Testing with developer and public beta versions went smoothly for even the oldest supported models. But there are safety measures if upgrading to the beta or release version goes awry.

With the iOS 26 public beta now out, you may have chosen to give the new software update a try ahead of its general release in the fall.

We’ve been playing around with the developer betas of Apple’s latest software, and now that we’ve spent time with iOS 26, Liquid Glass and more on actual devices, we have thoughts. From representation in Genmoji and Live Translation adventures to Apple Intelligence musings,

Next, you’ll need to start the update. Visit Settings > General > Software Update. If you’re not new to beta updates, you may immediately see the iOS 26 Beta (or iPad OS 26 Public Beta) selection. In that case, you can skip the next two steps. Otherwise...

OS 26 isn't quite ready to launch yet, but we're far enough along in the testing process that Apple is seeding the update out to millions

Apple released iOS 26 in public beta. Here's everything you can expect, from the Liquid Glass design to features powered by Apple Intelligence.

Beyond Liquid Glass, Apple is making giant updates to Control Center in a href=" title="iOS 26" data-kpt="1">iOS 26 that make this always handy iPhone feature become a powerhouse — once you learn how to use it to its fullest.

Back in 2024, we described how the then-new iOS 18 enabled you to tint your homescreen icons, allowing you to tweak the look of your iPhone’s display. Now, with Apple’s introduction of its Liquid Glass design for iOS 26, you can make your icons completely clear ( assuming you’re a fan of the new invisible look).