iOS 26 becomes the most popular beta version in Apple's history
According to Apple, iOS 26 Developer Beta has become the most popular beta version of the iPhone operating system in the company's history. Apple CEO Tim Cook said: "iOS 26, macOS 26, and iPadOS 26 are by far the most popular developer betas we've had.". However, he did not mention any figures, nor did he mention the public Public Beta, which was released two weeks ago.
In fact, this achievement is not as significant as it may seem. Two years ago, Apple cancelled the $99 fee for installing the Developer Beta, and now anyone who has registered a developer account with Apple can install the preview version of the OS for developers. Yes, it's still the biggest thing in the last two years, but it would be more interesting to hear about the achievements of the Public Beta, which can be downloaded by anyone. Perhaps this information will also be revealed, it's just too early to draw conclusions.
Just to remind you:
- The iOS 26 developer beta was released after the announcement at WWDC in June 2025
- The public beta appeared on 24 July
- The official release is expected in September 2025
The growing popularity of the developer beta is due to a number of major changes that are important for third-party app developers, including a new interface and design code, more AI features, and new security requirements.
The changes in the interface (Liquid Glass) have undoubtedly influenced the popularity of the public beta, as Apple rarely updates the system design. The advantage of this approach is practicality and convenience, because users do not have to search for the necessary functions and get used to them again, and the disadvantage is that users get bored and want changes.
Source: www.macrumors.com
