[DigitalToday intern reporter Kyungmin Hong] Apple has released the second beta of iOS 26.3 and rolled out second betas for major devices as it steps up its 2026 software update push.

On Jan. 12, IT outlet 9to5Mac reported the update is being distributed across Apple’s ecosystem, including iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. It focuses on meeting European Union requirements and improving user convenience features.

iOS 26.3 beta 2 carries over small features such as refinements to the Android-to-iPhone switching function introduced in the previous beta and adjustments to the astronomy and weather wallpaper galleries. It follows the broader push to gradually improve the iOS user experience, alongside the Liquid Glass design changes and expanded CarPlay customisation options introduced with the official release of iOS 26.2 last December. The final version of iOS 26.3 is expected to be unveiled in late January to early February, and iOS 26.4 is expected to apply a long-anticipated Siri AI upgrade.

iPadOS 26.3 beta 2 was also released after the first beta last month, continuing improvements linked with iOS. The first beta was distributed just before the holiday period and focused on minimising new bugs and performance issues. The second beta was released on a normalised development schedule after the holidays. Developers can install the latest beta through software update, with improved stability and preparations for EU-related features as the main focus, and improvements are expected in the integrated user experience with iOS.

macOS 26.3 beta 2 has also been distributed for developers, showing coordinated updates across the ecosystem alongside iOS and iPadOS. The first beta of macOS Tahoe 26.3 had few noticeable new features or code changes, and this beta is also expected to be a quiet update. Work is under way on foundations such as third-party notification delivery required by the EU, and it is seen as a stage of preparing to introduce major features such as a Siri AI overhaul in connection with iOS 26.4. The distribution build 25D5101c could be further improved based on developer feedback.

Second betas were also released for developers for tvOS 26.3, watchOS 26.3, HomePod 26.3 and visionOS 26.3. The first beta was distributed just before the holiday period and had no major changes, but beta 2 could potentially include bigger changes. The 26.3 beta cycle is focusing on EU user-related features and the iPhone-Android transfer function in iOS 26.3, and users can check for the new beta in the software update menu. Through this, Apple is pursuing a strategy of raising overall ecosystem completeness while conducting inter-device integration and feature verification at the same time.

With the beta distribution, Apple is resuming a normal development schedule after the holidays and providing an opportunity to check major 2026 updates in advance. The 26.3 beta 2 releases across iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS are relatively small, but they are significant as foundational work for the release of 26.4, including a Siri AI overhaul. Apple plans to keep improving stability and features based on beta user feedback, while raising ecosystem completeness, including interconnectivity and responses to EU requirements.