Apple releases iOS 26.2 beta to developers: All that’s new

Apple released the first beta of iOS 26.2 to developers on Tuesday, November 4, just one day after launching iOS 26.1 to the public. The update includes enhanced Liquid Glass customization options, improvements to built-in apps, and adjustments to the Sleep Score feature.The most notable change is a new Lock Screen slider that allows users to adjust the opacity of the Liquid Glass material on the clock, offering more precise control beyond the previous Clear or Tinted options available in iOS 26.1. This addresses ongoing criticism of Apple's controversial Liquid Glass design language.Apple News receives a streamlined interface with new top-row navigation buttons for Food, Politics, Puzzles, and Sports, along with a dedicated Search button and Following tab.

The Podcasts app gains three new features: automatically created chapters, the ability to see mentioned podcasts directly from the player, and quick access to episode links.A new integration between the Reminders and Clock apps allows users to set alarms within reminders by toggling an "Urgent" setting, which can play sounds even when Focus mode is active.Apple has recalibrated its Sleep Score ranges to better reflect users' actual sleep quality, with "Very Low" now spanning 0-40 points instead of 0-29, and the top tier renamed from "Excellent" to "Very High" for consistency.

Additionally, AirPods Live Translation will expand to the European Union following regulatory compliance with the Digital Markets Act.The iOS 26.2 developer beta is available now, with a public beta expected within days. Apple is anticipated to release the stable version sometime in December.