Apple iOS 26.1 update rolling out this week: Expected release time, new features and all you need to know

Apple is reportedly gearing up to introduce its new software update, the iOS 26.1 update. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the long-awaited iOS 26.1, expected to roll out to users starting Monday, while the first developer beta of iOS 26.2 could arrive as early as Tuesday.

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The iOS 26.1 release is said to be a smaller update focused on stability and some small interface changes. One of the big additions include a ‘Tinted’ toggle for the Liquid Glass feature, aimed at improving display readability, though it slightly reduces the glossy visual effect. Apart from that, users can expect performance boosts and bug fixes.

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The iOS 26.1 update will roll out for the iPhone 11 series and newer models. Users with eligible devices can expect the update to begin around 10:30 PM IST (usual Apple rollout cycle), although Apple has not officially confirmed the exact release time yet.

In the meantime, Apple is reportedly moving quickly towards its next software cycle. The iOS 26.2 beta is expected to launch right after the public rollout of 26.1, alongside fresh beta builds for iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. While the first beta version might not pack major new features, Gurman notes that Apple often adds significant functionality in later stages of testing.

If the reports are believed to be true, the iOS 26.2 update may bring US passport integration within Apple Wallet and possibly end-to-end encryption for RCS messages, a feature Apple promised would arrive “in a future software update.” However, these features are yet to be confirmed for this release.

Speaking of its iOS 26.2 public release, Apple may roll out its next software update in December after a few weeks of beta testing. Again, it may not bring some massive changes initially but the users can expect refinements, security upgrades and minor feature improvements over the time.

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Ashish Singh

Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile