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iOS 26.1 betas are coming in quick which suggests Apple is getting close to the public beta and the final release in the next few weeks.
iOS 26 features including some AI upgrade but only for these models
Apple is quickly working on the iOS 26.1 version which is evident with the pace of the developer betas rolling out. We just told you about the iOS 26.1 beta 2 update and now the company has already made the iOS 26.1 beta 3 version available for iPhones.
Unlike the previous two beta versions, the iOS 26.1 beta 3 is showing more promise in terms of the features that iPhone users can expect with the public version that should be coming out anytime soon.
iOS 26.1 Beta 3 Update: What New Features Apple Is Offering
The first big change you will notice with the iOS 26.1 beta 3 version is the new Apple TV app design. The new rebrand of the Apple TV+ to Apple TV gets a colour splash which seems to be hinting at a broader plan for the company that we could know soon.
Third-Party AI Support
Apple has only offered ChatGPT support so far but things could change in the next few months as the company shows signs of letting other third-party services with AI features to also work on iPhones. The MacRumors report takes the credit for this finding, where the system label has changed from ‘Report a concern related to ChatGPT’ to ‘Report a concern related to a third-party.’
Apple has been eying deals with Google for Gemini and maybe even Perplexity for its AI tools, these label changes in the beta version could be the sign of things to come.
Better Support for Third-Party Accessories
We have been hearing about iOS becoming more receptive to Android wearables and third-party smartwatches, the iOS 26.1 beta 3 confirms those rumours. In fact, a new feature has been added which will let you forward iPhone messages to a third-party wearable that is not an Apple Watch.
We expect the iOS 26.1 beta 4 update to have more additions and eventually get the full release by the end of this month.
iOS 26.1 Developer Beta 3: iPhones Supported And How To Install
iOS 26 version is compatible with iPhone 11 and later models, as well as the iPhone SE 2nd gen and later models. You get the iOS 26 update out of the box with the new iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air while the Apple AI support is available if you have the iPhone 15 Pro or later models.
- Open Settings on your iPhone
- Go to General – Software update
- Check for the new iOS 26.1 beta 2 update
- Install it using the passcode and reboot the iPhone
- iOS 26.1 beta 2 update will be running on the device
We expect the iOS 26.1 public version to be available in the next few weeks via an over-the-air update from the company.
Apple also has planned to end October 2025 with not one but multiple launches. We are expecting to see the new M5 chip announced with the iPad Pro M5 model, MacBook Pro 14-inch and a new Vision Pro headset.
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr…Read More
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr… Read More
Delhi, India, India
October 15, 2025, 07:40 IST
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