Apple has released the last test version of iOS 26! With the release candidate from iOS 26, new functions still come to the iPhone. These are them.
iOS 26 Release Candidate
A new test version of iOS 26 is available again! Apple has released the release candidate of iOS 26 for the iPhone. This is probably the latest test version for the final release of iOS 26. It is about the largest software update in years, with which many new functions and an adapted interface come to the iPhone. Nevertheless, Apple adds three new features in the latest test version of iOS 26. These are them!
1. Home screen gets even better
The iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air have a completely new design, for which Apple has released associated phone cases. These telephone cases come with a hidden iOS 26 function, because the operating system registers the color of your phone case for the first time. In the release candidate of iOS 26, this feature is available for the first time, making it easy to match the home screen with the color of your telephone case.
With iOS 26, your iPhone knows what color the case has off the phone. This color is registered and you can then select when personalizing the home screen. This way you can give the symbols of all applications on the home screen the same color as your telephone case. It is still unclear whether this new position in the release candidate of iOS 26 only works with Apple’s own covers, or is also available with telephone cases from third parties.
2. Translate live
At the iPhone 17 event, Apple not only presented iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods have also been announced. The AirPods Pro 3 have many new functions, including live translations. With the ears, spoken text in a foreign language is converted to another language at the same time. This way you can have a conversation with someone more easily, while you both communicate in a different language.
Live Translation is an important feature of the AirPods Pro 3, but is also available with earlier generations of the earphones. The function also comes to the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with active noise reduction. It is therefore not a new feature of the AirPods Pro 3, but an improvement in iOS 26. In the release candidate of iOS 26, live translating is available in the first languages.
3. Free satellite connection
Do you still have an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15? In that case, the release candidate of iOS 26 brings good news, because the satellite connection on these devices has been extended again by one year. You can use the satellite connection on these iPhones for free up to and including September 2026. It is striking that Apple offers the feature again for a year for free, because the free period originally would only last a year.
Apple’s satellite functions can be used in the messages and search my app. The function only comes in handy if you do not have access to the mobile network, the symbol for the satellite connection then automatically appears in the corner of the iPhone screen. You can then make messages and emergency calls via this connection, the location of the iPhone is loaded into the search my app. With the release candidate from iOS 26, these functions remain available on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15.
Release of iOS 26
It was already clear that iOS 26 is an enormous update, but there are more functions. After the Release Candidate, the final update will not be longing for long. Are you curious when you can install iOS 26 on your iPhone? Read all about the official release date of the biggest update in years here! Are you curious if your iPhone has support for the new software version? View here which iPhones work with iOS 26.
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