iOS 26.2 is here with lots of small tweaks that’ll upgrade your iPhone in a big way
Macworld iOS 26.2 has arrived just in time for the weekend. While the update isn’t a major overhaul, it brings numerous changes and refinements, including more Liquid Glass tweaks. More importantly, iOS 26.2 brings a series of minor new features throughout the system that will surprise and delight iPhone users. Here are all the new iOS 26.2 features you’ll want to check out right away: Liquid Glass Lock Screen slider After listening to user feedback, Apple added a new option to iOS 26.1 that lets users choose between the traditional Liquid Glass look and a “Tinted” mode that makes everything more frosted. Now with iOS 26.2, there’s also a similar adjustment for the clock on the Lock Screen. Thanks to a new slider in the Lock Screen options, users can adjust the transparency of the clock to make it more or less “Liquid.” The option to make the clock completely solid remains, and users can still choose between different colors. iOS 26.2 lets you adjust the Liquid Glass intensity on the Lock Screen.Foundry Liquid Glass Measure app Apple continues expanding its new design language across the system, and the Measure app is the latest to get the Liquid Glass treatment. With iOS 26.2, the app’s controls, buttons, and panels adopt the same translucent, fluid look introduced earlier this year. The interface feels more consistent with the rest of iOS. Functionality remains the same, but the updated visuals help modernize an app that hadn’t seen a significant UI refresh in a while. The Measure app got a Liquid Glass update in iOS 26.2.Foundry Auto chapters in Podcasts Although Apple Podcasts already had a chapter selector, it required the podcast creator to set them manually. iOS 26.2 automatically creates chapters based on the content transcript, so you can easily jump to a specific part of an episode. In addition, the app now detects mentions of another podcast available on the platform and then provides the user with a link to listen to that episode. Improved Sleep Score Another new feature introduced with iOS 26 is Sleep Score, which ranks the user’s sleep quality based on data obtained from the Apple Watch. This includes things like how long you sleep, bedtime, and interruptions. With iOS 26.2, Apple is making fine adjustments to Sleep Score, which now provides a more accurate score for each category. These are the new scores for each level: Very High: 96-100 High: 81-95 OK: 61-80 Low: 41-60 Very Low: 0-40 The Sleep Score is improved in iOS 26.2.Foundry Set reminders as alarms With iOS 26.2, users can choose to display reminder notifications as alarms. Instead of a banner, the reminder will take up the entire screen with an audible alert, just like traditional alarms set in the Clock app. You can snooze the reminder or slide to stop it. It’s worth noting that the feature is optional, which means you can continue using the Reminders app with classic notifications if you prefer. AirDrop PIN AirDrop is also gaining a new feature with iOS 26.2. When you’re using AirDrop with someone who isn’t in your contacts list, AirDrop will show a PIN code to be entered on the other device, similar to Apple TV pairing. Doing this adds the other device to a list of known devices for 30 days. So the next time, you can quickly use AirDrop with that person without changing any settings or entering the PIN again. You can now secure AirDrop interactions with a pin code in iOS 26.2.Foundry Apple News shortcuts With the update, Apple News users will find new shortcuts with quick access to specific sections of the News app. These include Sports, Puzzles, Politics, and Food.  The shortcuts are shown on the Apple News app home screen, as well as in the Search tab. Freeform app tables Apple’s Freeform whiteboarding app, which lets users sketch, brainstorm, organize notes, and more on an infinite canvas, is getting a powerful tool in iOS 26.2: tables. After updating to iOS 26.2, you’ll see the new option to add tables alongside the existing options for creating notes and adding shapes. Tables can be customized with multiple rows and columns. AirPods Live Translation in the EU One of the biggest new features in iOS 26 is Live Translation for AirPods. As the name suggests, this feature allows users to talk to people who speak a different language, with the earbuds translating the conversation in real time. The feature was previously only available in a few regions, but iOS 26.2 expands it to more countries. The feature is now enabled for all users in the European Union. It’s worth noting that AirPods Live Translation only works with AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods 4. The feature is available in English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Update to iOS 26.2 Functionality remains the same, but the updated visuals help modernize an app that hadn’t seen a significant UI refresh in a while. If you’re already running iOS 26, this update makes the experience feel more cohesive, more responsive, and simply nicer to use day-to-day. To get the update right now, head over to the Settings app, then General and Software Update.

