Apple has announced that one of the most anticipated events of the year, WWDC25, will be held on June 9.
As expected, Apple will unveil its next major software updates, including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26.
Wait… iOS 26? Did you mean that?
Nope, it’s not a typo — and yes, you read that right.
Bloomberg has reported that Apple is planning to rebrand all of its operating systems at WWDC25, switching to year-based naming. That means instead of iOS 19, we’re getting iOS 26.
But why iOS 26 and not iOS 25? Aren’t we still in 2025?
Well, Apple’s reasoning is likely because the OS will be available throughout both 2025 and 2026, so calling it iOS 26 makes more long-term sense.
And it’s not just iOS — all of Apple’s operating systems will adopt the new naming system, including:
- iPadOS 19 → iPadOS 26
- watchOS 12 → watchOS 26
- macOS 16 → macOS 26
- tvOS 19 → tvOS 26
- visionOS 3 → visionOS 26
According to Bloomberg, this change is meant to “bring consistency to Apple’s branding and move away from a system that can be confusing for customers and developers.” It also comes at a time when Apple is planning a major redesign across all of its platforms.
When will WWDC25 take place?
On Tuesday (March 26), Apple confirmed that WWDC25 will run from Monday, June 9, to Friday, June 13. The event will begin with a keynote at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, where Apple will showcase its latest software innovations. The keynote will also be streamed online for everyone to watch.
https://x.com/gregjoz/status/1904582037681692735
Developers with an Apple Developer account can apply for a chance to attend the special in-person event at Apple Park. Attendees will be selected through a random lottery and notified on April 3.
When Will iOS 26 Beta Be Released?
Apple’s keynote will kick off at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, June 9, and usually lasts about two hours. That means the iOS 26 beta will likely be available for developers to download around 12 p.m. PT the same day.
The Public Beta is expected to launch in July, with the official release following in September.
Here are some previous iOS release dates:
- iOS 26 Developer Beta 1: Monday, June 9, 2025 (Confirmed)
- iOS 18 Developer Beta 1: Monday, June 10, 2024
- iOS 17 Developer Beta 1: Monday, June 5, 2023
- iOS 16 Developer Beta 1: Monday, June 6, 2022
- iOS 15 Developer Beta 1: Monday, June 7, 2021
- iOS 18 Public Beta 1: Monday, July 15, 2024
- iOS 17 Public Beta 1: Wednesday, July 12, 2023
- iOS 16 Public Beta 1: Monday, July 11, 2022
- iOS 15 Public Beta 1: Wednesday, June 30, 2021
- iOS 18 Official Release: Monday, September 16, 2024
- iOS 17 Official Release: Monday, September 18, 2023
- iOS 16 Official Release: Friday, September 16, 2022
- iOS 15 Official Release: Monday, September 20, 2021
iPhones Compatible with iOS 26
Back in December last year, a report from iPhoneSoft suggested that all iPhones compatible with iOS 18 would also be compatible with iOS 26. However, in March 2025, a reliable anonymous source on X (formerly Twitter), who has previously accurately reported information about upcoming iOS versions, claimed that iOS 26 will drop support for the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max.
So, here’s the (expected) list of devices that will be compatible with iOS 26:
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
iOS 26 is expected to drop support for these iPhones:
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
https://x.com/BetaProfiles/status/1907058220834943023/
Additionally, Apple may limit certain features for older iPhones, similar to how Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or later.
