iOS 26 Speculation Thread

[Kal Madda]

Actually the reports says «second half of February” not mid-February, so could be anywhere between 14-28th of February

Yeah, sorry, that’s right. Still, that would be consistent with 26.3 RC this week. You’d have:

-26.3 RC this week (Feb 3-6)
-26.3 public release (Feb 9-13)
-26.4 Beta 1 either week of (Feb 16-20), or week of (Feb 23-27)

Sometimes the first beta for next version drop two weeks after release of prior version. So it seems plausible. But who knows, maybe there will be a beta 4. Personally, I don’t see any need for it. And with reports of imminent new hardware releases, that would also make me think RC this week, and public release next week for new hardware. But as I said, this is all just speculation. 🙂👍🏻

 

[zarmanto]

... But as I said, this is all just speculation. 🙂👍🏻

How appropriate, since that's the topic of the thread! 😉

 

[Kylo83]

unfortunately we wont see the RC until they announce the new MacBook Pros so let’s hope tomorrow

 

[Broken Hope]

unfortunately we wont see the RC until they announce the new MacBook Pros so let’s hope tomorrow

Wouldn't be so sure, they just released Xcode.

 

[Kal Madda]

unfortunately we wont see the RC until they announce the new MacBook Pros so let’s hope tomorrow

While that does make sense, they wouldn’t necessarily announce the new hardware releases before RC Beta. They’ve done this before where they release RC, announce new hardware after, and add any required hardware-specific changes into the public release. So I wouldn’t write off the possibility of them releasing an RC before new hardware. 🙂👍🏻

 

[furbzv1]

Tim Apple doesn't like us

 

[mariuskv]

Xcode 26.3 unlocks the power of agentic coding

Xcode 26.3 introduces support for agentic coding, a new way in Xcode for developers to build apps, powered by coding agents from Anthropic and OpenAI.

www.apple.com

 

[elementalwingma]

"Xcode 26.3 is available as a release candidate for all members of the Apple Developer Program starting today, with a release coming soon on the App Store."

I think it's coming!

 

[dannyyankou]

There have been several times when Apple released 2 different release candidates, so I don’t necessarily think new hardware is holding it up.

 

[Hamsterhjulet]

Would be surprised if we’re not seeing the RC of iOS/WatchOS today when RC of Xcode has been released.

 

[Ament]

If there was no mention of new releases on their website right away with the new Xcode, there certainly won't be anything new today, I guess.

 

[dannyyankou]

If there was no mention of new releases on their website right away with the new Xcode, there certainly won't be anything new today, I guess.

But at the same time, if there was a risk of the iOS 26.3 RC referencing new hardware, that same risk would absolutely apply to Xcode 26.3 RC.

 

[kal1ch]

I don’t understand what’s taking them so long with 26.3, considering there are barely any user-facing changes, and from what I’ve seen with the betas - just as few (if any) issues getting fixed. Not that I’m impatient for such an inconsequential update… it just doesn’t make sense.

 

[yeahtyeaht]

I don’t understand what’s taking them so long with 26.3, considering there are barely any user-facing changes, and from what I’ve seen with the betas - just as few (if any) issues getting fixed. Not that I’m impatient for such an inconsequential update… it just doesn’t make sense.

The new MBP announcement very likely

 

[nortonandreev]

New Xcode update is out.

 

[Kal Madda]

The new MBP announcement very likely

Xcode 26.3 RC availability today basically rules that out as an explanation. Because Xcode 26.3 RC would likely have just as many references to new hardware as iOS or macOS 26.3 as another here pointed out. 👍🏻

 

[Brettka7]

I don’t understand what’s taking them so long with 26.3, considering there are barely any user-facing changes, and from what I’ve seen with the betas - just as few (if any) issues getting fixed. Not that I’m impatient for such an inconsequential update… it just doesn’t make sense.

Normally I wouldn’t care, but I just want to exit beta at this point until we get some real new features or design tweaks/updates again. Which may be WWDC 2026 considering what we’ve seen lately.

 

[Nathan576]

Let’s remember we are talking about betas here. I don’t get what that has to do with a new MacBook.

“Here’s our new MacBook. Oh by the way you can install the new beta on it!”

Doesn’t make sense to me. Unlike us most people don’t care about betas lol.

 

[Kylo83]

My guess is tomorrow the MacBook Pro announcement at 2pm UK time and then RC at 6pm UK time. And public release of 26.3 on Monday

 

[yeahtyeaht]

Let’s remember we are talking about betas here. I don’t get what that has to do with a new MacBook.

“Here’s our new MacBook. Oh by the way you can install the new beta on it!”

Doesn’t make sense to me. Unlike us most people don’t care about betas lol.

It's because new devices get referenced in updates and as we know Apple, they will announce hardware first and then release the software.

 

[kal1ch]

Let’s remember we are talking about betas here. I don’t get what that has to do with a new MacBook.

“Here’s our new MacBook. Oh by the way you can install the new beta on it!”

Doesn’t make sense to me. Unlike us most people don’t care about betas lol.

Historically, some betas have included references to unreleased devices.

 

[Hamsterhjulet]

My guess is tomorrow the MacBook Pro announcement at 2pm UK time and then RC at 6pm UK time. And public release of 26.3 on Monday

Wouldn’t 2pm UK time be night in the US?

 

[Kylo83]

Wouldn’t 2pm UK time be night in the US?

They normally drop the press releases at 2pm UK time like the AirTags

 

[christian.terra]

Wouldn’t 2pm UK time be night in the US?

UK is ahead of US

 

[john991]

UK is ahead of US

So could be 2pm EST press release. Let’s see