- Apple has dropped the first public beta for iOS 26, making the update available to more users.
- The update features the new Liquid Glass design language, along with several new tweaks and improvements.
- If you want to join the public beta, then sign up at beta.apple.com and install the new build.
After a series of developer beta updates, Apple has officially dropped the first public beta for iOS 26. This update brings the new Liquid Glass design along with a slate of improvements for iPhones. With public beta, regular users can now try out everything new that Apple has to offer with iOS 26, much earlier than the general rollout.
What’s New in iOS 26 Public Beta?
The latest iOS 26 public beta comes out just two days after the release of iOS 26 developer beta 4 . It’s a more stable build than earlier developer betas that we have seen before. So, if you are on the latest developer beta, I suggest switching to the public build.
The update features Apple’s new Liquid Glass visual design . This brings a translucent glass-like reflective motif to the entire UI including toolbars, control center, toggles, menus, toolbars, and app icons. Liquid Glass received a lot of backlash in early developer betas due to readability issues.
Apple has now tweaked the Liquid Glass design and improved readability, which was a big concern with this new design language. iOS 26 also updates the lock screen, the Camera app with simpler controls, and the Phone app, which gets a unified look for recents, missed calls, favorites, and voicemails.
You can also screen incoming calls or let your iPhone hold the call for you. The Messages app in iOS 26 lets you change the background in your chats. CarPlay gets an overhaul, and picking a call doesn’t take the entire screen. Users who enjoy gaming will find a new Games app on their iPhones.
In addition, there are new Apple Intelligence features like Visual Intelligence , which is now available for screenshots, and order tracking in the Wallet app. Moreover, iOS 26 brings Image Playground with ChatGPT-style options, the ability to mix multiple emojis to create a new one in Genmoji , and Live Translation in the Phone, FaceTime, and the Messages app.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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- The next version of the Apple Vision Pro is expected to feature the latest M4 chipset.
- It will not come with any design changes, but it will feature a new, and hopefully more comfortable, strap.
- The new Vision Pro is slated to launch later this year, but Apple has not confirmed exact dates yet.
Apple’s first mixed reality headset hasn’t been the success the company was hoping for, but the company has not given up yet. Apple is planning to ship a new version of the Vision Pro as early as this year. And it is set to feature an M4 chipset and a brand new strap.
Going by the recent Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman, Apple is working on the next iteration of the Vision Pro headset, aiming to deliver better performance with the help of its latest M4 chipset . The company is also focusing on improving comfort while wearing the headgear.
Image Credit: Beebom
Gurman said in his report, “The updated Vision Pro will include a faster processor and components that can better run artificial intelligence, according to people with knowledge of the matter. There also will be a new strap to make it easier to wear the headset for long periods of time, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans haven’t been announced.”
There are no reports of any design changes, so it is likely going to be the same hardware with minor internal improvements. This aligns perfectly with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s roadmap of Apple’s upcoming head-mounted devices. The Cupertino giant also has plans to develop its own smart glasses , similar to Meta’s, in the coming years.
Apple Vision Series and Smart Glasses Roadmap (2025–2028): Smart Glasses Set to Drive the Next Wave in Consumer Electronics Full story: https://t.co/41Moxlj1Ai pic.twitter.com/U2nQhBmEYg — 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) June 29, 2025
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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- Apple and Google have officially confirmed their team-up for the next-gen Siri AI.
- The Cupertino Giant will be using Google’s Gemini for a more personalized Siri model as well as Apple Intelligence features.
- We can expect the next-gen Siri to come out with iOS 26.4, sometime in March or April.
Apple has officially confirmed joining forces with Google to use its Gemini AI model to power the next-generation Siri. It will offer a more personalized experience and will be coming out with the iOS 26.4 update. Apple also plans to leverage Gemini’s capabilities for other Apple Intelligence features as well, later down the line.
The Next-Gen Siri will be powered by Google’s Gemini AI
Apple officially confirmed that it will be partnering with Google in a statement to CNBC . Here’s what it stated, “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models, and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.”
Later, Google also shared a post on X confirming the tie-up, “Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.”
Image Credit: X/@NewsFromGoogle
Both statements clearly mention that the Cupertino Giant will be using Gemini to power its assistant Siri. This was already rumored, as Apple’s attempts to acquire Perplexity went nowhere. With Gemini, Siri will get a major AI update . It will be able to handle more nuanced conversations and provide better results. Something long-time Apple users have been asking for years.
The next-gen Siri will arrive with the iOS 26.4 update, which will launch sometime in March or April. And it is only going to be available for Apple Intelligence-supported devices .
Something else worth noting is how Google’s statement mentions that Gemini will power Apple Intelligence features. This leads us to believe that Apple could use Gemini’s multi-modal capabilities for its Writings tools , Image Playground , and Message summaries, too.
Elon Musk Not Happy With Apple and Google Tie Up
xAI CEO Elon Musk also responded to Google’s announcement post on X, sharing his thoughts on the matter by saying, “This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that they also have Android and Chrome.” Though we don’t expect either Apple or Google to respond to Elon, we will update the situation as it progresses.
It is worth noting that xAI is the company behind Grok, which is in hot water currently due to its inappropriate image generation fiasco , and has been getting backlash from multiple news outlets, X users, and even government authorities.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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