iOS 26 is packed with under-the-radar upgrades—plus Apple’s next patch cycle is already heating up. Here’s what’s happening today, what’s coming next, and 18 genuinely useful iOS 26 features most iPhone owners still haven’t discovered.
Updated: January 13, 2026
Today’s iOS 26 news: what changed in the last 24 hours
Apple’s iOS 26 era has been defined by big headline shifts—like the Liquid Glass redesign and expanded Apple Intelligence features—but the more practical story right now is about stability updates and quality-of-life tweaks.
Here are the key developments on Jan 13, 2026:
- iOS 26.2.1 appears imminent. Multiple reports say Apple has begun internal testing of iOS 26.2.1, and the update could land as soon as this week (or next). Expect this to be a maintenance release focused on bug fixes and security patches, not splashy features. ( MacRumors)
- Apple seeded iOS 26.3 beta 2 to developers with build 23D5103d (part of a broader “.3 beta 2” wave across Apple platforms). ( Apple Developer)
- iOS 26.3’s early feature list is still relatively small, but it includes:
- a Transfer to Android workflow inside Settings
- Notification Forwarding and proximity-style pairing enhancements for some third‑party accessories (EU)
- a new Weather wallpaper section ( MacRumors)
- One more trend to watch: iOS 26 adoption appears unusually slow, according to third‑party analytics cited in recent coverage—something Apple may try to address with future updates. ( TechRadar)
Why this matters right now
If you’re on iOS 26.2, you’re already getting meaningful refinements that Apple didn’t heavily market—like additional Lock Screen time controls, a new verification step for AirDrop with unknown contacts, and Reminders that behave more like true alarms. ( Apple Support)
And if you’re waiting for iOS 26.3, it’s worth knowing iOS 26.2.1 may arrive first as a “bridge” update—especially if you’ve been dealing with performance hiccups. ( The Mac Observer)
18 hidden iOS 26 features you should try today
These are the kinds of features that quietly improve how your iPhone feels every day—less friction, fewer taps, and smarter defaults.
1) Copy just part of a Messages text bubble
For years, copying an iMessage meant copying the whole thing. iOS 26 finally lets you highlight a specific phrase or line inside a message.
Try it: Long‑press a message bubble → tap Select → highlight the text you want → Copy. ( 9to5Mac)
2) Real-time Live Translation inside Messages
Translation in Messages isn’t just “tap to translate” anymore. With iOS 26, Live Translation can automatically translate incoming messages and translate your replies on the fly—particularly useful for multilingual group chats. ( Apple Support)
3) Use AirPods as your camera microphone
If you shoot video on your iPhone, this one is huge: you can record using your AirPods’ microphones instead of the iPhone mic—often clearer, especially in busy environments.
Try it: Put on AirPods → open Camera → pull down Control Center → tap the mic/audio input control → choose your AirPods. ( 9to5Mac)
4) Change the snooze time on alarms (yes, finally)
The classic “9-minute snooze” is no longer your only option. iOS 26 lets you set snooze duration between 1 and 15 minutes. ( 9to5Mac)
5) Turn Reminders into true alarms with snooze + Live Activity
iOS 26.2 added Alarms for Reminders, designed for urgent tasks. You can snooze them, and they can show up as a Live Activity—great when you need something to stay visible until you act. ( Apple Support)
6) Fine-tune your Lock Screen clock’s Liquid Glass opacity
Love Liquid Glass but want better readability? iOS 26.2 added an additional Lock Screen time customization option that lets you adjust how opaque the clock appears. ( Apple Support)
7) AirDrop codes: verify transfers with unknown contacts
AirDrop is convenient, but “random nearby devices” can be stressful. iOS 26.2 introduced AirDrop codes—a code appears on the receiver’s device, and the sender must enter it to complete the transfer with unknown contacts. ( Apple Support)
8) Enhanced Safety Alerts with richer emergency info (U.S.)
iOS 26.2 includes Enhanced Safety Alerts in the U.S., which can surface imminent threats (like floods or other emergencies) and provide richer context like maps and guidance links. ( Apple Support)
9) Make notifications flash your screen (Accessibility)
If you miss notifications in noisy places—or you keep your phone on silent—turn on the option that flashes the display when a notification comes in. ( Apple Support)
Try it: Settings → Accessibility → look for Flash for alerts options.