For other devices, here are the rumored compatibility lists:
List of devices compatible with iPadOS 26
- iPad Pro (M4)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)
- iPad Air (M2)
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (8th generation and later)
- iPad mini (A17 Pro)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
iPadOS 26 will drop support for these devices:
- iPad (7th generation)
List of devices compatible with macOS 26
- iMac (2020 or later)
- MacBook Air (M1 or later)
- MacBook Pro (2019 or later)
- Mac Pro (2019 or later)
- Mac Studio (2022 and later)
- Mac mini (M1 or later)
macOS 26 will drop support for these devices:
- MacBook Pro (2018)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac mini (2018)
- MacBook Air Intel (2020)
List of devices compatible with watchOS 26 (Spoiler: It’s the same as watchOS 11)
- Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple Watch Series 8
- Apple Watch Series 9
- Apple Watch Series 10
- Apple Watch Ultra
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
List of devices compatible with tvOS 26 and HomePod Software 26
- Apple TV HD (2015)
- Apple TV 4K (2017)
- Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) (2021)
- Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) (2022)
HomePod Software 26 is rumored to be compatible with these devices:
- HomePod (1st generation) (2018)
- HomePod (2nd generation) (2023)
- HomePod mini (2020)
What to Expect from iOS 26?
One of the things I love about WWDC is getting a sneak peek at a slew of new features and changes coming to iOS 26 and other software. You can even install the iOS 26 Beta right after the keynote ends to try it out on your iPhone.
This year, we’ve already heard some rumors about iOS 26, and I’ll break them down below.
Major Redesign
On March 10, Mark Gurman reported that Apple is giving iOS 26 a major design overhaul, similar to what it did with iOS 7, to create a more unified experience across its software platforms.
According to him, iOS 26 will incorporate more design elements from visionOS, including refreshed icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons. The update aims to streamline navigation and make device controls more intuitive.
https://x.com/markgurman/status/1899175271179456916
New Camera App
Back in January, Jon Prosser said he’d seen the iOS 26 Camera interface and tried to recreate what he saw in a video posted on his YouTube channel, Front Page Tech.
Here’s what we might expect:
This image was recreated by BetaProfiles based on visuals shared in Jon Prosser’s video.
Based on these images, the Camera app in iOS 26 seems to have a more simplified design, featuring a main menu with just two options: Photo and Video. Selecting one will reveal additional settings—for example, the Photo menu will include options like Spatial, Pano, Timer, and more.
Another noticeable change is the design language, which closely resembles visionOS, featuring a transparent background with subtle borders.
Apple’s Sports app, introduced last year, and the newly launched Apple Invites also share a similar menu and button style to visionOS. This suggests that Apple may be planning a broader redesign of its stock apps in iOS 26, starting with the Camera app.
Stage Manager Support
Majin Bu recently reported that iOS 26 will support external displays on USB-C iPhones, with an interface similar to Stage Manager on iPadOS. However, he also confirmed that it won’t be a full desktop mode, but rather an extended screen experience — ideal for presentations, editing, or enhanced viewing.
Currently, both Lightning and USB-C iPhones only support basic screen mirroring when connected to an external display, without a dedicated interface.
In the Android world, some manufacturers — like Samsung — offer a similar feature called Samsung DeX for their Galaxy devices.
Siri and Apple Intelligence
Apple is reportedly working on a ChatGPT- or Gemini-like version of Siri, designed to handle more complex conversations. It was originally planned for iOS 19.0, but according to Mark Gurman, it could be delayed until iOS 26.4 next year, with the more advanced conversational model possibly pushed to iOS 27.
https://x.com/BetaProfiles/status/1898197947114012755
According to a report from The New York Times, iOS 26 will bring enhanced Siri capabilities — including better understanding of personal context, on-screen awareness, and seamlessly performing actions within and across apps.
Apple Intelligence will continue to support the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 lineup. Of course, the iPhone 17 models launching later this year will be supported as well.
Google Gemini Integration
Just like how ChatGPT was integrated as an extension in Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.2 — helping Siri answer more complex questions and enabling text and image generation through Writing Tools — Apple is reportedly working with Google to bring Gemini integration into Apple Intelligence in iOS 26.
End-to-End Encryption for RCS Messages
Apple has confirmed that end-to-end encryption for RCS messages will be coming to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in future software updates, likely with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and watchOS 26.
AirPods Live-Translate
Back in March, Mark Gurman reported that at least one AirPods model will feature real-time live translation through a software update for AirPods and iOS 26.
