Apple expected to roll out iOS 26.1 on Monday, 26.2 beta to follow: Mark Gurman

Apple is gearing up to release its iOS 26.1 update this coming Monday, with the beta version for iOS 26.2 expected shortly thereafter. According to insights from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the first beta iteration of iOS 26.2 could be available as soon as Tuesday, just a day following the public rollout of iOS 26.1. The upcoming iOS 26.1 update is anticipated to be a modest enhancement, featuring a new 'Tinted' toggle for the Liquid Glass functionality aimed at improving screen readability. Users should be prepared to sacrifice some aesthetic appeal for greater clarity with this new option. Besides this addition, the update appears to concentrate on performance refinements and a series of minor tweaks. As for the iOS 26.2 developer beta, it is likely to debut on Tuesday alongside early beta versions for other Apple platforms, such as iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS. Gurman indicates that while the first beta may not introduce significant new features, Apple often rolls out noteworthy updates in subsequent testing phases. For instance, the 'Tinted' toggle for Liquid Glass was introduced in the fourth beta of iOS 26.1, just before the release candidate was finalized. Currently, expectations for iOS 26.2 are fairly low, but Apple has confirmed that U.S. passport support in Apple Wallet will be available before the year's end, although it is uncertain whether this feature will coincide with iOS 26.2. Another eagerly awaited enhancement is end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging, which Apple has previously noted would come in a future software update. While it's not guaranteed for iOS 26.2, the timeline suggests that it remains a possibility. If Apple adheres to its typical release schedule, the public launch of iOS 26.2 is expected to occur in December following several weeks of beta testing. Although the initial update may not feature groundbreaking additions, users can look forward to smaller enhancements and performance upgrades, with the potential for surprises along the way.