10) Freeform tables: add structure without leaving the canvas
Freeform is an “infinite canvas,” but iOS 26.2 added tables that hold text, images, documents, and drawings—cells automatically resize to fit. Perfect for planning boards or simple databases without a spreadsheet vibe. ( Apple Support)
11) Offline lyrics in Apple Music
If you download songs, you can now view lyrics offline—useful for travel, flights, subways, or data‑restricted plans. ( Apple Support)
12) Podcasts now generate chapters automatically (and link to referenced shows)
iOS 26.2 added auto-generated chapters to make long episodes easier to navigate. It also adds links to podcasts mentioned in an episode so you can jump straight to them from the player or transcript. ( Apple Support)
13) Send “instant” low‑quality photo previews in Messages
If you’ve ever sent photos on spotty internet and watched them crawl… iOS 26 introduced a setting to send a lightweight preview first, so recipients get something immediately while the full-res version loads. ( MacRumors)
Try it: Settings → Apps → Messages → Send Low‑Quality Photo Previews.
14) Make a ringtone from Files in seconds
Creating custom ringtones used to be a mini project. In iOS 26, it’s dramatically easier: you can set a short audio file as a ringtone directly from the Files share sheet. ( MacRumors)
15) Move Lock Screen widgets to the bottom
If you use Lock Screen widgets one‑handed, the default placement can be awkward. iOS 26 lets you reposition them lower on the screen in customization mode. ( MacRumors)
16) New Background Sounds you can add to Control Center
Background Sounds are one of iPhone’s most underrated focus tools. iOS 26 expanded the selection with new soundscapes (think transportation noise, rain variants, and ambient textures). ( MacRumors)
Try it: Settings → Accessibility → Audio & Visual → Background Sounds, then add the control to Control Center.
17) Reduce Loud Sounds: smoother volume swings across apps
If TikTok is loud, YouTube is quiet, and your ears are paying the price—this setting compresses the iPhone speaker volume range so loud moments get softer without killing detail. ( MacRumors)
18) The iOS 26 Preview app: sign and fill PDFs directly on iPhone
This is a “why wasn’t this here earlier?” feature. iOS 26 added a Preview app on iPhone, bringing Mac‑style PDF markup and signing to your phone—ideal for forms you need to sign on the go. ( Tom’s Guide)
What’s next: iOS 26.2.1 and iOS 26.3, explained simply
iOS 26.2.1: likely a stability patch (and possibly a battery/performance fix)
Apple hasn’t announced iOS 26.2.1 publicly yet, but reputable watchers say internal testing is underway and release could be soon. Expect typical point‑update priorities: stability, performance, and security fixes. ( MacRumors)
Some reports and user chatter have also centered on issues like battery drain, lag, and call reliability, with speculation that iOS 26.2.1 is intended to address the most urgent problems ahead of iOS 26.3. Treat specifics as preliminary until Apple publishes official notes. ( Geeky Gadgets)
iOS 26.3: small but strategically important changes
Based on the beta so far, iOS 26.3 looks “feature-light,” but the features it does add are meaningful:
- Transfer to Android directly from Settings (aimed at making platform switching easier) ( MacRumors)
- EU-only notification forwarding and pairing changes for third‑party accessories (regulatory-driven interoperability) ( MacRumors)
- Weather wallpapers split into their own section ( MacRumors)
Release timing isn’t official, but multiple outlets expect iOS 26.3 to land in late January (or shortly after), based on Apple’s historical patterns. ( T3)
Quick checklist: how to make sure you don’t miss the next iOS update
- Back up your iPhone (iCloud or computer) before any major update.
- Go to Settings → General → Software Update to check what’s available.
- If you want updates automatically: Settings → General → Software Update → Automatic Updates (turn on download + install). ( Geeky Gadgets)
