Apple Unveils iOS 26.2 Beta 1: Customization, Productivity, and Accessibility Take Center Stage
Last week, Apple rolled out the first beta of iOS 26.2, the latest iteration of its mobile operating system, bringing a suite of new features and refinements aimed at enhancing user experience. The update introduces greater customization options, productivity tools, accessibility improvements, and expanded support for language translation. The public release of iOS 26.2 is anticipated in December 2025.
**Enhanced Lock Screen Customization with Liquid Glass**
One of the standout features of iOS 26.2 beta 1 is the new customization option for the iPhone’s Lock Screen clock, leveraging Apple’s Liquid Glass interface. Liquid Glass is Apple’s evolving design language, focusing on sleek visual effects and user personalization. With this update, users will find a slider that lets them adjust the opacity of the Lock Screen clock. This means users can choose to make the clock almost fully transparent for a minimal look or opt for a more frosted, glass-like appearance. For those who prefer a classic display, the option to completely disable the Liquid Glass effect remains available. This level of customization reflects Apple’s ongoing commitment to giving users more control over the appearance of their devices.
**Reminders App Gets Alarm Feature for ‘Urgent’ Tasks**
Productivity is also receiving a boost in iOS 26.2, particularly through improvements to the Reminders app. A highly requested feature—the ability to set alarms for reminders—has finally been added. Now, when creating a reminder, users can select a specific time and mark it as “Urgent.” When the scheduled time arrives, the phone will play an alarm, ensuring critical tasks or deadlines don’t go unnoticed. This feature is expected to be particularly useful for busy users who rely on their iPhones to manage daily responsibilities and need a more robust alert mechanism than standard notifications.
**Live Translation on AirPods Expands to the EU**
Language support is another area seeing significant enhancement. Initially launched in the United States and select countries with iOS 26, the live translation feature on AirPods is now coming to the European Union. With this capability, Siri can listen to someone speaking in a foreign language and provide real-time translations directly through the user’s AirPods. Apple delayed the EU rollout to ensure compliance with the region’s Digital Markets Act, but with iOS 26.2, European users will be able to take advantage of this powerful tool for travel, business, and everyday conversations.
**Apple News App Introduces ‘Following’ Tab and Quick Topics**
The Apple News app is also receiving an interface refresh. With iOS 26.2, a new “Following” tab will appear in the bottom navigation bar, giving users quick access to their favorite topics, saved stories, and browsing history. Additionally, the app will feature new buttons for instant navigation to popular categories such as Food, Politics, Puzzles, and