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tvOS 26.2 brings kids mode to the Apple TV app
It's time to update your Apple TV once again — Apple's just rolled out a tvOS 26.2 for Apple TV and the HomePod line.Apple TV 4KTypically, whenever Apple releases an update for the Apple TV, it tends to focus on bug fixes and stability improvements, rather than adding new front-end features. And yet, this time around, there are two noteworthy new features added to tvOS.The first feature allows users to easily create Apple TV user profiles without linking an account. This is useful for anyone in your household who might use your Apple TV but isn't currently in the Apple Ecosystem. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Sleep scores sharpen and EU Wi-Fi setup shifts in watchOS 26.2
The watchOS 26.2 update arrives with a tighter sleep-scoring system and a required Wi-Fi change for users in the European Union.Apple Watch Series 10Apple adjusted the sleep score ranges in watchOS 26.2 to better match how people feel after a night's rest. The highest score now reflects a genuinely restorative night instead of a generous rating.Users who track sleep daily may see different numbers even when habits stay the same. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Minor bug fix update for Apple Vision Pro arrives with visionOS 26.2
Not every point update comes with a bunch of user-facing features, and that's the case for visionOS 26.2, available now with a range of bug fixes.visionOS 26.2 is a bug fix updateApple Vision Pro got a lot of important updates with visionOS 26, including persistent spatial widgets and support for more types of immersive content. The visionOS 26.1 update was a minimal bug fix update and visionOS 26.2 is similar in scope.Apple has released the visionOS 26.2 update with no new user-facing features. The release notes throughout the betas noted fixes for issues with game controllers and the new Logitech Muse spatial drawing tool. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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New Edge Light and urgent Reminders come to macOS Tahoe
The latest version macOS Tahoe 26.2 is now available, and alongside performance improvements, brings new features for video calls, Reminders, and dividing AI work across multiple Macs.The new macOS Tahoe brings new features such as Edge LightFollowing the release of macOS 26.1 on November 3, 2025, Apple has now issued the next update. After multiple rounds of testing, macOS 26.2 is now the current version of the operating system.While many or even most such point updates are intended to address issues such as security or performance ones, this release adds three specific new features: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPadOS 26.2 brings better Split View, AirDrop codes to iPad
Apple has released iPadOS 26.2 to the public, with the changes including more tweaks to the now-returned Slide Over.Slide Over, revived in iPadOS 26.1, now works by drag-and-drop in iPadOS 26.2The latest iteration of developer beta testing has concluded with Apple releasing an update to iPadOS, bringing it to version 26.2 alongside its other operating systems.While the iPadOS 26.1 update brought with it a lot of post-launch changes, iPadOS 26.2 is naturally a little less feature-packed. But there are still features to be enjoyed by iPad users. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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watchOS 26.2 available now for Apple Watch, here’s what’s new
Today Apple has released iOS 26.2 and its full lineup of companion updates, including watchOS 26.2 for Apple Watch. Here’s what’s new in the latest Watch update. more…

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iOS 26.2 is here with one-time AirDrop codes, alarms in Reminders, more
Apple's iOS 26.2 update is now available to all, with new one-time AirDrop codes, more toggles for Liquid Glass, and improvements to system apps. Here's what's new.iOS 26.2 is now available for download. Following the public release of iOS 26.1 on November 3, Apple has deployed its next major operating system update. iOS 26.2 builds upon many of the user interface enhancements and features previewed at WWDC 2025.As a whole, iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 introduced numerous changes, with the most visible being Apple's controversial "Liquid Glass" design language. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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tvOS 26.2 now available for Apple TV 4K, here’s what’s new
Apple’s latest lineup of software updates has arrived, including tvOS 26.2, HomePod 26.2, and visionOS 26.2. Here’s what’s new. more…

