Overview
- Apple is targeting late January for the rollout, with Monday, January 26 reported as the most likely date, though the timing could slip.
- Developer and public Beta 2 builds are available, indicating the update is nearing general release.
- Beta code lays groundwork for RCS with end-to-end encryption plus features like editing, unsending and Tapback, with activation dependent on carrier support and subject to change before final release.
- A new Apple–Google Android transfer option is designed to make moving data from iPhone to Android simpler, with Google offering a corresponding tool for switchers to iPhone.
- EU users will gain notification forwarding to third-party wearables beyond Apple Watch, and a smaller iOS 26.2.1 bug-fix update could still land before 26.3.