Apple releases iOS 26.1 with AI updates, smart gestures, and a new Liquid Glass tinted toggle. The Passport and RCS features of iOS 26.2 will be available soon.
Apple’s Next Big Update: iOS 26.1 Arrives, iOS 26.2 Beta Right Behind It
Apple is gearing up for a busy week. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company might roll out iOS 26.1 on Monday, with the iOS 26.2 beta following just a day later.
These updates may not sound huge on paper, but they bring a handful of thoughtful tweaks, better stability, and a few surprises tucked in for iPhone users.
Apple’s recent software rollouts have been fast-paced, and this one’s no exception. If Gurman’s timeline holds true, iPhone users could see their devices get a visual and functional polish before the week even ends.
Here’s What iOS 26.1 Adds
The iOS 26.1 update might seem small, but it’s packed with some handy refinements. The headline feature is a new “Tinted” toggle for the Liquid Glass interface, a subtle design tweak meant to improve screen readability.
You’ll find it in Settings > Display & Brightness, and it lets you switch between a clear or tinted system UI look depending on your preference.
Apple says this addition is meant to make on-screen content easier to read, especially in bright lighting conditions. But it comes with a trade-off, a bit less visual flair for better legibility.
Apart from that, iOS 26.1 focuses on smoother performance, bug fixes, and stability improvements. It’s the kind of update that doesn’t change your iPhone overnight but makes everything feel a bit more polished.
Lock Screen Gestures Get Smarter
A small yet useful tweak has arrived for those who often trigger the camera by accident.
You can now disable the “swipe-to-open camera” gesture directly from the lock screen. The option lives under Settings > Camera > Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera.
It’s a minor change, but for anyone tired of pocket-triggered camera launches, it’s a welcome relief.
Audio Recording, Smarter Storage, and More
Apple’s also working on the recording experience. There’s a new “Local Capture” control that lets users adjust the gain level while recording through a connected microphone.
Plus, a dedicated Local Capture section in Settings allows you to pick exactly where you want those files saved. Perfect for podcasters, interviewers, or journalists who record on the go.
Meanwhile, under the hood, Apple has quietly improved data reliability and background syncing for photo and cloud backups.
Expanding Apple Intelligence
Apple isn’t stopping at UI tweaks. With iOS 26.1, Apple Intelligence (the company’s on-device AI system) is expanding to more regions and languages.
AirPods’ Live Translation feature now supports Mandarin Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Italian, Japanese, and Korean.
On top of that, eight more languages including Traditional Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, and Vietnamese are being added to Apple Intelligence’s regional rollout.
This shows Apple’s steady progress toward a more inclusive AI experience that works seamlessly across languages and devices.
A Few Handy Gesture Changes
Now in Apple Music, when a user swipes left or right on the mini-player to change the song, they can do so, a minor but genuinely helpful change that allows one-handed usage of the mini-player.
When it comes to alarms and timers, Apple has done it a few times differently. You no longer have to tap to turn them off, you have to slide, a minor UX improvement that should avoid unintentional dismissal.
You can also disable the haptic feedback on calls, so your phone no longer needs to be vibrated every time you make or receive a call.
And to cap it all, Apple has even changed the icon of the Apple TV application into the more recent design language that is presented with iOS 26.
Apple becomes open to developers more
Another area that Apple is preparing is the creation of a less restrictive and open ecosystem. iOS 26.1 also introduces two new frameworks to the indiscriminate testing of developers: App MigrationKit and PhotoKit.
App MigrationKit is intended to help in the easiest migration of Android to iPhone. This tool can be incorporated into the apps of the developers, and users can easily and safely transfer the app data between devices, which can be concluded to be a move to make Apple platform user-friendly.
PhotoKit, however, provides third-party applications with the ability to save photos to the cloud on the background without necessarily having to leave the app open.
It implies that backups can be quicker, and the process can be interrupted less often and users will have a more dependable experience of managing photos.
Both systems are still in beta and Apple is planning to release them with the complete public release of the iOS 26.1.
Eligible Devices for iOS 26.1
As usual, iOS 26.1 will support a wide range of devices, including:
- iPhone SE (2nd Gen. and later)
- iPhone 11 Series – 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 Series – 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 Series – 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14 Series – 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max iPhone
- 15 Series – 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 Series – 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, and 16e
- iPhone 17 Series – iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air
If your iPhone’s a few years old but still getting updates, this release keeps it relevant for a bit longer.
What’s Next?: iOS 26.2 Beta on the Way
Just a day after iOS 26.1’s rollout, Apple could drop the first iOS 26.2 beta for developers.
Early reports suggest it’ll arrive alongside beta versions of iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS.
Gurman believes the initial iOS 26.2 beta won’t include major new features right away. Instead, it’s expected to focus on performance and testing new tools behind the scenes.
But knowing Apple’s history, later betas often bring surprises- just like how the “Tinted” toggle appeared late in iOS 26.1’s testing phase.
Possible New Features in iOS 26.2
So, what could Apple pack into iOS 26.2? Nothing official yet, but there are a few hints.
First, Apple has confirmed that Apple Wallet will soon support U.S. passports before the end of the year.
It’s unclear whether that feature will launch directly with iOS 26.2, but it’s certainly one to watch.
Another highly anticipated addition is RCS messaging with end-to-end encryption. Apple previously promised to bring it in a “future software update.”
The timing suggests iOS 26.2 could be that release or at least an early step toward it.
If the company sticks to its usual schedule, we can expect several weeks of beta testing, with a public rollout around December.
While iOS 26.2 might not make headlines for flashy changes, it’ll likely deliver the kind of refinements and stability Apple users value most.
Why These Updates Matter
On the surface level, such updates as iOS 26.1 and iOS 26.2 may seem relatively small, there is no new interface or some grandiose overhaul.
However, the user experience, making devices more reliable, and working towards larger changes such as Apple Intelligence and RCS messaging is evident as the strategy of Apple.
And to ordinary users, it is about minor things that go a long way; enhanced gestures, enhanced settings, and more natural controls.
Therefore, the updates of this week might not make the headlines as a new iPhone line, but they are quietly influencing the daily usage of their devices by millions of people.
With iOS 26.1, Apple keeps improving its software environment and gets ready for iOS 26.2. One thing is certain: your iPhone is going to seem a little more sophisticated, whether it's through minor design changes, smarter functionality, or smoother graphics.
Official External Links: Bloomberg - Mark Gurman on Apple Updates
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