Apple released iOS 26.2 beta 1 earlier this week, kicking off the next testing cycle for iPhone and iPad software updates. The new beta arrives just days after Apple rolled out iOS 26.1 to all users, bringing several new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes.
According to tech YouTuber zollotech, iOS 26.2 beta 1 comes in at 8.52 GB on the iPhone 17 Pro Max and carries build number 23C5027f. It also includes a modem firmware update for those upgrading from the public release of iOS 26.1.
One of the biggest changes is a new Liquid Glass opacity slider on the Lock Screen. Users can now fine-tune the strength of the glass effect, adjusting it from a heavily frosted look to fully transparent. The feature expands on the customization options Apple has been adding to its new Liquid Glass design language since iOS 26’s debut, following earlier refinements aimed at giving users more control and improving legibility.
Other notable changes include updates to the Health app’s Sleep Score feature, which now uses revised category ranges based on new research data. The new scale offers more accurate scoring: “Very Low” now ranges from 0–40 points, and “Very High” from 96–100.
The Podcasts app gets a redesign with automatically created chapters, podcast mentions, and link previews directly within the player. Apple has also refreshed the News app’s Today view, which now adds quick-access category tabs for Sports, Puzzles, Business, and Food.
Meanwhile, the Translate app has expanded live translation support, with the feature expected to debut in the European Union next month. It currently supports languages including English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish, among others.
The Reminders app also gains a new option to schedule alarms alongside reminders marked as urgent — a small but useful productivity improvement.
As for bugs, zollotech reports that iOS 26.2 beta 1 reintroduces some minor issues that had been fixed in iOS 26.1, such as App Library lag and slight wallpaper dimming when switching from the Lock Screen. Overall performance and heat management on the iPhone 17 Pro Max appear solid so far, though Apple will likely smooth things out further in later betas.
Check out zollotech’s full iOS 26.2 beta 1 walkthrough video below:
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