iOS

iOS 26.4 beta 2 is now rolling out for developers, and it expands support for testing encrypted RCS messaging on iPhone.

Apple has released the second iOS 26.4 beta version for iPhone. iOS 26.4 includes a number of exciting new features and changes, including AI-powered Apple Music updates.

Last summer, Perplexity launched one of the first AI-focused web browsers with Comet on the Mac. Soon, the long promised iOS counterpart to Comet will follow.

In this new episode of iOS Decoded, we take a deep dive into what’s new in iOS 26.4 beta 1, with in-depth looks at dozens of new features and changes. For example, we get our first look at the Notification Forwarding setup for third-party smart watches and other hardware devices in the EU, along with new iCloud.com functionality that brings secure Photos and iCloud Drive search to the web.

In this post, we’ll consider five standout features included with the update, but watch the full video for a look at everything new, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more in-depth walkthroughs.

Apple released iOS 26.4 beta 1 yesterday, and the update includes a variety of changes and new features. In addition to everything we’ve covered so far, there are two specific changes to the Health app: updates to the Vitals metric and sleep tracking.

Apple has released the first iOS 26.4 public beta version for iPhone. iOS 26.4 includes a number of exciting new features and changes, including AI-powered Apple Music updates.

The Charge Limit feature, which lets you set a maximum charge to help extend battery health, was previously only available on iPhone and iPad.

iOS 26.4 beta 1 is now available in beta for developers. The update includes a ton of new features and changes for iPhone users. There are new changes to the Music app, Messages, Apple Podcasts, and much more. Head below for the full roundup of all the new features in iOS 26.4 beta 1.

Update February 17, 2026: Now available for public beta testers as well.

As part of iOS 26.4, Apple is upgrading its Podcasts app to “bring advanced video podcast capabilities” to creators and listeners, Apple says. The new “enhanced video podcast experience” will allow users to seamlessly switch between viewing a video podcast and listening to the audio.

Apple added RCS support to iPhone with iOS 18.1, enabling richer cross-platform messaging between iPhone and Android users. This included things like typing indicators, read receipts, and high-resolution photo and video attachments.

Last March, Apple announced its plans to add support for end-to-end encryption for RCS messages.

Now, iOS 26.4 beta 1, which is rolling out today, adds an early way to test end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging on iPhone.

Apple has released the first iOS 26.4 beta for iPhone. While we originally expected iOS 26.4 to include upgraded Siri, it sounds like we won’t see those changes just yet.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Tesla is still working on adding CarPlay integration to its cars. The automaker, however, reportedly hit “a few hurdles” that it had to ask Apple to fix.

Apple has released the highly-anticipated adoption statistics for iOS 26 for the first time. The company says that 74% of all devices introduced in the last four years are running iOS 26, while 66% of all devices are running iOS 26.

Apple released for iPhone users everywhere this week. The update focuses a lot on interoperability between iPhone and Android devices, privacy, and more. Here are all of the new features in iOS 26.3.

When most people think of the Apple Wallet app, they think of just Apple Pay. They think it’s a way to pay for things digitally instead of using a physical card. While this is true, the Apple Wallet App can do so much more and is quietly becoming one of the most useful apps on your iPhone. It can give you public transit access, a form of digital keys for your home or car, peer-to-peer payments, and even storing your physical card information (finally!). Apple Wallet in iOS 26 can realistically replace most of what people still carry in their pockets, as it has for me. If you’ve only used it for Apple Pay, you’re honestly missing the best parts. Here are some of the best Apple Wallet features!

Despite inking a deal with Google to use Gemini AI as the brains behind upgraded Siri, Apple is reportedly facing internal challenges in getting the final product ready for prime time. The reported delays could stretch into iOS 27 this fall. Apple first announced a more capable version of Siri in 2024; that update hasn’t shipped yet.

There’s a new software update available for iPhone. Apple has released iOS 26.3, the third big update to Apple’s redesigned operating system and the last before a major improvement to Siri.

Like many people, Apple CarPlay is a must-have feature for me. Having quick access to key iPhone apps via my car’s screen is incredibly convenient. Here are three of my favorite recent CarPlay features.

Nomad is updating one of my favorite and most clutch tech accessories they make. They are expanding their ChargeKey lineup with a new Stellar Orange color to perfectly match the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. ChargeKey has been one of Nomad’s longest-running products and is still one of the simplest solutions for carrying a reliable cable on your keychain that can do it all, from ultra-high speed charging to professional-level data transfer speeds. Here is what you should know.

When Apple previewed “next-generation CarPlay” in 2022, it felt like Apple froze development of the CarPlay version actually used by drivers. Eventually, next-gen CarPlay became CarPlay Ultra, and CarPlay for non-Aston Martin drivers rapidly started to see new improvements again. Now it sounds like that trend will continue either before or as part of iOS 27.

Lately, I’ve been leaning more and more into a sling-based EDC. As a techy husband and father of two, I constantly find myself needing more space than my pockets can hold, but not always wanting to bring an entire backpack. A cross-body sling (or fanny pack, as it was once called) has become the perfect middle ground. It forces you to be intentional about what you carry, while still giving you more flexibility than a standard pocket setup. I wanted to share some of my favorite and most standout tech accessories that I bring with me on most days—whether I’m bouncing between meetings, running errands, traveling, or just getting work done wherever I happen to be. This is my ideal everyday carry cross-body sling.