Updated Nov. 11 with further details of the upcoming release.
Apple’s next major iPhone update is on its way, and, unusually, Apple has revealed when it’s coming, specifying that it will land in December and will work on iPhones from iPhone 11 to iPhone 17. Here’s the date you should mark in your calendars.
Apple iPhone 17
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The clue from Apple came in a recent Newsroom report, when it said on Nov. 4, “Next month, Live Translation on AirPods will expand to the EU, making face-to-face conversations easier by helping users communicate even if they don’t speak the same language.”
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While this doesn’t name iOS 26.2, it’s unlikely to be anything else. If there were to be a smaller release before it, iOS 26.1.1, for instance, it would almost certainly be a bug fix release. New features, such as the expansion of Live Translation, would be saved for a big-number release like iOS 26.2.
If the development of the update was delayed for some reason, Apple could push the Live Translation feature out in a differently numbered release to stick to its commitment, but that’s not likely.
There’s no sign of delay yet, with the developer beta arriving very quickly after the public release of iOS 26.1, and the public beta appearing on Nov. 6.
That said, something interesting is happening: the developer beta can’t be installed on Apple devices with the C1 or C1X modem installed, that is, the iPhone 16e, iPhone Air and iPad Pro M5 with cellular connectivity. I suspect this will be resolved quickly and won’t slow down the overall cycle.
Apple iOS 26.2 Release Date
Which leaves us where, beyond a commitment to December? While the development cycle seems to be going roughly as planned, the later start could mean later delivery compared to recent years which have seen the x.2 update go on general release on or around Dec. 11 to Dec. 13. It’s almost always been the case that it has been released on a Monday or Tuesday, with last year being an exception: Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Since the cycle began a little later this time around, the equivalent Wednesday, Dec. 10, sounds too early.
I believe iOS 26.2 will be released in mid-December, as usual, on Monday, Dec. 15 or Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Apple iOS 26.2 — What’s In The Release
It’s not yet clear how many new features will come in iOS 26.2: Apple adds features in successive beta releases. What’s clear from the first beta is that there will be new elements alongside the inevitable security updates and bug fixes.
So far, these include a new feature for Reminders to set a reminder as urgent, which will set an alarm on the phone. “Integrated alarm notifications now enable you to mark tasks as complete directly from the alert, streamlining task management. For users managing busy schedules, this update provides a more efficient way to stay organized and ensures that important deadlines are never missed. Whether for personal or professional use, these enhancements make the app a more powerful tool for productivity,” as Geeky Gadgets points out..
Apple Music will have lyrics for songs in your library even if you’re not connected to the cloud.
That’s especially handy if you regularly listen to music somewhere that doesn’t have great connectivity. More than that, playlist you’ve created will now display full-screen album art, which will make it look better than ever.
Sleep Scores are being updated. If you currently score 71 in your sleep score, that gets a “high” score, but with iOS 26.2, it’ll slide down to “OK”. High will now refer to 81-95 scores. Scores of 96 and above will also change their name to Very High, which is undeniable, instead of Excellent which pertains until you update.
EU users will gain Live Translation for AirPods but Wi-Fi network syncing will be removed. The latter is due to the Digital Markets Act in the EU.
Here’s one related to Liquid Glass: a slider will allow you to adjust the transparency level of the clock. There will also be changes to Apple News and smaller modifications.
It looks like encrypted RCS messaging will be introduced in iOS 26.2, though this will partly depend on compatibility with individual carriers.
The News app will be redesigned in iOS 16.2 with a new search bar and topics categorized to make search easier. There will also be a new section called Discover More with personalized recommendations. The aim is to make the app more intuitive and easier to navigate.
The update will also include new features for CarPlay, designed to make the experience more streamlined thanks to widget stacks, so that it’s quicker to access multiple widgets. The idea is to make your interation with CarPlay as short as possible, so you can keep your eyes on the road.
Testing of the early beta releases of iOS 26.2 suggests there could be improvements in performance and battery life. While the improvements in performance are only said to be minor, “Battery life has also been optimized, offering extended usage times for most devices,”Geeky Gadgets adds.
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