Apple has released the sixth developer beta of iOS 26. This completely redesigned software for iPhones is expected to be released to users in September. Beta 6 largely stabilizes changes made in previous test versions and comes in a near-final build.
iOS 26 beta 6 released
Apple describes iOS 26 as featuring “a striking new design, powerful Apple Intelligence features, new ways to connect in the Phone and Messages apps, and exciting updates to CarPlay, Apple Music, Maps, and Wallet.” The software features new AI-based features, while small but significant changes to the user interface also shaped the process.
The second beta included design tweaks to improve readability in Control Center, more organized menus in Safari, and accessibility enhancements by adding borders to High Contrast Mode.
The third beta added opacity to the tab bars, but this change was reverted in the fourth beta. Notification Center still appears completely transparent until fully opened, and this is likely to change in future versions.
The fourth beta reintroduced notification summaries for news and entertainment apps. This feature was temporarily disabled after feedback that AI was changing the title meanings. The fifth beta, in response to user requests, brought back the Select button in the Mail app and included additional settings, such as an option to revert to the old swipe direction in the Camera app.
The changes included in today’s beta 6 have not yet been detailed. However, the current build is expected to be largely identical to the upcoming publicly available iOS 26 beta 3. As Apple nears the final release, it is focusing more on bug fixes and performance improvements than major changes.
iOS 26 works on the iPhone SE (2nd generation) and iPhone 11 and later models. The last major update for the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max will be iOS 18. Apple will continue to provide security updates to these older devices for some time. Users who want to take advantage of Apple Intelligence features must have an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 series model.
