Apple announced iOS 26 on June 9, releasing the first developer beta the same day. Remarkably, a second build of this initial beta appeared just three days later, a much faster release pace than usual.
Typically, updates do not arrive until the second beta in late June or early July, often weeks after the first, with the public beta scheduled for July. This time, Apple’s rapid release suggests a critical update.
The iOS 26 beta is currently available only for iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models; devices running iPhone 14 or earlier are not supported in this beta phase. Registered developers can check for updates by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update. The build number has changed from 23A5260n to 23A5260u, indicating a revised version of the first beta rather than a full second beta release.
Apple has not detailed the differences between these builds, but reports suggest the update addresses a battery-related issue that could cause some iPhone 15 and 16 units to display a low battery icon and fail to start after updating. Other speculation points to a critical bug or security flaw or the removal of leaked code referencing future products such as AirPods Pro 3.
One of the most notable features introduced in iOS 26 is smart storage management. Previously, low device storage could block system updates, requiring users to manually free up space. iOS 26 aims to resolve this by dynamically reserving storage space ahead of updates, smoothing the update process for users with nearly full devices. Details on how much space will be reserved or how the system manages this are still emerging, though it may function similarly to mechanisms in macOS.
As Apple releases more information, further details on iOS 26 and its features will be available.