Apple has just kicked off a new software cycle, with beta 1 now available for watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, HomePod 26.3, and more.
New beta cycle kicks off ahead of holidays with watchOS 26.3 and more
Last week, Apple shipped its expected last public software updates of the year.
iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.2 came packed with new features. And even smaller releases like watchOS 26.2 and tvOS 26.2 brought several solid upgrades.
But now another wave of software is ready for beta testing.
Beta 1 releases for watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and more are rolling out now for developers.
Since they’ve debuted shortly before Apple’s holiday break, we’re unlikely to see much in the way of new features just yet.
Per Apple’s typical annual software pattern, the x.2 releases tend to bring a lot of new features. But they’re usually followed by much smaller x.3 updates.
That could certainly always change, and we could see bigger-than-usual updates.
But even if this round of software does contain a number of surprises, we likely won’t get much before beta 2 in January. Shipping too many changes right before Apple’s holiday break, and an extended gap between betas, creates more risk for both Apple and its users.
Have you installed beta 1 for watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, or another update? Let us know of any changes you notice via the comments.
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