iOS 26 public beta could drop today; here’s all you need to know

Apple is ready to let the rest of us in. After weeks of developer builds and whispered tweets, iOS 26 is expected to enter public beta on or around July 23 (today). This release date aligns with predictions from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who is known for his accurate insights.

Should the public beta go live today (or sometime this week in case of a delay), everyday Apple users will get a first crack at what might be the sleekest iOS update in years.

iOS 26 public beta could go live today

First unveiled at WWDC 2025, iOS 26 brings a radical new aesthetic called Liquid Glass. It boasts smooth gradients, deeper transparency, and UI elements that almost feel alive. Apple is leaning hard into modern design, and for the most part, it should work since Apple has reportedly fixed the visibility kinks that plagued the transparent UI’s first developer build.

But not every iPhone is invited to the party. Apple is cutting off support for the iPhone XR and iPhone XS, which means you’ll need an iPhone 11 or newer to install the update. Apple Intelligence, the headline feature packed with AI superpowers, will only run on the iPhone 15 Pro and the latest iPhone 16 models. For the full compatibility list, check out this article.

How to install iOS 26 public beta (when it arrives)

Once the beta goes live, signing up is simple. Head to the Apple Beta Software Program, enroll your device, and toggle the beta update option in Settings. Just be warned; beta builds can be buggy, so back up your data before you take the leap.

ALSO READ: iOS 26 first impressions: A bold redesign meets smart features

Want a breakdown of all the new iOS 26 features? Check out this article, and stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for all things tech.