iOS 26 Developer Beta 8 is out - probably the last one before the official release
Today, the next pre-release version of iOS 26, Developer Beta 8, was released. The 9to5Mac resource has collected statistics and found that since iOS 13, all new versions of the system have received exactly 8 beta versions before the release of the final system. There have been some record-breakers in the company's history - iOS 12 received 12 technical releases before the release, but the latest iOS beta has no noticeable terrible bugs, so most likely there will be no more new versions of iOS 26 before the release. This is the version of the system that will be available on all supported devices in September.
iOS 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 26 - 8 beta versions
iOS 12 - 12
iOS 11 - 10
iOS 10 - 8
iOS 9 - 5
iOS 8 - 5
iOS 7 - 6
iOS 6 - 4
iOS 5 - 7
iPhone OS 3 - 5
iPhone OS 2 - 7
iPhone OS 1 - 0
Context of iOS 26
iOS 26 is an updated approach of Apple, where the number is related to the year rather than the serial number (iOS 19 became iOS 26) after the announcement at WWDC 2025. The public beta has been available since 24 July 2025, and on 25 August, the 8th beta for developers was released. The final release is expected closer to mid-late September, as usual, along with the iPhone 17.
All of the above also applies to macOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS, for which Developer Beta 8 was also released today.
Apple doesn't like to change what works well, but iOS 26 was an attempt by the company to break out of the routine and bring back the spirit of innovation. Rumours claim that in addition to the operating system and the new iPhone, the company is working on fundamentally new devices.
Source: 9to5mac.com