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Apple releases iOS 26.2 with Liquid Glass tweaks, CarPlay changes, more [Release notes]
Apple has officially released iOS 26.2 for iPhone. The latest version includes Liquid Glass design tweaks, new customization options for CarPlay, and much more. more…

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iPadOS 26.2 is now available for iPad, here’s everything new
Apple’s latest big iPad software update is here: iPadOS 26.2 is rolling out now, here’s everything new. more…

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Apple Original Films developing Freida McFadden adaptation ‘The Teacher’
Apple Original Films is set to develop a gripping feature adaptation of Freida McFadden's 2024 bestseller "The Teacher," with… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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New iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 features revealed in leaked code
Leaked code from an unreleased build of iOS 26 reportedly contains references to several new features in the works for iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 next year. Here’s what the code reveals. more…

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'Apple Tax is Dead in the USA'
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has almost entirely upheld a scathing April ruling that found Apple in willful violation of a 2021 injunction meant to open up iOS App Store payments in its long-running legal battle against Epic Games. A three-judge panel affirmed that Apple's 27% fee for developers using outside payment options had a "prohibitive effect" and that the company's design restrictions on external payment links were overly broad. The appeals court also agreed that Apple acted in "bad faith" by rejecting viable, compliant alternatives in internal discussions. One divergence from the lower court: the appeals court ruled that Apple should still be able to charge a "reasonable fee" based on its actual costs to ensure user security and privacy, rather than charging nothing at all. What qualifies as "reasonable" remains to be determined. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney told reporters he believes those fees should be "super super minor," on the order of "tens or hundreds of dollars" every time an iOS app update goes through Apple for review. "The Apple Tax is dead in the USA," he wrote on social media. Sweeney also alleged that a widespread "fear of retaliation" has kept many developers paying Apple's default 30% fees, claiming the company can effectively "ghost" apps by delaying reviews or burying them in search results. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Brad Pitt’s record-breaking F1 movie now streaming free on Apple TV
Brad Pitt’s adrenaline-charged racing spectacle “F1” blasted onto Apple TV, giving fans a turbo-boosted, must-watch streaming event! (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Gene Munster predicts ‘Apple will launch the new Siri before April 30, 2026, and it will be well received’
Longtime Apple analyst Gene Munster is out with his 2026 predictions. To see his 2025 predictions and how they fared (4.5 for 10)… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Would you accept this compromise for the 20th anniversary iPhone? [Poll]
There have been persistent rumors that Apple will be pulling out all the stops for the 20th anniversary iPhone in 2027. It’s been suggested this will be the year the company will finally achieve its long-held ambition of turning the iPhone into “a single slab of glass.” What’s meant by this is that there will be no visible bezels and no Dynamic Island or cutout of any kind on the display. While this is already technically achievable, it would involve one significant compromise … more…

