Apple is working on two incremental updates to iOS 26, with iOS 26.3 close to release and iOS 26.4 to follow after more beta testing. Although the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate has not been released yet, the current betas and early reports include a variety of user-facing functionality, regulatory requirements, and preparations for future major updates later this year.
What’s in iOS 26.3?
iOS 26.3 is all about system utilities, regional regulatory updates, and privacy tweaks rather than any graphical overhaul.
One of the most prominent additions is a new iPhone-to-Android transfer feature. This feature enables users to transfer an iPhone alongside an Android smartphone and transfer photos, messages, notes, apps, and even a phone number wirelessly. This feature is available worldwide in the Settings app under General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Transfer to Android.
For users in the European Union, iOS 26.3 brings Notification Forwarding and proximity pairing for third-party accessories, just like with AirPods. This is in line with Apple’s compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act and is only available in supported regions.
Apple is also working on infrastructure for end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging. As of the second iOS 26.3 beta, system infrastructure shows support for encrypted RCS messaging, although carrier support is still needed before it can be used.
Other additions in iOS 26.3 include:
- A new Weather Wallpapers section on the Lock Screen.
- A new Limit Precise Location option that limits location data shared with mobile networks.
- Ongoing Background Security Improvements testing, which permit Apple to release some security-related updates without a full iOS version. The current test updates do not contain actual bug fixes.
Early indications for iOS 26.4
iOS 26.4 is likely to arrive later in the spring after a beta process that has not begun yet. A couple of features are already associated with this version, although not all of them will be available.
Apple and Google have announced a more personalized version of Siri, and iOS 26.4 will be the first version to introduce users to the underlying work. The new Siri will be able to understand personal context, on-screen awareness, and more advanced per-app actions. Some features demonstrated earlier may not be available until later versions.
Another feature that has been confirmed is the addition of new emoji support, which follows the latest standard from the Unicode Consortium. The new emoji will include a trombone, a treasure chest, an apple core, an orca, ballet dancers, and more. Apple has been adding new emoji in x.4 versions of iOS for a few releases now.
Other features that have been rumored to be in development include:
- AutoFill for credit card information stored in the Passwords app by Apple in third-party apps.
- The ability to create folders in the Freeform app.
- A new validation process that will verify device integrity when signing into Apple ID and iCloud.
- The addition of a “Precise Outdoor Location” feature for AirPods in the Find My app.
- Development of a new sports level in the Apple TV app, although no information is available yet.
Apple has not yet announced which of these features will be included in the initial iOS 26.4 release.
What should iOS users do now?
Users interested in the Android transfer feature or the new privacy options should wait for the final release of iOS 26.3 instead of using the beta version. Users following Siri updates or the new emojis should look forward to iOS 26.4 in the spring.
Some of the features mentioned for iOS 26.4 may be postponed or revised before they are released to the public.
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