Following the release of iOS 26 beta 5 for developers, Apple has just seeded the second public beta of its upcoming operating system update. While the previous version was already relatively stable, Apple continues to tweak the experience ahead of a fall release.
Since the iPhone 17 is expected to be announced on September 9, it’s possible that we’re about a month away from the iOS 26 Release Candidate. That said, Apple still has a long way to go to make sure iOS 26 runs as smoothly or better than iOS 18.
As the company readies the biggest update to its smartphone software since iOS 7, Apple wants make a good impression as soon as iPhone owners update to the latest version, which means squashing as many bugs as possible and refining a UI that will make the iPhone feel new but familiar. That said, here’s what you should expect from the second public beta.
iOS 26 public beta 2 tweaks the overall experience
While I think you should skip the iOS 26 public beta for a variety of reasons, there are several new features waiting for you if you decide to take the risk. From public beta 1 to public beta 2, Apple made a few more tweaks, including:
- Mail: The Mail app in iOS 26 beta now offers a Select button on top of each box. With that, it’s easier to select several messages to move them between boxes, flag them, or delete them. This feature was previously hidden under the three-dot menu.
- Camera: Apple added a toggle in the Camera app settings that lets you reverse the scroll direction of mode switching when swiping between Photo and Video modes.
- New icons: Both the AirDrop and Fitness+ tab received new icons with a more cohesive design to fit the Liquid Glass experience.
- Bouncy UI: Apple added new animations for the passcode screen and when you’re swiping between Control Center pages.
- Battery indicator: Apple added a new Dynamic Island battery indicator when it hits 20% on the iPhone.
We will let you know if we find anything else new and exciting in iOS 26 public beta 2. Apple also released the second public beta versions of iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26.