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Leak reveals details of Apple’s secret roadmap: iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and iOS 28
Macworld All throughout this week, Macworld has been covering discoveries related to Apple’s future plans found in a leaked internal build of iOS 26. After reporting on new devices such as AirTag 2, HomePad, and a new generation of Studio Display, we also saw details about future software such as iOS 26.4 and even iOS 27. The build in question is used internally by engineers to test new, unreleased software features. Although it’s an iOS 26.0 build, it also includes several “flags” that reference features Apple has been planning to release far in the future. A “feature flag” is how Apple identifies features in its iOS code. Engineers can enable and disable flags to turn specific features on and off while they are being developed. They also contain notes about when a particular feature is expected to be ready for a public version of iOS. Read on as we detail what users can expect from future iOS updates based on what we’ve discovered. Refreshed Health app The internal build of iOS 26 seen by Macworld contains multiple feature flags related to major updates coming to the Health app. This includes references to a new layout for categories and simplified metric logging. Apple is rumored to be introducing a new “Health+” subscription next year. A recent Bloomberg report revealed that, as part of the Health app subscription, users will have access to a new AI assistant to answer questions based on health data stored in the app. The redesign of the Health app will likely pave the way for this new paid platform. Credit card autofill for third-party apps Apple is testing a system that detects when a card is added inside a third-party app and then offers to save it to iCloud Keychain. The feature would work in pretty much the same way as Autofill in Safari. Of course, apps will also be able to provide easier access to credit cards stored in iCloud with Autofill. The feature is also set to be released with iOS 26.4 next year, based on code references. Apple is slowly building its Freeform app into a real productivity tool.Apple Folders in Freeform A long-overdue organization feature: the code shows a full folder system coming to Freeform boards, likely syncing through iCloud. Apple has been expanding Freeform quietly, and this is a sign they’re preparing it to behave more like a true productivity app. Users can expect folders in Freeform with iOS 26.4. Sports ‘tier’ for Apple TV Details are unclear, but there’s a new “Sports Tier” feature flag for the Apple TV app. With Apple investing more and more in sports content for its streaming platform, it would not be surprising if the company ended up announcing a more expensive subscription tier for sports fans. The feature is also being targeted for spring 2026, likely with iOS 26.4. Extra security layers Apple has also been exploring adding extra layers of security to its devices with iOS 26.4. One of the feature flags seen in the leaked code hints at a new validation system that will check the integrity of the device before logging into Apple ID and iCloud. This will potentially prevent users from logging into Apple’s online services if the device has undergone any unauthorized modifications, such as jailbreaking.  New Siri with Apple Intelligence As previously reported by Macworld, the new Siri with Apple Intelligence is on track to launch with iOS 26.4 in spring 2026. Users will be able to have more natural conversations with the assistant, which is expected to be integrated with a large language model based on Google Gemini. AirPods may be getting a new Find My feature next year.Andreas Bergsman AirPods features The leaked code suggests new features coming to AirPods. This includes a capability called “Precise Outdoor Location” to pinpoint the earbuds’ location in the Find My app.  Given that the AirPods Pro 3 introduced this year feature an upgraded ultra-wideband chip (U2), it’s reasonable to assume this feature will be exclusive to the newest model. Clues about what’s coming in iOS 27 and iOS 28 In addition to features planned for iOS 26.4, the leaked build also includes references to a few features being developed for iOS 27 and even iOS 28. There are new feature flags tied to improved collections in the Photos app with iOS 27. The update will also introduce a new pairing system for AirPods. It’s unclear how this system will work, given that the current method is already quite simple, but presumably it involves under-the-hood improvements to make pairing even faster and more reliable. For iOS 28, the company plans to add new metrics to sleep tracking with Apple Watch, including time in bed. There’s also a flag that indicates the Health app is coming to the Mac with macOS 28. The big picture While none of these features are guaranteed to ship, Apple’s internal code often reveals the company’s priorities long before public releases. iOS 26.4 is shaping up to be a surprisingly ambitious mid-cycle update, and Apple is clearly laying groundwork for much bigger changes in iOS 27 and iOS 28. As development continues, we expect even more clues to surface, and we’ll keep digging.

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Deals: M4 MacBook Air $250 off + FREE $25 gift card, exclusive 20% off at Twelve South, leather/Nomad Apple Watch bands, more
Alongside the ongoing Amazon all-time low on AirPods Pro 3, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is starting with a seriously notable deal on M4 MacBook Air. Now landing back down at the Black Friday price at $250 off, you can also land the 13-inch model with a FREE $25 gift card for the best price of the year. Those offers also join exclusive sitewide savings for 9to5 readers at Twelve South and on all of the sweet leather gear from Bluebonnet. Scope it all out below.  more…