This feature will work based on the integration between the iPhone and AirPods. For example, if someone speaks Spanish to you, your iPhone will translate their speech into English and relay it to your AirPods. If you respond in English, it will translate your speech into Spanish and play it back from the iPhone.
Changes in the EU
The EU continues to push Apple to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) regarding interoperability between Apple devices and third-party devices. To comply with the law, Apple must implement these changes in iOS 26 or, at the latest, iOS 27.
Some of the key changes include:
- Allowing third-party smartwatches to display iPhone notifications.
- Letting third-party headphones seamlessly switch between Apple devices, like AirPods, and support quick pairing.
- Supporting third-party alternatives to AirDrop and AirPlay.
- Opening up NFC key access.
You can check out the details of the EU’s requirements for Apple here.
Safari
Safari is expected to integrate AI-powered search options in iOS 26, alongside existing search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Bloomberg reports that Apple is working with Perplexity, and is also considering Claude (from Anthropic) and ChatGPT.
Apple Intelligence Battery Management
iOS 26 could bring a highly requested feature: “Battery Intelligence.”
According to Mark Gurman, Apple Intelligence may add a new Lock Screen indicator showing how long it’ll take for your iPhone to fully charge.
Even more interesting, Apple Intelligence in iOS 26 will include battery management features. It will analyze how you use your iPhone and automatically adjust or reduce power consumption from unnecessary apps or system features, helping extend your iPhone’s battery life.
Dedicated Gaming App
According to Bloomberg, Apple is planning to introduce a new dedicated Gaming app, pre-installed in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 and tvOS 26. This app is expected to replace Game Center and include all third-party games currently listed in the Games section of the App Store, as well as all titles available in Apple Arcade.
If true, this would mean we’ll have two separate app stores — one for apps, and another for games.
eSIM Transfer to Android
Android Authority reports that they’ve discovered a new feature in the SIM Manager code of Android 16 Beta, which allows iPhone users to easily transfer their eSIM to an Android device.
iPhone users will be able to access a new Transfer to Android menu located in Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone to perform the switch. Google notes that this feature will require iOS 26 or later.
[New] Messages
9to5Mac has exclusively reported that the Messages app is finally getting automatic translation for both incoming and outgoing messages.
iOS 26 is also set to introduce built-in support for polls in Messages — much like what’s already available in Telegram, WhatsApp, or Messenger. Apple Intelligence is expected to enhance this feature by automatically suggesting poll formats based on the context of your conversation.
Update on June 7: Mark Gurman also added that the Messages app will gain support for customizable chat backgrounds, which will sync across your devices and with the people you’re messaging. Interestingly, Apple may also integrate a feature similar to Image Playground into Messages, allowing you to create your own custom wallpapers using text-based prompts.
Image credit MacRumors
Additionally, there’s a feature related to combining two emojis to create a new one, which might be called “Mixmoji.”
Apple Music
If you love animated album art in Apple Music, iOS 26 will now take it full screen on the Lock Screen — making the listening experience more vivid and immersive.
Notes
The Notes app is getting the ability to export notes in Markdown format directly — a long-requested feature that many third-party apps have supported for years.
CarPlay
With iOS 26’s redesigned interface, Apple is also expected to refresh the look of CarPlay to better align with the new design language.
AirPods Features
9to5Mac also reports that AirPods will get a few new features in iOS 26, such as:
- New head gestures – Apple may add gestures to control things like volume, building on last year’s nod and shake for answering calls.
- Auto-pause for sleep – AirPods could automatically pause playback when you fall asleep, using sleep data from your Apple Watch.
- Camera trigger – You might be able to take photos on your iPhone by tapping the AirPods stem.
- Microphone upgrade – A new “studio quality” mic mode could improve audio recording options.
- Better pairing – AirPods pairing with shared iPads, especially in classrooms, could get smoother.
Follow @BetaProfiles on X , Threads, or Instagram to stay updated on the latest Apple beta software news.
