iOS Update Timeline: Apple Preps 26.1 Release, Eyes Passport & RCS Encryption for 26.2

According to Mark Gurman, Apple is expected to release the official iOS 26.1 update as early as 3 November 2025, with the first beta of iOS 26.2 made available to developers the very next day, alongside beta builds for watchOS, tvOS and other Apple platforms. Gurman notes that the iOS 26.1 update represents a relatively minor revision overall for general users.

Its main addition is a new “Tinted” toggle within the “Liquid Glass” visual aesthetic, designed to improve readability by trading some translucency for legibility. For the forthcoming iOS 26.2 beta, the initial release is unlikely to feature major new capabilities, with additional features expected to appear gradually in subsequent beta iterations. Public expectations around iOS 26.2 centre on two promised features Apple has previously committed to delivering by the end of this year: U.S.

Passport Integration in Apple Wallet and RCS End-to-End Encryption. The official version of iOS 26.2 is projected to roll out publicly in December.