Beta 2: What's new!

A look at all the important changes in iOS 26 beta 2.

Author

Leander Kahney
June 24, 2025

We’re right in the middle of perhaps the most exciting period in iOS 26’s life: its gestation period.

Now’s the time when Apple adds lots of smaller features and tweaks the details before iOS 26’s birth in the fall.

Running the betas and seeing how the fetal OS develops between now and then is a lot of fun, although it comes with the risk of turning your device into a twitchy, buggy mess.

For me, running the developer beta on an iPhone 16 Pro, things have been pretty solid so far. Yeah, there are a few glitches, but nothing showstopping.

And while I berate myself for running betas on all my primary devices, it’s really the best way for me to experience the new operating systems.

I could load the betas on spare devices I have lying around, but from past experience, I know I won’t pick them up and use them. Loading betas on my daily drivers is perhaps a little foolish, but it’s also kinda necessary for my job!

Apple just released the second beta of iOS 26, which brings quite a few tweaks — plus fresh new features — that fill out the nascent OS nicely.

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • Some Android phones already ditched it, but apparently it will take Apple half a decade to phase out the iPhone’s camera cutout.

  • After getting pulled from Apple Arcade, the fun game Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon is back. It comes highly recommended.

  • We’re pretty excited about the new LiberNovo Omni office chair, which features a motorized spine that not only adapts to your back but also gives you a massage! It’s even great for napping. And it just launched on Kickstarter.

  • Today’s the day in Apple history that Cupertino launched the iPhone 4, a brilliant device with great industrial design and breakthrough features like the first Retina display. Alas, it’s mostly remembered for different reasons.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

iOS 26 beta 2: All the new features and changes

iOS 26 beta 2 brings subtle refinements, visual tweaks and small usability improvements. Find out everything that’s new here.

iPhone may not get rid of its camera cutout for 5 years

The gradual process of reducing the size of the iPhone screen cutout allegedly won’t be complete until 2030.

New technology could cool down overheating smart glasses

With a new xMEMS Labs release, new technology could cool down overheating smart glasses. Could it play into Apple's upcoming product?

A message from LiberNovo

LiberNovo Omni chair's brilliant bionic backrest adapts to your workflow

Sick of back aches and stiffness? The amazing LiberNovo Omni massage office chair adapts to your workflow and moves the way you do.

Hack-and-slash fun of ‘Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon’ returns to the App Store

Adventurers can once again enjoy the roguelike dungeon crawler for iPhone and iPad.

How and why to use iPhone Stolen Device Protection

Stolen Device Protection boosts safety for your private info if someone steals your iPhone and its passcode. Here’s how to use it.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Turn your selfies into a studio-quality headshot for just $15

With the ResumePhoto.ai AI headshot generator, you can quickly get 12 professionally styled images, with great lighting and business attire.

How to play Apple’s daily crosswords on iPad and iPhone

Apple offers daily crossword puzzles you can play on your iPhone inside the News app. The games are available to anyone with an Apple News+ subscription or the Apple One Premier bundle. 

Today in Apple history: iPhone 4 arrives with glorious Retina display

On June 24, 2010, the iPhone 4 release date finally arrived. With FaceTime, a Retina screen and a gorgeous design, it quickly became a hit for Apple.

Tweets of the day

Wallpaper of the day

One more thing ...

❝

When our tools don’t work, we tend to blame ourselves, for being too stupid or not reading the manual or having too-fat fingers…. When our tools are broken, we feel broken. And when somebody fixes one, we feel a tiny bit more whole.

— Steve Jobs, 2011.

Today’s poll

Best feature of the iPhone 4?

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Results from yesterday’s poll: Which AirPods do you own?

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