Here's Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 7

[thiscatisfat]

That’s because apple now days doesn’t do any big changes. I do agree with you, iOS 26 is shocking, it’s exactly like iOS 18 you forget the funky ui after 5min, no new features that change the way we use our phone. And a decade only re design should have been complete major overhaul. But this is apple now days. They don’t get it unfortunately

You get me. It’s crazy how people are fine with this.

 

[thiscatisfat]

I do agree, it’s more like a android skin theme pack, this isn’t a decade only re design

Right? It’s not like Mavericks to Yosemite or whatever it was, not like iOS 6 to iOS 7. But Federighi chose to start with looking back at iOS 7 and what a major change it was and how it only happens once a decade, and then deliver…this? Like how am I the only one disappointed with how underwhelming or a facelift and not a redesign this is?

 

[LightProtector]

I know it’s a beta but I’ve been running the public beta since the first and man even with adaptive power mode enabled, my iPhone 16 pro is going through power like crazy!
I actually haven’t tried with the option off, maybe it’s not optimized yet.

What's crazy is that my battery is probably mostly the same as iOS 18. I'm a light user though, so I guess that makes sense?

 

[skit911]

Not really, no, it’s not. Total redesign was iOS 7, this isn’t it. My expectations were set high by overbloating of what Apple will actually deliver.

Watch this again maybe you forgot what they promised you, 7:14:

This is someone who just wants things redesigned for the sake of redesigning them. iOS 6 to 7 was changing from teaching us how to use a smart phone with real world elements to teaching us how to use a smart phone without real world elements.

This update didn’t have to do that so why would they change things just for the sake of changing them?

Some people will never be satisfied.

 

[tyrnnsrs]

For those of us outside of the US that have still been able to use the blood oxygen sensor, do the new changes made to accomodate the US also apply to us? I'm just wondering if there's any noticeable difference, better performance/metrics for their one?

 

[Apple_Robert]

It appears the problem for some here is not what Apple did but, the false, unfounded expectations some of you came up with and then got mad or disappointed when Apple didn’t match what you created in your head.

 

[thiscatisfat]

This is someone who just wants things redesigned for the sake of redesigning them. iOS 6 to 7 was changing from teaching us how to use a smart phone with real world elements to teaching us how to use a smart phone without real world elements.

This update didn’t have to do that so why would they change things just for the sake of changing them?

Some people will never be satisfied.

I will be once Apple stops overpromising and underdelivering. All I want is some design consistency across the system. How can you redesign the Phone or Camera app and not touch Weather? Or Books? Or Home? Do they want me to have a consistent or inconsistent experience? I hate design inconsistency.

 

[HylianKnight]

You get me. It’s crazy how people are fine with this.

I don’t know that people are fine with it, but if we are being honest, I bet most of the public doesn’t care. Also, Apple has never really been great about updating their own apps in a timely manner.

 

[MrENGLISH]

For those of us outside of the US that have still been able to use the blood oxygen sensor, do the new changes made to accomodate the US also apply to us? I'm just wondering if there's any noticeable difference, better performance/metrics for their one?

My understanding is that the only real change is forcing the data processing to be done on the iPhone instead of the watch and that those users will only be able to see the results on their iPhones. I don’t believe anything about the sensor and/or the results themselves are different. The old way is still the preferred way.

 

[digitalfx]

Maybe you misunderstood? I meant that what we have here now with Beta 7 is pretty much it. No further major changes, ironing out bugs until GM, so that’s all 26 is going to be.

What I meant was that the change from iOS 18 to 26 will be more or less like from 5 to 6. Nothing insane. Nothing like from 6 to 7, and that’s disappointing because during WWDC they pushed this overbloated marketing how much this will be the redesign we got with iOS 7. It’s nothing like that.

It’s not the major groundbreaking redesign they promised during this years WWDC.

Yes, and considering the cost to upgrade to iOS 26, I completely understand why you're still whining 10 comments later.

 

[Anonymous123]

So that’s pretty much…it? I suppose? That’s all? 😄 Wow. I expected a lot more of the “liquid design”, “new design language” and a “major redesign” that only happens “once in a decade”. Federighi made it sound like it’s iOS 6 to 7 redesign again, it’s more like iOS 5 to 6. Apart from lock screen and toggles/buttons, I can’t even tell what’s new. Most stock apps look the same they did since iOS 13, Home app is pretty much untouched…that’s it? Wow. I’m so sick of Apple pushing half baked stuff as ground breaking. This beta is what we’ll get in 2-3 weeks as GM. That’s so unimpressive.

Seriously, iOS 26 could be an email.

Reminds me of this:

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

Seriously, iOS 26 could be an email.

