iOS 26.2 and iOS 26.3 update: Apple’s latest iPhone software update, iOS 26.2, is now available for all compatible devices, marking another step in what has become one of the most significant iOS releases in years. While the update itself focuses on refinements, it builds on the sweeping changes Apple introduced with iOS 26, from a visual redesign to smarter calling and stronger on-device security.What’s new in the iOS 26.2 updateThe latest update, iOS 26.2, which arrived on December 12 and focuses on polish and usability. It adds offline lyrics in Apple Music, automatic chapters in Podcasts, improved filtering and navigation in the Games app, and a new slider to adjust clock transparency on the lock screen, as per a Macworld report. Apple News now features section links at the top of the Today tab, and the Freeform app gains support for tables.
When is the next iPhone update comingiOS 26.2 is the second major update since the release of iOS 26, and more are on the way. Apple is expected to roll out another iPhone software update soon, but while iOS 26.2.1 is likely to arrive first with bug fixes, the next update that introduces new features will be iOS 26.3.
Also read: What’s in Trump’s new health care plan? Key details from the long-promised proposaliOS 26.3 expected release date based on Apple’s update historyApple tends to follow a consistent schedule when it comes to mid-cycle software updates, and iOS 26.3 appears to be lining up with that same rhythm. Looking back at recent years shows a clear pattern for “x.3” releases: iOS 18.3 launched on Monday, January 27, iOS 17.3 arrived on Monday, January 22, and iOS 16.3 was released on Monday, January 23, as per a 9to5mac report.
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All three updates were released exactly one week after Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This year, that holiday falls on January 19, pointing to a likely iOS 26.3 release in late January. If Apple sticks to its usual timing, Monday, January 26, stands out as the most likely launch date, though the update could also slip by a day or two later that week or into early the following week, as per the 9to5mac report.
Also read: iPhone reboot alert: Why Apple’s iOS 26.2 update is suddenly urgent for usersHow to install the iOS 26.3 public betaFor users who want early access, iOS 26.3 is already available through Apple’s public beta program.What features are coming in iOS 26.3As with previous x.3 updates, iOS 26.3 is shaping up to be lighter on major new features. So far, the early betas include only a handful of changes.
One of the more noticeable updates affects wallpapers. The Weather category has been separated into its own dedicated section, no longer bundled with Astronomy, and a couple of new Weather wallpaper options have been added.
Another change introduces a new Android transfer option. Developed as part of an Apple-Google collaboration, the feature makes it easier to move from an iPhone to an Android device. Google is also rolling out a similar tool for users switching in the opposite direction.
EU-specific changes coming with iOS 26.3For users in the European Union, iOS 26.3 adds notification forwarding for third-party wearables. This expands one of the Apple Watch’s most popular features. receiving iPhone notifications, to non-Apple smartwatches and other wearables, in line with EU compliance requirements.
More EU-related changes are expected, though details remain limited in the current beta.
Will iOS 26.3 include more features at launchWhile Apple has not confirmed everything that will ship with the final release, the public version could include a few additional touches. These may include a new Black Unity wallpaper and possible end-to-end encryption support for RCS messaging.FAQsWhat is the latest iOS version available right now?
The latest version is iOS 26.2.
Is another iOS update coming soon?
Yes, iOS 26.2.1 is expected next with bug fixes.