iOS 26.1 is expected as early as Monday, but Apple always keeps pushing ahead. As a result, iOS 26.2 beta 1 could be out on Tuesday.
The same goes for macOS Tahoe 26.2 beta 1, iPadOS 26.2 beta 1, watchOS 26.2 beta 1, tvOS 26.2 beta 1 and visionOS 26.2 beta 1.
iOS 26.2 beta 1 treads on the heels of iOS 26.1
Apple is very forward-thinking. Even before a new operating system ships, development begins on its successor. That’s why iOS 26.1 can launch on Monday or Tuesday, and then iOS 26.2 beta 1 can come the next day.
While Apple hasn’t explicitly announced a launch date for iOS 26.1, the release candidate went out last Tuesday. That’s the final step in beta testing, and the full version always follows a week later. And Monday is Apple’s preferred day of the week for new OS versions to come out of Cupertino. iOS 26 came out on a Monday, and so did iOS 18.
That said, it’s not a hard-and-fast rule. iOS 18.6 came out on a Tuesday back in July, for example. So while November 3 is the most likely day to expect iOS 26.1, it’s not guaranteed.
The new version is packed with features for iPhone users, as well as loads of bug fixes. Read our guide to all the changes.
In addition, macOS Tahoe 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1 and visionOS 26.1 are all expected on the same day with tweaks and bug fixes galore.
And the very next day, look forward to iOS 26.2 beta 1 as well as our first look at the next OS updates for Mac, iPad, and more.
What to expect in iOS 26.2, etc.
Some years, Apple lays out a roadmap of features coming to its devices in OS upgrades. This is not one of those years. No juicy details have leaked out yet, either.
“I’m not expecting major new features in that initial seed,” is all Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman could say about it, and he has some of the best sources inside Apple.
Which does mean Apple isn’t busy. It’s very hard at work finishing up work on the AI-enhanced version of Siri that is still scheduled to launch in spring 2026.
Also, the upcoming iOS version needs to be ready for the iPhone 17e when it arrives. And that’s true for macOS Tahoe 26.2 and the M5 MacBook Air as well. Further ahead, future MacBook variants with the Apple M5 Pro and Max processors are supposed to debut with macOS 26.3.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
