt.jpg\"  data- loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>ChatGPT can be used to search through the \u200cApple Music\u200c catalog for songs, artists, albums, and playlists, even without an \u200cApple Music\u200c subscription. OpenAI says that all users are able to discover music, generate playlists, and listen to preview clips in ChatGPT. \u200cApple Music\u200c subscribers can add songs, albums, and playlists to their \u200cApple Music\u200c Library using ChatGPT.<\/p>\n<p>MacRumors Newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we&#8217;ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.<\/p>\n<p>So if you want to have <a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/macrumors\/dec-18-2025\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">top stories<\/a> like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, <a href=\"http:\/\/eepurl.com\/OHdUX\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">subscribe to our newsletter<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You&#8217;d think things would be slowing down heading into the holidays, but this week saw a whirlwind of&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":195022,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[1492,85,46,321,125,38],"class_list":{"0":"post-195021","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-featured","9":"tag-il","10":"tag-israel","11":"tag-mobile","12":"tag-technology","13":"tag-top-stories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195021","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195021"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195021\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}