After a month of developer testing, Apple is ready to unleash iOS 26 for wider testing. Here’s why you might want to wait.
It’s been a month since Apple released the first developer beta of iOS 26, and iPhone users are no doubt excited to try out the new version, as it introduces the Liquid Glass design among other cool features. With the release of the public beta, you may be wondering whether it’s worth installing iOS 26 on your iPhone or if you should wait until September.
If you really want to try the new software, read on as we detail how smooth or buggy the iOS 26 beta is, and whether you should actually install it right now.iOS 26 is filled with tempting new features
There are many new features in iOS 26. Most notable, it has a new eye-catching Liquid Glass design that simulates a transparent layer for menus and panels, with depth and reflections. From new wallpapers to transparent icons and floating menus, Liquid Glass brings a fresh look to the iPhone’s operating system that you need to see and experience to understand. But even if you don’t care about Liquid Glass, there’s more to see in iOS 26.
With iOS 26, you get live translations for phone calls and FaceTime. You can also see translations in iMessage conversations, all powered by Apple Intelligence. Speaking of Apple Intelligence, Visual Intelligence has been upgraded with the ability to circle anything in a screenshot to search for it on the web.
Among many iPhone features, iOS 26 also includes a few new AirPods features.
AirPods are also getting new tricks with iOS 26. In addition to letting you control the iPhone camera remotely, Apple’s earbuds can now work as high-quality microphones for the first time. This is great news for creators who want to shoot video without needing a lavalier mic.