This is the greatest and most succinct summary of Apple's performance over the past decade. Bravo! 👏

 

[horizonbrave]

So that’s pretty much…it? I suppose? That’s all? 😄 Wow. I expected a lot more of the “liquid design”, “new design language” and a “major redesign” that only happens “once in a decade”. Federighi made it sound like it’s iOS 6 to 7 redesign again, it’s more like iOS 5 to 6. Apart from lock screen and toggles/buttons, I can’t even tell what’s new. Most stock apps look the same they did since iOS 13, Home app is pretty much untouched…that’s it? Wow. I’m so sick of Apple pushing half baked stuff as ground breaking. This beta is what we’ll get in 2-3 weeks as GM. That’s so unimpressive.

Seriously, iOS 26 could be an email.

Totally agree, I was expecting some improved or new functionality (for example why can’t I just longtap on an iOS app icon to access its notification/permission settings instead of an infinity of chasing the option deep down in the settings?) and finally fixing some horrible implementation of basic features (keyboard in iOS for one.. no ‘select all’ function).
I’m okay with improved eye candy but iOS feels needing more substantial updates.

 

[kurtfoster]

Very happy with developer beta 6. Very stable, at least on my devices. A few hiccups. Nothing they won’t smooth out. Can’t wait to install beta 7 when I get home. I did notice that, at least on my iPad, when you are playing lossless audio, you can now fast-forward through the audio. You couldn’t do that before.

 

[ezekielelin]

Why does Mac Rumors et al. keep saying "Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2" when the actual criteria includes other watches like the Series 8.

Apple support pages get it right, identifies them by their model number ending in LW/A. It's really fascinating that these sites which are supposed to be Apple-specific and thus accurate still get basic stuff wrong.

Here's a screenshot of my watch with LW/A and showing that it's using the new restricted process.

 

[Rafagon]

Hope they fix the contact photos soon. On Messages. Some are circles, some are squares, with no logic behind it. Never happened until I got on the Beta train.

 

[Rafagon]

Adaptive Power makes performance adjustments so your battery lasts longer, okay. But once that notification goes away, the notification that tells you you're using more battery than usual by such and such time, is there any way to check whether Adaptive Power is currently engaged? Not whether it's enabled, I know we can always check the toggle in Settings, but whether it's active and doing its thing to help your battery charge last longer?

 

[ikramerica]

Can we choose how adaptive power works? Like not let it lower brightness, but turn on low power mode at 35%.

 

[applefan8254]

can we please get multiple users? thank you!

 

[svish]

Looks like a very minor change only. Adaptive power will come in handy with the upcoming slim iPhone considering its rumored low battery capacity.

 

[Michael0816]

Reading the comments here makes me wonder, if many around here have only seen screenshots of iOS 26? 🤔

 

[bluecoast]

That’s not good, I still buy licences for music and movies from iTunes.

Home, Weather, Reminders, Stocks, AppStore, Notes and even Music…all these Apps are unchanged. They now have a floating glass menu which is universal to the system now instead of the flat menu that’s in the iTS app, but that’s not a major redesign is it? It’s really a facelift. Apple again overpromised and underdelivered. I’m sorry that some in the heavily loyal fanbase don’t like what I’m saying but let’s call out bs when enough is enough.

It’s a very Microsoft thing to do, agreed ie leave the previous generation’s UI on some apps.

Liquid glass is mystifying to me as it doesn’t seem to be thought out especially well.

That’s no criticism of their UX team - it might be that the project was delayed - or bought forward to align with new industrial design.

I imagine that the apps you mentioned will get a lick of paint by spring next year. I hope. But sadly, given that the itms app like out of place on iOS 18, I don’t think it’s a priority for them.

Whatever the case, something doesn’t feel quite right at Apple.

 

[thiscatisfat]

It’s a very Microsoft thing to do, agreed ie leave the previous generation’s UI on some apps.

Liquid glass is mystifying to me as it doesn’t seem to be thought out especially well.

That’s no criticism of their UX team - it might be that the project was delayed - or bought forward to align with new industrial design.

I imagine that the apps you mentioned will get a lick of paint by spring next year. I hope. But sadly, given that the itms app like out of place on iOS 18, I don’t think it’s a priority for them.

Whatever the case, something doesn’t feel quite right at Apple.

That's why I'm talking about it. I have to use Windows 11 for work, and it's absolutely bonkers how some icons and windows are still in the Windows 95 or XP style. Crazy.

I just think they should deliver it when it's ready, not just when it's handy in order to boost reputation for investors.

Watch this. Like, I can totally see this guy being so disappointed. Literally the biggest fanboy turned into...this. If you've been with Apple long enough, you can sense it too...

 

[Compote]

WE DO NOT WANT LIQUID ASS.

 

[kjg_tampa]

One "feature" that I wish they'd add is to allow the user to prevent the operating system from auto dimming the screen... which it does when the OS deems the phone to be too hot. It makes the phone pretty much unusable when your outside in bright sunlight - especially in Florida. I would prefer to have a function to keep the screen at full brightness and take my own chances.