CUPERTINO, California, Jan 24, 2026, 04:03 (PST)
- iOS 26.3 is expected soon, with reports pointing to a release before the end of January.
- The update is set to prep encrypted RCS texting with Android, add an iPhone-to-Android transfer tool and expand weather wallpapers.
- Attention is already shifting to iOS 26.4 later in spring, where a more personalized Siri is expected.
Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.3 in the coming days, a software update that media reports say will lay groundwork for encrypted texting with Android phones and add a new iPhone-to-Android transfer tool. 1
Why it matters now: iPhone users have been on “update watch” since iOS 26.2, a mid-December release that reports said patched serious security flaws linked to spyware attacks. With no follow-up release since then, the next update has taken on extra weight even if the feature list looks short.
The other pressure point is messaging. RCS, short for Rich Communication Services, is a modern replacement for SMS and MMS that can bring richer chats across platforms. End-to-end encryption — meaning only the sender and receiver can read a message — has been a particular focus, with iOS 26.3 described as preparing for encrypted RCS between iPhones and Android devices.
The Economic Times said iOS 26.3’s second beta, a test version released ahead of the public update, does not enable full encrypted RCS yet. It reported the beta suggests Apple is putting the plumbing in place after long silence on the feature.
The same report said iOS 26.3 will add a wireless tool designed to move data from an iPhone to an Android device, lowering the friction for users thinking about switching. Apple has long sold its ecosystem as a moat; making exits less painful is a notable shift, even if it is framed as user convenience.
Weather wallpapers are also getting more attention. The Economic Times reported a dedicated section is coming with three visual options tied to weather themes, a small change aimed at everyday use rather than headline features.
Security, though, is still the centre of the release. The Economic Times said Apple has not detailed every fix, but the update is expected to include more security patches after iOS 26.2 and could broaden “Background Security Improvements” first introduced in iOS 26.1 — a mechanism meant to push certain protections without waiting for a full system upgrade.
But there are risks. Apple has not publicly confirmed a release date, and iOS “.3” updates can shift with late bugs. The same reports caution that encrypted RCS may not arrive fully switched on at launch, and the feature set can vary by carrier and region.
Focus is already drifting to iOS 26.4, which is expected to be more ambitious. MacRumors reported Apple has yet to ship the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate — the near-final build that typically signals a public launch is close — meaning the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still weeks away, with a broader release expected in March or April. 2
MacRumors said iOS 26.4 is expected to introduce a more personalized Siri, including better understanding of personal context, “on-screen” awareness and deeper per-app controls, though some functions could slip to iOS 27.
The same report said iOS 26.4 is also expected to bring a new batch of emoji and could include additions flagged in leaks, such as credit-card AutoFill in third-party apps from Apple’s Passwords app, folders in Freeform, a possible new sports tier in the Apple TV app, and tighter device checks before logging into Apple ID and iCloud.
For now, the near-term story is simpler: iOS 26.3 appears set to land first, with security fixes and cross-platform messaging groundwork doing most of the work until Apple’s next bigger update arrives.
