Apple has rolled out iOS 26.1 Beta 1 to registered developers, with a public beta release expected soon.
The update delivers expanded Apple Intelligence language support, new AirPods live translation capabilities, and notable design refinements across core apps.
While this build focuses on usability and visual polish, it also hints at deeper improvements coming in future betas.
Release Information
iOS 26.1 Beta 1 arrives alongside iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, tvOS, HomePodOS, and visionOS betas.
The update size is unusually large—over 14 GB—indicating a full OS reinstall.
The build number is 23B5044L, and modem firmware for iPhone 17 series has been updated to version 1.10.00.
The final release is expected in late October or early November 2025.
Key Updates
Apple Intelligence Language Expansion
Apple Intelligence now supports Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese, making AI features accessible to a broader global audience.
AirPods Live Translation
AirPods' real-time translation gains support for Japanese, Korean, and both Simplified and Traditional Chinese.
This enhances live communication features across AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3.
Music App Gestures and Animations
A new swipe gesture allows quick skipping between songs with haptic feedback, eliminating the need to open the Now Playing screen.
Additional refinements include smoother transitions, updated Automix animations, and a new "Go To" menu offering album, playlist, and artist navigation.
Photos Scrubber & UI Refinements
The Photos app introduces a redesigned video scrubber that consolidates playback controls into a single compact bar.
Subtle fade animations improve usability and polish.
Liquid Glass Design Expansion
Liquid glass styling extends to the Phone app keypad, lock screen clock customization, and interface selectors, replacing older gray and solid UI elements.
These changes align with Apple's ongoing visual language shift.
Settings and System Adjustments
Smaller refinements include updated wording for sound options, clearer "Find My" status indicators, and the reintroduction of security patches under a new label: Background Security Improvement.
Performance
Early reports suggest stable performance with no major slowdowns.
As with most .1 updates, dramatic speed boosts are unlikely, though future beta iterations may bring incremental improvements.
Battery life is expected to improve through the beta cycle, particularly addressing complaints on iPhone 17 devices.
Bug Fixes
A major visual bug affecting Now Playing animations in iOS 26.0 has been resolved, providing smoother transitions when expanding the mini player.
Additional UI bugs related to haptics and animations have also been addressed, reinforcing system stability.
Editor's Comments
The biggest shift lies in Apple Intelligence's expanded language reach, signaling Apple's intent to push its AI ecosystem globally.
The new music gestures and liquid glass refinements suggest Apple is steadily polishing everyday interactions, even if the headline features remain modest.
Based on Apple's release cadence, iOS 26.1 Beta 2 could land by September 29, with the final release likely in late October.
While subtle, these updates strengthen iOS's foundation for larger leaps expected in 26.2 and beyond.
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