iOS Update Timeline: Apple Preps 26.1 Release, Eyes Passport & RCS Encryption for 26.2
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In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman reported that Apple is expected to release the official iOS 26.1 update as early as November 3 (U.S. time). Following the public rollout of iOS 26.1, Gurman anticipates that the first beta of iOS 26.2 will be made available to developers the very next day, alongside corresponding 26.2 beta builds for watchOS, tvOS, and other Apple platforms.
According to Gurman, the upcoming iOS 26.1 update for general users represents a relatively minor revision overall.
Its primary addition introduces a new “Tinted” toggle within the “Liquid Glass” visual aesthetic first introduced in iOS 26. This feature was designed in response to user feedback that the interface’s high level of transparency occasionally compromised readability. The new option allows users to trade a degree of visual translucency for improved legibility and comfort, striking a balance between design elegance and practical usability.
As for the forthcoming iOS 26.2 beta, Gurman notes that the initial release is unlikely to feature any major new capabilities. Instead, as with iOS 26.1, additional features are expected to appear gradually in subsequent beta iterations.
Public expectations surrounding iOS 26.2 largely center on two promised features that Apple has previously committed to delivering “by the end of this year”:
- U.S. Passport Integration in Apple Wallet: allowing users to store a digital version of their U.S. passport in the Wallet app, compliant with REAL ID standards.
- RCS End-to-End Encryption (E2EE): extending encrypted messaging support to RCS, the cross-platform messaging protocol, which Apple has pledged to include in a future software update.
iOS 26.2 is therefore seen as the most likely—and perhaps final—opportunity this year for Apple to deliver these long-awaited features. Beyond these, Gurman advises against expecting any major surprises from the release.
Following Apple’s usual update schedule, the official version of iOS 26.2 is projected to roll out publicly in December.
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