A few months since WWDC 2025, and Apple is shifting its OS update from developers to brave members of the public. Yesterday, the company launched the public beta version of all its operating systems, now all under the umbrella of “26”, making my job a little bit easier.
I’ve been testing the iOS 26 beta, which (like the rest) centers on a major design shift to Liquid Glass, with transparent overlapping elements and fluid animations. While it looks different, Apple’s focus seems to be familiarity and guiding the user in how to use its hardware, across mobile, PC and the rest.
In iOS 26 specifically, key updates include a relocated search bar, improved Visual Intelligence for screenshots and boosted performance across many Apple Intelligence features, like voice note transcription, Genmoji and Image Playground (even if it thinks I’m entirely bald).
The Camera app has been redesigned, Apple Music gains AutoMix and Messages offers more engaging options, with custom backgrounds and live translation. However, while the update focuses heavily on design and system consistency, new Siri enhancements aren’t here yet.
Check out the full previews on the beta builds of iOS 26 here, macOS 26 here and iPadOS here.
— Mat Smith
Get Engadget’s newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!
The news you might have missed
Back when the Millennium bug was the scariest thing out there.
Maingear’s Retro95 is a new custom desktop PC that blends the aesthetic of ’90s beige desktops with modern, high-performance components. While its exterior evokes a 30-year-old machine that introduced many of us to dial-up internet, the Retro95 can be equipped with powerful internals, such as NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 graphics and the latest processors from Intel and AMD.
Continue reading.
Bring that iPhone X up to date!
After creating the first ever (unofficial) USB-C iPhone back in 2021, Ken Pillonel has created an iPhone case that can give older device models a USB-C port, welcoming them to 2025. You can browse the options in his shop. The cases cover all 20 iPhones with Lightning ports and support data transfer.
Continue reading.
The king of outdoor movies, if you can afford it.
The Nebula X1 is an odd proposition. While Anker has produced multiple projectors in the past, it has never reached the $3,000 mark. For that money, though, it beams out a category-leading 3,500 ANSI lumens at 4K resolution. It also features never-before-seen innovations in home projectors, including liquid cooling to reduce fan noise and a motorized lens gimbal that automates setup.
It’s framed as a portable outdoor projector, but it’s also just one of the best indoor projectors we’ve ever tested. With a sharp, high-contrast and color-accurate image, the video quality is stellar. It’s also easy to set up and incredibly versatile.
Continue reading.
