Apple announced the next big iPhone software back in June, set to go on general release this fall. If you’re keen to try iOS 26, it’s about to become available in the first public beta. Here’s what’s happening.
Apple announced in June that the release of iOS 26 would first appear as developer betas as usual, with the first public beta set for July. When it reaches general release it will be on the 2025 releases, iPhone 17 series, as well the iPhone 16 sereis and some earlier models.
That’s the normal schedule, though the public beta routinely arrives around the middle of the month — so the week beginning Monday, July 14 seemed most likely.
In the latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman addressed the question. He had already posted on X that the public beta would land around Wednesday, July 23. Now, he has expanded on this reasoning.
“All indications are that iOS 26 should go into the public beta phase this coming week. This typically happens by the middle of July, so the software is a bit later than usual. Given that iOS 26 is such a significant design overhaul, it makes sense that Apple would want to take a little extra time to get things right,” Gurman said.
And there’s another reason things seem to be running a little late, which is that instead of using the third developer beta as the basis for the public beta, which is the usual one, “It seems likely that this public beta will match up with the fourth developer beta version,” this time, Gurman goes on.
This means that although it’s a little later, it’ll be based on a more stable release, assuming Apple is improving its beta software with each release.
There have been tweaks to the Liquid Glass design which is the marquee feature in iOS 26, so maybe developer beta 4/public beta 1, will have something closer to the final look.
iOS 26 Public Beta Release Date
This week looks most likely: Apple said July and after this week, there are only three days in July left.
I believe it will be released the day after the fourth developer beta, so if that lands on Monday, July 21, the public beta will be Tuesday, July 22.
Gurman’s proposed date of July 23 is also possible, but keep an eye out for dev beta news on Monday. I’ll be updating the news, so please check back.
