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Apple has released the second beta version of iOS 26 for developers. Since its unveiling at WWDC, this is the first major overhaul. Even though it's still an early beta, some concrete changes are already apparent that will be of interest to users. Here's a complete overview of everything new in iOS 26 Beta 2.
With each new beta version, a clearer picture emerges of what iOS 26 will ultimately look like. The second beta primarily brings detail improvements and minor visual tweaks. Some of these directly affect usability, others improve the range of functions. Anyone who wants to get an early impression of the new system will get a good sense of where it's headed with this beta version.
Control Center revised
The so-called Liquid Glass buttons in the Control Center have been updated. The background is now slightly more blurred, allowing the elements to stand out more clearly from the background. This improves readability.
More control over transparency effects
The "Reduce Transparency" option in Accessibility is an enhanced feature. This allows you to further reduce the transparency of UI elements such as the Liquid Glass buttons. This can significantly improve the display for users with visual impairments.
Safari: new tab logic
In Safari, the button for opening a new tab has been moved. It is now located at the bottom left of the tab view—as it was in iOS 18—rather than at the top left as in the first beta of iOS 26. Additionally, new buttons for scrolling forward and backward have been added to the compact tab bar.
App Store shows accessibility information
Apple has added a new section to app product pages in the App Store: "Accessibility." Developers can (and are encouraged) to indicate here which accessibility features their app supports. This makes this information more visible and comparable for users.
Wallet can recognize orders
One of the big features Apple announced at WWDC is now live for the first time: The Wallet app can track orders. Siri scans your Mail app for order confirmation emails—even if you didn't pay with Apple Pay. The collected information appears in Wallet.
New ringtone for “Reflection”
There's now a new version of the familiar "Reflection" ringtone in the sound settings. It's called "Alt 1" and can be selected directly as your default ringtone. You can find it under "Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone."
New radio widget in Apple Music
Apple Music users have a new Live Radio widget. This lets you launch and control radio stations directly from the home screen. This widget complements the existing music widgets and brings more options to the home screen.
Power saving mode now explains more
Previously, the description of Low Power Mode in Settings was very general. It has been revised in iOS 26 Beta 2. It now specifically states which functions are throttled: processing speed, refresh rate, brightness, and features like 5G, iCloud sync, and email retrieval. This makes it clearer how the mode affects usage.
Live subtitles with changed naming
The name of the live captioning feature has been changed. What was previously called "Transcribe Calls" is now called "Save Call Logs." Additionally, a tone will play before the transcription begins to inform all participants. This improves transparency and privacy for this feature.
iOS 26 Beta 2 in detail: Small changes with big impact
iOS 26 Beta 2 brings many small but noticeable improvements. Visual tweaks, new widgets, better privacy and accessibility controls, and the activation of order tracking in Wallet demonstrate that Apple is making many adjustments. Even though the final version is still a long way off, this beta is worth a look for anyone who wants to know what the next major iOS update will bring. The best products for you: Our Amazon Storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / miss.cabul)
