Although regular users will have to wait until July for public trials, developers can start exploring these updates now, with the official release planned for fall.
Residents in select U.S. states can now add their driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app on their iPhone and Apple Watch, making it easier to display proof of identity or age at various locations like airports and businesses.
Apple’s latest software packs new features for apps like Messages, Phone, Shortcuts, and Apple Music, plus a dose of Apple Intelligence features, an upgrade for CarPlay, and more. iPadOS 26 introduces a whole new multitasking system supporting multiple app windows, promising a more Mac-like user experience.
Rumors about the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models are buzzing, with talks of a vapor chamber cooling system and a leaked photo of a copper thermal plate. High-end Android smartphones like Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra already boast such cooling systems for efficient heat management.
Hidden gems within iOS 26 include a new ringtone – a reimagined version of Reflection – discovered in the code but not yet accessible in the Settings app.
We recently learned that iOS 26 is rolling out an optional Adaptive Power Mode for the iPhone, in addition to the existing Low Power Mode. Apple says this Adaptive Power Mode can make slight performance tweaks to extend your iPhone’s battery life, like a modest drop in display brightness or allowing certain activities to proceed a bit slower.
For a deeper dive into the new features in iOS 26, check our dedicated iOS 26 roundup and the separate iPadOS 26 roundup.
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 bring Apple’s fresh Liquid Glass design touch, emphasizing translucency and glass-like interface details. This slick update expands across Lock Screen, Home Screen, Control Center, as well as menus and buttons in your apps.
Market watchers anticipate the debut of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong. Expect this new wearable alongside the Apple Watch Series 11 around the same time as the iPhone 17 lineup’s launch, following Apple’s usual product release pattern.
iOS 26 will introduce two new Wi-Fi features, including Captive Assist and Wi-Fi Aware, promising enhanced connectivity options.
Anticipate the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max in about three months, with several credible sources weighing in on rumored features. Elements like an aluminum frame and other changes are expected for these new models.
Apple has just given developers the second trial versions of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 for testing. These updates arrived two weeks after Apple shared the initial trials post-WWDC keynote.
Apple aspires to craft an iPhone with a completely screen-centric design, possibly realized in the next few years. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman hinted at future iPhone models shrinking the Dynamic Island size and eventually releasing a redesigned 20th-anniversary iPhone model.
If you’re a registered developer, go ahead and get the new trial software through the Software Update section in the Settings app.
In other news…
