iOS 26.1 Developer beta launched: New features, eligible devices and more

Following the recent rollout of iOS 26, Apple has introduced the iOS 26.1 developer beta, enhancing its AI capabilities with support for additional languages and introducing a sleeker user interface. To access the iOS 26.1 developer beta, users must first enroll in the Apple Developer Program. This can be done through the enrollment page or the Apple Developer app by signing in with an Apple ID. After providing personal details such as name and address, users can select 'Individual' as their entity type and accept the terms. Enrollment into the free tier of the program is available, although there is an option to pay for the full program. Once enrolled, users can preview iOS 26.1 by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update on their iPhones. By selecting 'Beta Updates' and then 'iOS 26.1 Developer Beta,' they can download the latest version. It is advisable to ensure that the iPhone’s battery is above 50% during the update process and to back up important data to avoid potential loss. The latest beta introduces support for Apple Intelligence in eight new languages, including Traditional Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Additionally, the AI-driven Live Translation feature now supports Mandarin (simplified and traditional), Italian, Japanese, and Korean. This feature, first revealed at Apple's WWDC 2025, allows real-time translation across various applications such as Messages and FaceTime. Moreover, the update includes notable user interface enhancements, such as a new 'Liquid Glass' design for the Phone app keypad, full-width color highlights for events in the Calendar app, and an improved playback scrubber in the Photos app. Reports suggest that Apple is also working on integrating the Model Context Protocol (MCP), developed by Anthropic, which aims to create secure, two-way connections between AI tools and data sources. MCP provides a universal standard, enhancing the way AI systems interact with various data sources. The new iOS update is compatible with a wide array of iPhone models, including the latest iPhone 17 series and several previous versions, ensuring that a broad user base can benefit from these innovative features.