iOS 26 Speculation Thread

[iSuzan]

Interestingly the new AirTag works on iPadOS 26.1 and later but for an iPhone it requires 26.2.1. So probably some fixes related to UWB I would imagine.

Isn't this only because of the new watch face?

 

[one more]

It looks like iOS 26.2.1 today and iOS 26.3 Beta 3 tomorrow, or the other way around.

So the earliest time for iOS 26.3 RC could be the next week, so at least two more weeks until 26.3 public release. This also gives Apple more time to work on iOS 26.4, which will be a bigger update.

 

[yeahtyeaht]

AirTag will be delivered on 28th January if ordered today in Germany. So 26.2.1 today or tomorrow. I suspect today.

 

[gtmead09]

I would suspect 26.2.1 today, RC tomorrow and public 26.3 next week.

 

[Hamsterhjulet]

I would suspect 26.2.1 today, RC tomorrow and public 26.3 next week.

B3 tomorrow would be my guess.

 

[Nikhil72]

I would suspect 26.2.1 today, RC tomorrow and public 26.3 next week.

If 26.2.1 is coming this week, then 26.3 is still one or two weeks away from RC.

 

[Kal Madda]

If 26.2.1 is coming this week, then 26.3 is still one or two weeks away from RC.

As explained before, that doesn’t necessarily follow. 26.2.1 just seems to be adding wide band support for the iPhone and Apple Watch so that people’s devices will support the new AirTags before they ship. It doesn’t mean that the 26.3 RC isn’t coming soon…

 

[Broken Hope]

If 26.2.1 is coming this week, then 26.3 is still one or two weeks away from RC.

Why? They released 26.0.1 on September 29th and then 26.1 on November 3rd.

Point releases don’t necessarily delay major releases.

They could release the RC this week and final next week.

 

[yeahtyeaht]

As explained before, that doesn’t necessarily follow. 26.2.1 just seems to be adding wide band support for the iPhone and Apple Watch so that people’s devices will support the new AirTags before they ship. It doesn’t mean that the 26.3 RC isn’t coming soon…

if 26.3 would come soon they'd had revealed or released the AirTags a week later. Pretty sure there won't be a public release next week. Either in two or three weeks.

 

[gigapocket1]

iOS 26.3 will come out with the new Macs.. So probably by next week...RC build will be this week...

 

[jpsmith76]

Just a thought:

The marketing people wrote all the new AirTag stuff when 26.2.1 was still a possibility, and since it didn't happen last week and (maybe) has been cancelled, we will get 26.3 this week.

Technically, the documentation would still be correct since 26.3 is later than 26.2.1.

 

[aaasss]

v

Not any more. It looks like Apple is releasing watchOS 26.2.1, so perhaps there’ll be an iOS 26.2.1 as well and iOS 26.3 will stay in beta (which is not their usual cycle length).

Are you expecting 26.2.1 to be released today?

 

[arovik]

Just a thought:

The marketing people wrote all the new AirTag stuff when 26.2.1 was still a possibility, and since it didn't happen last week and (maybe) has been cancelled, we will get 26.3 this week.

Technically, the documentation would still be correct since 26.3 is later than 26.2.1.

Apple would never point to a update that doesnt exist

 

[Diopter]

Are you expecting 26.2.1 to be released today?

It seems likely it would be today, because the new AirTags are available today and require iOS 26.2.1.

 

[gtmead09]

Just a thought:

The marketing people wrote all the new AirTag stuff when 26.2.1 was still a possibility, and since it didn't happen last week and (maybe) has been cancelled, we will get 26.3 this week.

Technically, the documentation would still be correct since 26.3 is later than 26.2.1.

The only way this would be true is if 26.3 was released before the AirTag release to the public. Even then they would reference 26.3 not the unreleased 26.2.1.

 

[Hamsterhjulet]

Now this forum is finally back at speculating!

 

[Stuipdboy1000]

If we don’t see a 26.3 RC or new beta today I’m going to guess they’re holding back until other new products are announced.

 

[Skylar.]

In addition to the new AirTags, the release of the new Black Unity watch band gives me a hunch they’ll be releasing the next betas of 26.3 today or tomorrow to account for the new wallpapers and watch face that always follow those.

 

[vtboyarc]

Here’s a thought: might they release the minor update today or tomorrow, and skip 26.3 and go right into 26.4 beta next? My thought on this is they are probably all hands on deck working on 26.4…
Thoughts?

 

[upandown]

I do wonder since new AirTags and Apple TV were rumored to be released together late last year, that just the timing was off and we see a new Apple TV announced this week or soon.

 

[Hamsterhjulet]

Here’s a thought: might they release the minor update today or tomorrow, and skip 26.3 and go right into 26.4 beta next? My thought on this is they are probably all hands on deck working on 26.4…
Thoughts?

I don’t think they’ll skip releasing 26.3 to public. Question is just when at this point. Don’t think Apple has ever skipped releasing a iOS version that has been seeded to developers before.

 

[christian.terra]

Here’s a thought: might they release the minor update today or tomorrow, and skip 26.3 and go right into 26.4 beta next? My thought on this is they are probably all hands on deck working on 26.4…
Thoughts?

It is very very unlikely that they went through almost 2 months of testing 26.3 to just skip it, especially since 26.4 is still 2/3 months away.

 

[christian.terra]

It seems likely it would be today, because the new AirTags are available today and require iOS 26.2.1.

available for purchase today but not able to pick them up/delivered today. they have today and tomorrow to release .2.1.

 

[aaasss]

available for purchase today but not able to pick them up/delivered today. they have today and tomorrow to release .2.1.

When do you think this update will be released?

 

[christian.terra]

When do you think this update will be released?

can be today, but can also be tomorrow.