iOS 26.2 Beta Update: Hidden Tools Every iPhone User Must Try

Testing of iOS 26.2 has begun at Apple and the first beta release has taken place, which includes core applications like Reminders, Music, Podcasts, and News, getting functional improvements and various other app updates. In addition to the refining Apple Watch integrations, the update introduces new European user-specific features and extends the customization tools that were already available in iOS 26.1.

The users of the Reminders app can now mark their tasks with the “Urgent” status, and when the deadlines are near, automatic alerts will be triggered. By this, the company wants to eliminate cases of forgotten to-dos and also help users to manage their time better through the app.

The update for Apple Music is mainly aimed at offline use. Lyrics including synced, translated, and time-matched versions are available even without a data connection. This feature makes it possible for users to sing along with the songs, even if they are on the move or in a place with poor service.

Apple Podcasts rolls out a new feature that segregates the episodes into chapters with the help of AI. This means that if the creators don’t give timestamps, the shows will still be divided into sections according to the length of the content. In addition, there is a new feature called “Podcast Mentions,” which detects the shows that are talked about in a specific episode and provides direct links in either the playback or the transcript view for easy access.

With watchOS 26.2, the Sleep Score algorithm is adjusted by Apple. The app now applies a tougher grading curve, so the users might get lower scores for the same patterns of rest. The highest score category, which is “Very High,” now requires a point range of 96 to 100.

The Apple News app has a more elegant interface. Sports, Puzzles, Politics, and Food tabs have been relocated to the primary screen for quicker access. A new Following tab combines favorites, saved stories, and reading history, while the search layout has been rearranged to facilitate easier discovery.

For the European Union, iOS 26.2 brings Live Translation through AirPods, a feature which had to wait earlier because it was affected by the regulatory requirements under the Digital Markets Act. The other way around, Apple has blocked Wi-Fi syncing between iPhone and Apple Watch in the area, so now users have to manually enter the network on both devices to comply with the interoperability laws.

Lock Screen options grow with a transparency slider in Liquid Glass that lets users adjust the visibility of the clock even between the Clear and Tinted presets. The Enhanced Safety Alerts part now gathers control for earthquake notifications, public safety alerts, and location-based updates to increase accuracy.

Freeform now has table formatting, Passwords has site exclusions, and there’s a Flash to Alerts option in Accessibility settings among the other minor updates.

Apple has likely to make the final version of iOS 26.2 available to users by mid-December 2025 after completing the beta testing process.Apple News Simplified and Reorganized

The Apple News app has a more elegant interface. Sports, Puzzles, Politics, and Food tabs have been relocated to the primary screen for quicker access. A new Following tab combines favorites, saved stories, and reading history, while the search layout has been rearranged to facilitate easier discovery.

For the European Union, iOS 26.2 brings Live Translation through AirPods, a feature which had to wait earlier because it was affected by the regulatory requirements under the Digital Markets Act. The other way around, Apple has blocked Wi-Fi syncing between iPhone and Apple Watch in the area, so now users have to manually enter the network on both devices to comply with the interoperability laws.

Lock Screen options grow with a transparency slider in Liquid Glass that lets users adjust the visibility of the clock even between the Clear and Tinted presets. The Enhanced Safety Alerts part now gathers control for earthquake notifications, public safety alerts, and location-based updates to increase accuracy.

Freeform now has table formatting, Passwords has site exclusions, and there’s a Flash to Alerts option in Accessibility settings among the other minor updates.

Apple has likely to make the final version of iOS 26.2 available to users by mid-December 2025 after completing the beta testing process.