The iOS 26 beta phase has been running for over a month – but so far only for developers. The public beta, which many are waiting for, is still a long way off. According to Apple, it's scheduled for release in July. Now, for the first time, there's a concrete date, which Apple itself hasn't confirmed, but which comes from a reliable source.
iOS 26 brings many new features to iPhones—both under the hood and in the user interface. While developers have been testing the update since early June, the public beta is still pending. This usually follows about a week after the third developer beta. This year, Apple appears to be deviating from its usual schedule. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, July 23 is now being discussed as a possible release date.
Schedule compared to previous years
In recent years, Apple has typically released public beta versions to developers in the summer, about a week after Beta 3. For iOS 26, Beta 3 was distributed on Monday, July 7. This meant the public beta would have been expected around July 14. This date has since passed without a public test version being released.
Mark Gurman's assessment
Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman responded to a user question on X on July 14, asking why there was no public beta yet. Gurman's succinct answer : "Next Wednesday," July 23. That would be a later launch than usual, but understandable given the process so far.
What happens next
If Gurman's information is correct, the public beta will launch on Tuesday evening or Wednesday, depending on your time zone. Another beta version for developers will most likely be released beforehand—or Apple will skip this step. In any case, one thing is clear: July remains the planned month for the public testing phase, and there's not much room left.
iOS 26 Public Beta: Launch likely on July 23
The iOS 26 public beta is delayed, but it's likely to arrive on July 23. Those who want to install it should expect minor bugs—but also a first real look at the new operating system. iOS 26 marks the next development step for the iPhone and is expected to be released as a finished version this fall. Until then, the beta phase offers an early glimpse into what's to come. (Image: Apple)
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