Apple Rolls Out iOS 26.1 Developer Beta With New Features And AI Language Support: Eligible Devices, How To Update

Apple has started pushing out the first developer beta of iOS 26.1, marking the first big update to iOS 26 that went live earlier this month. The update is now available to eligible iPhones registered under Apple’s developer program. While it doesn’t completely overhaul the system, iOS 26.1 brings a mix of useful features, UI tweaks, and wider support for Apple’s AI-driven tools, hinting at where the company is heading next. Also Read: After Praising iPhone Air, Sam Altman Says ChatGPT Should Replace Siri

Apple Intelligence Gets Smarter

One of the most notable changes is the expansion of Apple Intelligence-powered features. Live Translation on AirPods now supports five more languages — simplified and traditional Chinese, Italian, Japanese, and Korean. In addition, core Apple Intelligence features are being rolled out in eight new languages, including Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, and traditional Chinese. This wider language support shows Apple’s focus on making its AI tools more globally relevant. Also Read: Apple Lands In Legal Trouble As Authors Claim Apple Intelligence Was Trained On Their Books

Interestingly, developers digging into the update have also spotted code references suggesting Apple is preparing to support third-party AI models inside Image Playground. While iOS 26 shipped with ChatGPT styles, iOS 26.1 beta hints at future support for tools like Google’s Gemini, though Apple hasn’t confirmed anything yet. Also Read: iOS 26: 10 New Features You’ll Notice Right Away on Your iPhone

Music, UI and App Updates

On the usability front, Apple has added a simple but welcome gesture to the Music app — users can now swipe left or right on the MiniPlayer to skip tracks. The update also sprinkles design changes across apps. The Calendar app highlights events with full-width colors in List view, Photos introduces a more refined video playback scrubber, and the Phone app keypad adopts the new Liquid Glass look. Safari also gets a slightly tweaked tab bar with better spacing.

Eligible iPhones

The iOS 26.1 developer beta is available for the following iPhones:

• iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max
• iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e
• iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

How To Install iOS 26.1 Developer Beta

Developers can install the update by signing into the Apple Developer website, ensuring their Apple ID is linked, and then heading to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates on their iPhone. Once the iOS 26.1 developer beta appears, it can be downloaded and installed directly.

With this rollout, Apple is signaling that iOS 26.1 won’t just refine the experience — it may also lay the groundwork for deeper AI integrations in the months ahead.