Apple Releases Third Public Betas for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26

Apple released the third public betas of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, allowing a broad group of testers to trial the upcoming updates ahead of a fall rollout. The public betas arrive a week after the second round and align with the sixth developer betas, with final versions anticipated in September. The betas can be accessed by public testers who sign up for Apple’s beta program and update through the Settings app.

The latest beta builds bring Apple’s Liquid Glass design language to life across iPhone and iPad interfaces, emphasizing transparency and light-refraction effects, while refining animations and usability. Public previews highlight a refreshed home and lock screen, a more rounded, glassy aesthetic, and a broader, more cohesive visual language across iOS, iPadOS, and related platforms. In addition to the visual overhaul, the betas introduce a suite of Apple Intelligence features, including Visual Intelligence for on-device image searches, more capable Live Translation tools for Phone, Messages, and FaceTime, and enhancements to Reminders, Wallet, and Maps-related workflows. The Photos app gains a back-to-basics refresh with a return of familiar tabs, while Safari receives...