Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Releases Third iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 Public Betas, New Developer Beta

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,848
39,796


Apple today released the third public betas of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, allowing the public to test the updates ahead of their September launch. The third public betas come a week after the second public betas. Apple has also released an updated version of the sixth iOS 26 developer beta with a new build number.

iOS-26-Feature.jpg

Beta testers that have registered on Apple's website can download the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 updates by opening the Settings app, going to the General section, tapping on Software Update, and choosing the iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 Public Beta options.

iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 feature Apple's Liquid Glass design, with a visual aesthetic that focuses on transparency. Icons, menu buttons, navigation bars, and more reflect and refract light with subtle animations. There are pop-out menus in some areas, tab bars shrink down, and everything has a more rounded look.

iOS-26-on-Three-iPhones.jpg

There are new Apple Intelligence features like Visual Intelligence for screenshots, updated order tracking in the Wallet app, new features in Reminders, and Live Translation for the Messages, Phone, and FaceTime apps. Image Playground has ChatGPT style options, and Genmoji supports mixing two or more emoji characters to make something new.

ten-messages-features.jpg

2D photos have a more 3D look with a Spatial Scene feature, and Safari has updated navigation. In the Phone app, there are new Call Screening and Hold Assist features that will save you time, while the Messages app supports customizable backgrounds and polls. Apple Music has a DJ-like AutoMix feature, CarPlay has an overhauled interface, there's a new Apple Games app, and Preview has come to the iPhone for the first time.

ios-26-call-holding.jpg

For more on all of the new features in the updates, we have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup and a separate iPadOS 26 roundup. iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 will launch in September.

Article Link: Apple Releases Third iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 Public Betas, New Developer Beta
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/14/apple-releases-ios-26-public-beta-3/
Funny, I was wondering whether we would see this today so just checked - and there it is, and while I entered my password to start the install, this news story came in ;)
 
Woah new dev beta as well?
Probably not worth the update when beta 7 will arrive next week.
 
Maybe I am in the minority, but the new camera app selection slider is a PIA. It is harder to use, and has nothing to do with Liquid Glass. It is just the new way Apple thinks this is better, but it is harder to choose something without going the wrong way or completely bypassing what you want. Hopefully this is better in Beta 3.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: NappyHead, sos47, Parowdy and 4 others
socialwill said:
Maybe I am in the minority, but the new camera app selection slider is a PIA. It is harder to use, and has nothing to do with Liquid Glass. It is just the new way Apple thinks this is better, but it is harder to choose something without going the wrong way or completely bypassing what you want. Hopefully this is better in Beta 3.
Click to expand...
Nope, still a PIA. How anyone would think this was an improvement for the camera app is lost on me. :mad:
 
  • Like
Reactions: sos47 and k.alexander
socialwill said:
Maybe I am in the minority, but the new camera app selection slider is a PIA. It is harder to use, and has nothing to do with Liquid Glass. It is just the new way Apple thinks this is better, but it is harder to choose something without going the wrong way or completely bypassing what you want. Hopefully this is better in Beta 3.
Click to expand...

It works exactly as before. What’s the issue?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Klaren031
Why are those revised beta's not uploaded on the developer portal? Same as last revised beta.
 
socialwill said:
Maybe I am in the minority, but the new camera app selection slider is a PIA. It is harder to use, and has nothing to do with Liquid Glass. It is just the new way Apple thinks this is better, but it is harder to choose something without going the wrong way or completely bypassing what you want. Hopefully this is better in Beta 3.
Click to expand...

More awful design choices. It’s everywhere throughout iOS 26.
 
  • Disagree
Reactions: eveluvsrainbows
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back