The iOS 26 will not officially happen on iPhones later in the year. But for developers – or curious and careless – a beta is already available to try its new features. And once I cleaned the old video and music enough to make a place for download, I upgraded the latest iOS 26 Developer Beta of Apple from iOS 18.
I have not done this with the goal of identifying various new elements of iOS 26 as good or bad – Betus is never a fully representative of the final product (or should not be minimized). And in addition, a public beta that is more suitable for average users, is still coming, Apple has promised the release of July.
Instead, my aim to take out the iOS 26 developer beta for a spin is to see how the new software has changed the way to use my iPhone 16 Pro Max and get basic measurements of new features before the full release slapped for the fall.
There is not enough time for two days of use to try all the additions of Apple. But I have sampled the characteristics that matters the most how I use my iPhone, and this is a surprisingly important change, even for a new iOS. I cannot tell you if it is right for you to download the beta version of iOS 26, but I can at least tell what it is if you have not tried it for yourself.
IOS 26: 1 minute after download
I was excited to see the new liquid glass design in action after the installation process, but I wondered how soon it appeared. The “Hello” screen that at any time you update the OS of an apple product, a new glassy style, provides a fun visual overcher for the iOS 26 experience that you are going to start.
In the context of lock and home screen, change is actually more subtle than my expectation. Seeing my home screen before and after the update, it is known that the apps have new icons and this app folders are now more transparent. But I was newly overwhelmed, at least before.
The real difference is visible when the interface is in speed. Swipe between the screen, taping an icon or long pressing brings liquid glass into life, taunting the background with dynamic refraction as you walk. It is seriously impressive to see.
Personally, I have not taken much issue using new interfaces with many of my transparent elements. But I am glad that Apple thought further and is a low transparency option for users that find it difficult to make elements such as busy wallpapers, apps or home screen layout control.
In iOS 26, I was to take advantage of the new scalable watch for one of the first changes made for myself. Setting the iOS 26 custom wallpaper at the same time, now I have a fully refreshing performance with a much more readable watch. I am not sure how much I like the lock screen widget is being taken under the screen in this repetition, but hopefully it’s something that I can adapt to time or can turn into a final version.
IOS 26: 8 hours after downloading
The second phase of trying iOS 26, initially after looking at the new look of the OS, is searching for deep changes made in familiar apps and features as you begin to use them.
An example will be the screenshot menu. It now has options to use visual intelligence on the recent Android phone, similar to the circle, which you have captured. It is an additional that promises to be potentially useful.
But it is deeper than this, one does not have to pop up with a full menu every time on the script on the iPhone. Instead you can set the screenshot to pop up as a thumbnail in the corner of the display, if you do not interact, but if you want it, open the full editing and sharing interfaces. This many Android phone is similar to how to treat your screenshot, and it is a smart idea to make your own for Apple.
The new form of safari in iOS 26 is quite striking. Not only the liquid glass causes the menu to be very transported, but also the new compact display mode also hides almost all controls to give to websites that you browse you browse.
This was a lot of change for me, but fortunately apple allows you to switch with more familiar down and top mode, which still look fresh but navigate in a more familiar way.
Apple’s revived game app landed on my home page itself, and I was happy to see this. In addition to acting as a hub for the games that I have already downloaded, it offers a great showcase for the games that I have not played, but not yet come.
In fact, the game app downloaded me the demo for two games in a single day. And while this article is for everyone about iOS 26, I have to support duck detective and two cute but brain-stretching puzzle games are slightly slightly on the left that deserve your time.
IOS 26: 48 hours after download
The iOS 26 requires more time to view some subtler changes. It involves Apple Music’s Automix, which has automatic transition to other music streaming services among each song.
It is comfortable as you expect it, and gives a good meaning of harmony to the playlist of different tracks. This is a bit strange when it appears in familiar albums, however, perhaps because I am using for static infections that these occur often.
If you pull your iPhone out for a quick snapshot, the camera app is not effectively different than before. The shutter button is still in the lower center, and there are zoom options above your camera.
But if you want to change any other settings, you will have to interact with the hidden icon for the new menu bar and timer or aspect ratio options. It looks clean -suitable, but it will be a learning process for anyone that has been using its iPhone camera regularly in the last decade.
Apple took a similar approach to users using three top-level navigation tabs for direct users, updating the photo app. But unlike the camera in iOS 26, this change actually puts more up-fronts than the previous software version, iOS 18.
Easy switching between your collection and album and camera rolls is back, and I imagine that many people, including themselves, will be excited to get back their previous image navigation options.
And there is still more to try
I have not yet taken a look at everything to present iOS 26. But I am excited for the first time that I get to see a hold assist or call screening in action, or attempts for live translation on my next holiday. In addition, the menu has increased my interest at the new commuting alerts and visited places by Apple Maps, and I am hoping that over time, its privatization powers will be able to save me from bad trips otherwise.
Of course I should once again emphasize that it is currently a developer beta, which means that you need an apple developer account and either a spare iPhone or to install it on your main device. If you need it, we have a guide on installing iOS 26 developer beta, but I would advise most readers to wait until public beta arrives in July, or until the stable release is an automatic update for this decline.
