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Apple Seeds Third Developer Betas of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26

Apple today provided developers with the third betas of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 for testing purposes, with the updates coming two weeks after Apple seeded the second betas.

iOS 26 Feature
Registered developers can download the new beta software using the Software Update section of the Settings app.

‌iOS 26‌ and ‌iPadOS 26‌ feature Apple's new Liquid Glass design aesthetic, with a focus on translucency and glass-like interface elements. The design extends to the Lock Screen, Home Screen, and Control Center, along with menus and buttons in apps.

Apple's software includes features for apps like Messages, Phone, Shortcuts, and Apple Music, along with new Apple Intelligence features, a revamp for CarPlay, and more. In ‌iPadOS 26‌, there's a whole new multitasking system that supports multiple app windows for a more Mac-like experience.

For more on the features in ‌iOS 26‌, we have a dedicated iOS 26 roundup and a separate iPadOS 26 roundup. Several new features were found in beta 2, and we rounded them up.

While the ‌iOS 26‌ and ‌iPadOS 26‌ betas are limited to developers right now, Apple plans to release a public very soon. The updates will launch in the fall.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26
Related Forum: iOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

12 months ago
Hold! Hold until the first public beta!

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Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
12 months ago
Hmm hard liquid glass nerf

"And where did that bring you...Back to me."

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Honestly Windows Aero did figure out the readability so long ago
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
12 months ago

My 16 Pro is currently ironing my desk after the update. Will give it some time to do whatever optimizations it needs to do. Then I might turn it off for a bit to give it a chance to cool down. Phone was still as stuttery as it has been since beta 1. :( I'm guessing I may just need to reset the phone when the final comes out. Just need to make sure my 2 factor stuff exists on another device before I go through that. This has been the worse beta for me by far. Not sure why my latest gen iPhone is having such trouble. My iPad Pro 13" has zero stutter and flies along...no battery drain there at all.
Phone Charging on Hold...Charging will resume when iPhone returns to normal temperature.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dumastudetto Avatar
12 months ago
Beta 3 feels like a huge step up in terms of performance across iOS and iPadOS. Everything is so much smoother with very little stutter.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
theeaglesfan005 Avatar
12 months ago
9.04GB on my 16 Pro Max

Hopefully lots of bug fixes 🤞

Beta 2 was so laggy and stuttery
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Computers 4 U LLC Avatar
12 months ago

How does it feel? iPadOS26 Beta2 was suuuuuuuper lagy.
Beta 2 was great for me on all of my devices, Beta 3 feels even better so far.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)