Apple iOS 26.2 Public Beta 1 Brings These 4 Features That Are Worth Trying

iPhone users should know that Apple has started rolling out the iOS 26.2 Public Beta. While the stable update might take some more time, however, the public beta has revealed that the next iOS 26 update will be a minor update. It quietly brings a handful of useful changes across personalisation, productivity, and native apps. Amongst all, there are three main features that are worth your attention.  Also Read: iOS 27 To Deliver Biggest Apple Intelligence Update Yet: Here’s What’s Expected

Before you hit the download button, here is everything that you must know.  Also Read: Hands-Free Photos? Your AirPods Can Do That Now With iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Public Beta Features

Lock Screen Gets More Customisation

The Lock Screen now lets you play around with how the clock looks, thanks to a new transparency slider under the Liquid Glass section. You can adjust how frosted or solid the clock appears – from a subtle glass-like look to a full solid display. This gives users more freedom to match the clock with wallpapers or widgets without having to switch themes altogether. It’s a small tweak, but one that adds a nice personal touch to the iOS experience.

Sleep Score and Health Updates

Apple has quietly tweaked the Sleep Score rating in the Health app after user feedback. The “Excellent” rating has now been replaced with “Very High,” and the score range has been redefined for better clarity. The updated thresholds are reflected across iOS 26.2 and watchOS 26.2, syncing automatically for Apple Watch users. This change may seem minor, but it brings a more realistic way to interpret your sleep quality – something users have been asking for since the feature debuted.

Alarms for Urgent Reminders

In a productivity-friendly addition, Reminders now supports alarms. You can mark a reminder as “Urgent,” and it will trigger a lock screen alert with “Snooze” and “Stop” options – just like an alarm clock. This is perfect for tasks that you can’t afford to miss, like taking medication or catching a meeting. You can even snooze or reschedule without opening the Reminders app.

Podcast and News App Improvements

Apple continues improving the Podcasts app, adding automatically generated chapters, quick access to mentioned links, and related show suggestions. This makes long podcasts easier to navigate and interact with. The News app also gets a visual revamp, introducing one-tap shortcuts for categories like Sports, Business, Food, and Politics – a cleaner, more organised layout for everyday reading.

Other Features

• AirPods Live Translation finally expands to EU users, meeting Digital Markets Act requirements.
• Freeform gains support for tables for easier visual note-taking.
• Enhanced Safety Alerts now offer real-time threat warnings with the option to flash the display for emergencies.