iOS 26 Public Beta Arriving in July
Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) began on June 9, bringing a wave of major announcements. Among them, Apple confirmed that public betas for its new operating systems, including iOS 26, will arrive in July. Developer betas, however, are already available through the Apple Developer Program.
In line with this announcement, Apple revealed a significant visual redesign. The update introduces round icons on the home screen and Control Center, marking the company’s first major UI shift since iOS 7. Additionally, a new material called liquid glass now defines the interface. This translucent design element appears in widgets, icons, and the newly introduced all-clear mode, which joins existing light and dark themes.
A Broader, Unified Experience Across Devices
Apple describes the redesign as “our broadest design update ever.” This shift aims to create a uniform experience across all platforms. To reinforce this, Apple is rebranding its operating systems. So, instead of iOS 19, users will upgrade to iOS 26 this fall. The change extends across product lines iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and more offering consistency. Despite the numbering update, macOS continues its tradition of using California-themed names; the next version is called Tahoe.
WWDC also previewed several iOS 26 features. For example, Apple is introducing typing indicators in group chats. Moreover, live translation capabilities will soon work in iMessage, FaceTime, and phone calls even if the other person isn’t using an iPhone.
When You Can Try It Out
Although developer betas began on June 9, the public won’t have to wait long. Apple confirmed that public betas will launch in July via the Apple Beta Software Program. This allows broader access to the updates, letting users test the new design and features ahead of the full release.
For real-time updates and a full recap of WWDC 2025, you can review Apple’s keynote liveblog.
