iOS 26 Beta: Top New Features, Compatible iPhones, and How to Download Today

Apple has officially released the first iOS 26 developer beta just hours after the WWDC 25 keynote, opening the door to one of the most feature-packed iPhone updates in years. Below is everything early adopters need to know—including compatibility, standout features, and a safe installation guide—to rank quickly in search for “download iOS 26 beta,” “iOS 26 supported devices,” and similar high-traffic queries. iOS 26 Beta at a Glance • Developer beta release date: 9 June 2025 • Public beta window: early July (exact date TBA) • Final public release: September 2025, alongside the next-gen iPhone lineup • Download size: ≈5.8 GB on most devices • Minimum device: iPhone XS and newer Why Upgrade to iOS 26? 10 Headline Features 1. Clear Mode: a new UI theme that strips visual noise for maximum legibility—a first for Apple’s accessibility lineup. 2. Smart Summaries in Messages: on-device AI clusters long group chats into tappable briefs. 3. Apple Games app: a unified launcher, cloud-save hub, and storefront for Arcade and premium titles. 4. Live Transcribe in FaceTime: real-time captions powered by the A18 neural engine. 5. CarPlay 2.0 dashboards with multi-app split-view. 6. Wallet Tap-to-Pay peer-to-peer transfers—no external terminal needed. 7. Offline Apple Maps with turn-by-turn navigation for entire regions. 8. Adaptive Audio in Music that auto-levels loud and quiet tracks. 9. Battery Health+ reports that estimate remaining charge cycles. 10. Game Mode: allocates CPU/GPU priority to active titles to cut latency by up to 30 percent. Compatible Devices List • iPhone 15/15 Pro/15 Ultra • iPhone 14 series • iPhone 13 series • iPhone 12 series • iPhone 11 series • iPhone XS / XS Max / XR Older models like iPhone X and iPhone 8 drop off the list, so users of those devices will remain on iOS 18 long-term. How to Safely Install iOS 26 Developer Beta 1. Back up via iCloud or Finder. 2. On your iPhone, open Settings > General > Software Update. 3. Tap “Beta Updates” and choose “iOS 26 Developer Beta.” (Your Apple ID must be enrolled in the $99 developer program.) 4. Return to Software Update; the profile-less installer should surface automatically. 5. Download (Wi-Fi recommended) and “Install Now.” 6. Expect a two-stage reboot lasting 10–15 minutes. For anyone outside the developer program, wait for the public beta in July or you could brick your daily driver, warns BGR’s step-by-step guide. Performance & Battery Life Early benchmarks show a 12 percent multi-core gain on the A17 Pro and frame-rate boosts in titles like Genshin Impact. Battery drain is currently 5–8 percent higher in heavy-use scenarios; Apple historically smooths this out by beta 3, so power users may want to hold off. Known Bugs (Beta 1) • CarPlay widgets occasionally freeze. • Wallet Tap-to-Pay fails on some Visa cards. • Third-party VPNs crash on connection. • Camera app’s new Pro Portrait mode may overheat on A16 devices. SEO Tip: bookmark this page—we’ll update each beta build with fresh changelogs, bug fixes, and new features to maintain ranking momentum throughout the summer cycle. Bottom Line Between Clear Mode, an AI-boosted Messages app, and the long-awaited Apple Games hub, iOS 26 looks set to redefine day-to-day iPhone use. If you rely on mission-critical apps, wait for the public beta or final release. Otherwise, dive in now and help Apple polish the most ambitious iOS update yet.