CUPERTINO, Calif., Jan 27, 2026, 00:53 PST
- Apple posted beta 3 builds of its 26.3 software updates across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch, TV and Vision Pro.
- iOS 26.3 adds a built-in “Transfer to Android” option and an EU-only notification setting for third-party wearables.
- Timing is still fuzzy, with expectations split between a late-January release and an early-February rollout.
Apple on Monday listed the third beta builds of its iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 updates, alongside beta 3 releases for macOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3 and watchOS 26.3, on its developer website. The company also posted iOS 26.2.1, iPadOS 26.2.1 and watchOS 26.2.1 the same day, the page showed. (Apple Developer)
The fresh betas matter now because they set the pace for Apple’s next round of software changes across its main devices, a cycle developers and corporate IT teams track closely. A third beta usually signals Apple is narrowing in on a final release, even if it can still change course.
On the iPhone, iOS 26.3 adds a built-in tool for moving from an iPhone to an Android device during setup, without requiring a separate app, MacRumors reported. The feature can transfer photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords and a phone number, and the update also includes a “Notification Forwarding” option for third-party wearables in the European Union, it said, while pegging a public release for the end of January. (MacRumors)
9to5Mac said iOS 26.3 beta 3 also makes it easier to switch between Android and iPhone and includes tweaks to the Astronomy and Weather wallpaper gallery. The site put the public release on a later track, saying iOS 26.3 would likely arrive in early February. (9to5Mac)
Across other devices, Apple released developer beta 3 for iPadOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, watchOS 26.3 and visionOS 26.3, 9to5Mac reported. Changes have been minimal so far, it said, adding that iPadOS inherits an updated wallpaper gallery with a dedicated weather section. (9to5Mac)
On Macs, Apple issued macOS Tahoe 26.3 beta 3 to developers, MacRumors reported. No new features were found in the first two betas, it said, and it pointed to a late-January release based on Apple’s past timelines. (MacRumors)
The split between late January and early February underscores the guesswork around Apple’s point releases, which often lean on fixes and small features rather than big redesigns. Apple has not announced dates for the public versions.
Still, the direction of travel stands out: iOS is adding a first-party path for users moving off the iPhone, even as Apple fights to keep customers inside its ecosystem. The iPhone’s main rival is Google’s Android, and cross-platform switching tools are one front in that competition.
A developer beta is a test build meant for app makers to check compatibility before the update reaches the broader public. Apple typically cautions that pre-release software can be unstable and may break apps or drain battery life.
But there is a downside scenario. If the transfer workflow proves unreliable at scale, or if region-specific features like EU wearable notifications trigger last-minute changes, Apple could slow-roll the release and keep the 26.3 cycle in testing longer than expected.
For now, Apple is running a familiar playbook: ship a public point update, push the next versions into beta, and let developers find the rough edges. Whether iOS 26.3 lands before January ends will come down to what those testers uncover.
