Apple rolls out iOS 26.2 RC for iPhones: Key features and everything new

Apple on Wednesday started rolling out the release candidate version of iOS 26.2 for iPhone users. This rollout indicates that iOS 26.2 will soon be available for the rollout. The update is primarily focused on better clarity in sleep tracking, smoother navigation, smarter content discovery and more useful tools for daily tasks. It also brings new options for personalisation and expands some features to more regions. If no major issues appear during this last round of testing, the official rollout is expected later this month.

To help you understand better, I’ve listed all the changes coming with the new iOS 26.2 Release Candidate:

Sleep score gets clearer categories

Apple has updated the sleep score system because users felt the old scores were too generous. The highest rating is now called ‘Very high’ instead of ‘Excellent’. All score ranges have been adjusted to give more accurate results and clearer insights.

The Podcasts app gets smarter with AI

The Apple Podcasts app can now automatically create chapters, find mentions of other shows and link to them, and organise related content for easier discovery. This makes listening more structured and helps users explore new content in a more natural way.

Also read: Apple Watch can now warn you about possible high blood pressure: Here’s how to use it and the list of eligible devices

Refreshed design in Apple News

Apple News has a cleaner layout that quickly showcases popular sections. Further, a better design aims to make reading smoother and more intuitive.

AirPods Live Translation expands to more countries.

AirPods users in the European Union will now be able to use the Live Translation feature, making real-time conversations across languages more convenient. 

Also read: Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 launched in India: Check price, specs and other details

New Liquid Glass clock slider on the lock screen

iOS 26.2 will also add a Liquid Glass slider that lets users adjust how transparent the lock screen clock appears; this works with all supported fonts and gives more control over the screen’s appearance.

Reminders app adds alarms and timers

Tasks in the Reminders app can now trigger alarms and timers. These alerts can bypass Focus modes for urgent tasks, making sure important reminders stand out.

CarPlay improvements

CarPlay users can now turn off pinned conversations in the Messages app, giving them more control over what appears while driving.

Also read: Apple loses UI design head Alan Dye to Meta in latest high-level departure

Updated level tool in the Measure app

The level tool in the Measure app now has a new Liquid Glass-inspired design for a cleaner and more modern look.

Release timeline of iOS 26.2

If testing goes well, iOS 26.2 should roll out to all users later this month. More updates will be shared as new details appear during the RC phase.