Your iPhone’s upcoming free update will bring these key new features
The iOS 26.2 software update is coming soon, and will bring all of these new features to your iPhone for free
This year’s major iPhone update is iOS 26, with the new Liquid Glass design the biggest change of them all. We’ve started to get subsequent updates to squash bugs and improve things down the line, and the next version is on the way.
iOS 26.2 is now in testing for beta users, and if you have an iPhone or iPad it’s worth keeping an eye out for it. The biggest new additions are smarter reminder alarms, expanded AirPods features and even more Liquid Glass controls. I wouldn’t suggest installing the beta software on your primary device – just wait until the free update rolls out, which is likely to be in early December.
iOS 26.2 still doesn’t introduce the AI Siri overhaul. It sounds like that’s still on track for next year. But this update packs in several genuinely handy upgrades.
You can now set proper alarm-style alerts in the Reminders app by toggling on “Urgent”. When one goes off it uses a blue interface that looks like an alarm, with options to snooze or slide to stop. You’ll get a countdown on your lock screen if you snooze it. Speaking of, the Lock Screen is picking up a new Liquid Glass slider for the clock, letting you make the time almost fully clear or more frosted. There’s still a Solid option for a completely opaque look, and all the colour variants stick around.
iOS 26.2 also brings a new one-time AirDrop code option for temporary sharing with someone who isn’t in your contacts. You can hand over a code that works for 30 days, and manage those temporary contacts in Settings. Apple Music gains offline lyrics support, so you can still follow along even without Wi-Fi or data. Sleep Score on iPhone and Apple Watch is updated too, with adjusted ranges that should better reflect how rested you actually feel.
The Podcasts app is finally getting auto-generated chapters, mentions pulled from transcripts, and easier access to links mentioned in episodes. Passwords has a new section to manage websites where saving credentials is intentionally blocked. And in the EU, AirPods Live Translation is finally arriving after a delay, supporting the same languages and models as elsewhere.
Wait, there’s even more. The Measure app adopts a new Liquid Glass look for its level, with two bubbly indicators. The Games app can sort your library by size and supports controller navigation plus real-time challenge score updates. CarPlay lets you disable pinned messages if you prefer the classic view.
On iPhone models used in Japan, things go a step further. Apple is laying the groundwork so users can pick a different default voice assistant entirely. A long press on the side button will activate alternatives like Gemini or Alexa.
Connor Jewiss