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Rolling Square TAU 2 mini power bank review: A key ring to recharge your iPhone
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Super-compact power bank Can give iPhone a 30% charge USB-C/Lightning/USB cables built in Cons You probably will forget to charge it Our Verdict The tiny Tau 2 is a great and affordable back-up battery that can squeeze out enough juice to recharge the iPhone to nearly a third of its full potential while weighing next to nothing and taking up barely any space. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$39.90 Best Prices Today: Rolling Square Tau 2 Retailer Price Rolling Square $39.90 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket We’ve seen a lot of tiny power banks go through the Macworld Labs: some super-slim, some able to recharge an iPhone nearly twice over, others with cables included and flashy displays showing you how much battery life is left. One power bank even has a fancy light that might brighten up a cloudy day. GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology makes transistors smaller and therefore devices such as chargers more diminutive. This is now putting quite serious functionality into very small things indeed. And we’ve never seen a power bank as small as the Rolling Square Tau 2, which wants to be the key ring that saves you just as your iPhone’s battery gives up the ghost of the sub-10% you are shocked to realize never got a charge up before you left the house. Where most power banks are bulky—although the latest 5K magnetic power banks are positively skeletal—the Tau 2 is smaller than an AirPods case but hosts a 2000mAh (7.4Wh) battery pack that in our tests refilled an iPhone 16 Pro by just over 30%. We review the best magnetic power banks if you are willing to sacrifice some bulk for greater battery capacity. Simon Jary In size it measures 2.2 x 1.7 x 0.7 inches (5.6 x 4.3 x 1.9cm). It’s a little smaller and lighter (1.7oz vs2.2oz; 49 vs 61g) than an AirPods Pro case. The clever thing about the Tau 2 is that it doesn’t require you to always have a cable on you when you’re out and about—how many people do? If you’re canny enough to pack a cable every time you go out, you should be bright enough to have remembered to charge your phone in the first place. Most of us sometimes fail on both counts. Remove the key-friendly hooked lid to reveal two cables: a USB-C for anything new (iPhone 15 and later) and Lightning for older iPhones and AirPods cases. Simon Jary The Lightning cable even works as MicroUSB—the fiddly little connector that history should have consigned to the dustbin, but which doggedly lives on in cheap Chinese gadgets. If you do still own an iPhone older than the 15, it will offer pass-through charging with USB-C as input and Lightning as output. You can even charge two devices at the same time, which is where a second USB-C cable rather than Lightning could be useful to early adopters. If you have all USB-C Apple gadgets the Lightning cable is rather superfluous. We’d have preferred an option with two USB-C so the pass-through can go both ways, but I do own an older Lightning AirPods case, so it is still useful to me. If only it could charge my Apple Watch too. Maker Rolling Square promises that “you’ll never forget to re-charge it”, which of course is nonsense, but the company does give you options. You can plug in straight into a USB-C charger using its little cable, or power it up via its own its Charging Dock that—with the included double-sided adhesive—can be firmly stuck to a wall, desk, or any clean, flat surface that will hold it. You can also plug it straight into one of your MacBook’s Thunderbolt ports to charge it up from the laptop. Simon Jary If you keep your keys on a hook, just attach the Tau 2’s charging dock right next to it. I’m happy with my AirTag keyring and could connect the Tau 2 to that but prefer to keep the tiny power bank in a pocket in my backpack for emergencies—but you can follow Rolling Square’s recommendation and use it as your main key ring if you fancy. The hook is secure, although not as gripping a fix as an old-fashioned metal ring. The Tau 2 does work with an NFC tag to create a Lost Mode, as well as potentially share your Digital ID via the same route, but to fit better into the Apple ecosystem a FindMy function would be appreciated. Simon Jary Price The Rolling Square Tau 2 is priced at $39.90 / £39.90 / €39,90. Check our price-comparison widget for more live prices near you. Should you buy the Rolling Square Tau 2? I am happy to carry around a slim magnetic power bank in my backpack, and most of the time I remember to keep it charged ready for when my iPhone gives out miles away from a wall charger. But I am sometimes caught out and have to limp around in Low Power Mode on a few percentage points of battery life. The tiny Tau 2 is a great and affordable back-up battery that can squeeze out enough juice to recharge the iPhone to nearly a third of its full potential while weighing next to nothing and taking up barely any space.

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