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iOS 26 Speculation Thread

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I think 26.3 is tied to new hardware which is why we haven't seen the RC yet, even if it is just the Black Unity band and watch face for 2026. Although AirTag stock is running low in Apple Stores near me, which I don't think I've ever seen before.

It wouldn't surprise me either if the first 26.4 beta drops with none of the new Siri features, and they don't get implemented until after the event/press briefings Apple is supposedly holding in the second half of February.
 
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I’m personally guessing iOS + watchOS 26.2.1 could be released today, with what it says at the bottom of the new AirTag press release. “Precision Finding on Apple Watch requires Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or Apple Ultra 2 or later, with watchOS 26.2.1.”
 
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gank41 said:
They announced the new Unity Watchbands today, too. Says availability later this week in stores. Maybe we see an RC today then with a release later this week?

www.apple.com

Apple unveils the new Black Unity Apple Watch band

Apple today revealed the new Apple Watch Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop, honoring Black History Month and celebrating the power of connection.
www.apple.com
Click to expand...
Yeah, I’m thinking an RC beta today for 26.3, and then public release later this week, possibly on the 28th.
 
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www.apple.com

Buy AirTag

Attach AirTag to personal items and easily keep track of them on iPhone. Personalise with text and emoji engraving. Get free shipping at apple.com.
www.apple.com

Store page for AirTag suggests there will also be an iOS 26.2.1 as well as a watchOS update. Maybe the 26.3 cycle is going to go on longer than we thought. Although we'll need another update by midweek so people on the 26.3 beta can use the new AirTags.
 
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Stuipdboy1000 said:
I think 26.3 is tied to new hardware which is why we haven't seen the RC yet, even if it is just the Black Unity band and watch face for 2026. Although AirTag stock is running low in Apple Stores near me, which I don't think I've ever seen before.

It wouldn't surprise me either if the first 26.4 beta drops with none of the new Siri features, and they don't get implemented until after the event/press briefings Apple is supposedly holding in the second half of February.
Click to expand...
And for my next trick, the lottery numbers 😂
 
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I can’t believe they’re going to pump another iOS 26.3 beta. iOS 26.2.1 seems redundant when iOS 26.3 is ready to ship by now (very minor update). iOS 26.2.1 will drop today then and iOS 26.3 B3 tomorrow. Can’t see an RC of iOS 26.3 today if they’re going with 26.2.1.
 
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Stuipdboy1000 said:
www.apple.com

Buy AirTag

Attach AirTag to personal items and easily keep track of them on iPhone. Personalise with text and emoji engraving. Get free shipping at apple.com.
www.apple.com

Store page for AirTag suggests there will also be an iOS 26.2.1 as well as a watchOS update. Maybe the 26.3 cycle is going to go on longer than we thought. Although we'll need another update by midweek so people on the 26.3 beta can use the new AirTags.
Click to expand...
I don’t know. Perhaps 26.3 will go a week longer than expected or something, but I don’t imagine it’s going to go much longer. 26.3 is a minor update, and seems a pretty stable at this point. I don’t think there’s really any reason to drag it out… 🤷🏼‍♂️

I’m still thinking we probably get 26.3 alongside new hardware, which would place it at late January or early February, which also coincides with the reports of 26.3 dropping in this timeframe.

Also, a 26.2.1 update within a week of 26.3 may make sense if it’s addressing a security flaw. So I wouldn’t say a 26.2.1 update means a 26.3 public release isn’t near.
 
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Hamsterhjulet said:
I can’t believe they’re going to pump another iOS 26.3 beta. iOS 26.2.1 seems redundant when iOS 26.3 is ready to ship by now (very minor update). iOS 26.2.1 will drop today then and iOS 26.3 B3 tomorrow. Can’t see an RC of iOS 26.3 today if they’re going with 26.2.1.
Click to expand...
I don’t understand how those would conflict? A 26.2.1 update may be intended to address security issues. If that’s the case, it makes sense to get that out faster, even if we get RC for 26.3 today as well. Because not everyone is on the 26.3 beta. So if there is a security issue, they’re not likely to sit on it for a week or whatever in order to address it. So a 26.2.1 update doesn’t necessarily mean we aren’t getting 26.3 in the next week. 🤷🏼‍♂️

I could easily see this being 26.2.1 dropped today to address security issues and other bugs. And 26.3 RC beta dropped alongside it to add the same security protections for beta users. 👍🏻
 
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