The beta version of iOS 26.2 is already available, the general public version will be released in December and will bring these 7 new features to your iPhone.
iOS 26.2 brings these 7 features to your iPhone
Apple recently announced that iOS 26.2 will be available to all users in December, but did not reveal a specific release date. We list 7 new features that you can expect from iOS 26.2.
1. Liquid Glass slider bar
A new slider in the lock screen settings lets you adjust the Liquid Glass opacity for the clock. So you decide how transparent or how matte it should look.
2. Offline lyrics in Apple Music
Offline support for lyrics in Apple Music is also one of the new features of iOS 26.2. So you can also read them if you are not connected to WiFi or a mobile network.
3. Improved Sleep Score
In iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2, the Sleep Score has been improved:
- Very low: 0-40 (previously 0-29)
- Low: 41-60 (previously 30-49)
- OK: 61-80 (previously 50-69)
- High: 81-95 (formerly 70-89)
- Very high: 96-100 (previously 90-100)
According to Apple, Sleep Scores are calculated based on how long you slept, the consistency of when you fell asleep, and the frequency and duration of waking during the night. The feature is available in the Health app on all iPhone models compatible with iOS 26 and on all Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 26.
4. Alarm for reminders
In iOS 26.2, you can set an alarm for reminders in Apple’s Reminders app. When you add a reminder, select a time and then enable the ‘Urgent’ option, an alarm will sound at the specified time.
5. Improvements to the Podcasts app
Apple’s Podcasts app has three new features in iOS 26.2, including automatic episode chapters, timed on-screen links, and the ability to instantly view other podcasts mentioned within a podcast.
6. Flash on the screen for notifications
Starting with iOS 26.2, your iPhone’s screen may show a flash of light when you receive a notification. Previously, this setting was limited to the LED camera flash on the back of the iPhone.
7. Live Translations via AirPods
One of the new features in iOS 26.2 is Live Translations via AirPods in the EU. This feature allows you to understand someone who speaks a different language. The feature works best when both participants in a call are using Live Translations via AirPods. If you’re talking to someone who isn’t wearing AirPods, you can get a live transcript in the other person’s language on your iPhone.
Live Translations is available on the AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and the more expensive AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation. In addition to compatible AirPods, you also need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer with Apple Intelligence enabled and installed Apple’s Translation app. Unfortunately, Dutch is not yet supported. From iOS 26.2 you can use the function if you speak English, for example.
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