iOS 26.1 is set to launch this week starting Monday. Moreover, according to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, a first beta version of iOS 26.2 is also expected to be available for users this week.
iOS 26 has been available in its final version for over a month, and the Cupertino company is continuing to refine its operating system. The California-based firm is delighting users with the release of iOS 26.1 as well as the beta of iOS 26.2, all coming this week.
iOS 26.1 is now available in stable version
iOS 26.1 will officially launch this Monday after several beta releases. The major new feature is a new option called Tinted which modifies Liquid Glass to enhance text readability. Since its release, this new interface has faced criticism regarding its legibility.
Apple has been criticized for prioritizing aesthetics over clarity. The Tinted option helps to somewhat tone down this graphic rendering for better character distinction. iOS 26.1 remains a minor update, so do not expect any groundbreaking new features.
To check if iOS 26.1 is available on your iPhone, simply go to Settings > General > Software Update. If the update is available for your smartphone, just initiate the download.
Mark Gurman explains in his latest newsletter Power On that iOS 26.2 will have its beta available starting Tuesday. No information has yet been shared about this version. However, during this testing phase, users will get a sneak peek at the upcoming features.
Given that iOS 26.1 adds the Tinted option, we can expect that iOS 26.5 will mainly focus on stability and bug fixes. The most significant new features are likely to be revealed in future updates. Apple has already confirmed that end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging is on its way.
