iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 Public Beta 2 Are Here: What’s New and How to Get It

Apple has just rolled out the second public betas of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, giving anyone with a compatible iPhone or iPad a fresh taste of what’s coming this September. This update lands two weeks after the first public beta and matches the fifth developer beta, meaning most of the big new features are already locked in and ready for testing.

If you’re part of Apple’s public beta program, you can grab the update by heading to Settings > General > Software Update and selecting the iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 Public Beta option. New testers can sign up for free at beta.apple.com, and once you’re in, the update should show up automatically.

A Fresh Look with Liquid Glass Design

This release isn’t just about bug fixes. iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 introduce Apple’s new Liquid Glass design, which adds subtle transparency and light reflection effects to icons, menus, and navigation bars. Pop-out menus, shrinking tab bars, and more rounded corners make the interface feel smoother and more dynamic.

Apple Intelligence Upgrades

The update also packs in new Apple Intelligence features. You get Visual Intelligence for Screenshots, improved order tracking in Wallet, smarter Reminders, and Live Translation built into Messages, Phone, and FaceTime. The new Image Playground brings ChatGPT-style creative tools, while Genmoji lets you blend emojis to make custom ones.

Feature Highlights in iOS 26 and iPadOS 26

Other highlights include the Spatial Scene effect that gives 2D photos a 3D feel, updated navigation in Safari, Call Screening and Hold Assist in the Phone app, customizable chat backgrounds, polls in Messages, and an AutoMix feature in Apple Music for DJ-style track transitions. CarPlay has a redesigned interface, and there’s a new Apple Games app. Plus, the Preview app finally comes to iPhone.

For iOS 26 Public Beta 2 specifically, you’ll notice smaller changes like a toggle to reverse the Camera mode swipe direction, the return of the Select button in Mail, and a redesigned AirDrop icon.

Apple is expected to release the final versions of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 in September, alongside possible quick follow-up updates like iOS 26.0.1 and early betas of iOS 26.1. Until then, public beta testers will continue receiving incremental updates to refine the experience before launch.