iOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2 Beta 3 released
Apple's development team has been working at an impressive pace, moving from weekly updates straight to Beta 3 of iOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2, which is now available for registered developers.
This speed doesn't necessarily mean finalization, but it does suggest things are heading toward completion rather quickly. Rumors about live translations via AirPods in the EU point towards major system changes being quite close to ready. Seeing these two specific build numbers, 25C5048a for macOS and 23C5044b for iOS, both tagged as November 17, 2025, definitely underscores that feeling.
This update cycle feels different; it's not just about polishing the final bits. Historically, you'd see a developer beta phase first before kicking off public testing with build 1 (which Apple did). Now, Beta 3 is being rolled out publicly immediately following its release.
That suggests they're confident things are stabilizing quickly or perhaps aiming for a quicker overall launch than usual. The refinement of the active development environment demonstrates their commitment to ensuring the experience is optimal when it is released later this year.
Some key features popping up in these betas include an animation system called Liquid Glass, designed to make everything feel smoother and more polished on screen. On macOS, FaceTime gets a new feature mimicking a ring light's effect with its built-in lighting enhancement, boosting visibility during video calls without extra hardware needed. Apple Music now lets you view lyrics even when you're offline.
There are also other tweaks: the Freeform app has seen an update to add table support, making it more versatile for organizing information visually, and the Podcasts app is getting new features like auto-generated outlines and smart link extraction.
