Simply three days after Apple launched iOS 26.2 to iPhones all over the place, the corporate is again at it with a brand new replace. iOS 26.3 is official, although just for beta testers. These courageous sufficient to put in Apple’s unfinished software program on their gadgets will not discover an replace packed to the brim with new options and modifications, however they may come upon two key new options. The factor is, we already knew each of them have been on the way in which.
This is not the tip all be all for the replace, nonetheless: Since iOS 26.3 is so new, it is potential testers will uncover extra options hidden inside the replace. As well as, Apple could add new modifications in subsequent beta variations. I am going to proceed to replace this text to mirror any new options that reveal themselves, however, till then, listed here are the 2 new options we find out about.
Notification forwarding
Again in September, we discovered that Apple was quietly engaged on some kind of notification forwarding characteristic, however apart from that fundamental performance, the main points have been left to hypothesis. On the time, the widespread assumption was that Apple supposed the characteristic for use to ahead notifications to third-party gadgets, particularly smartwatches, in an try to open up the platform to wearables apart from the Apple Watch. This would not be Apple’s alternative, after all—left to its personal gadgets, the corporate would maintain as many options locked to Apple gadgets as potential. As a substitute, the motivation would come from the EU, which has compelled Apple to make its platforms extra cooperative with third-party gadgets.
After three months, we are actually getting our first official have a look at this characteristic. On this first iOS 26.3 beta, there’s now a “Notification Forwarding” choice in Notification settings. Whereas the choice is not reside presently, Apple does have an outline for the way the characteristic works, saying that notifications might be forwarded to 1 gadget at a time. Importantly, the outline says that when notifications are forwarded to a different gadget, they won’t seem in your Apple Watch. Is that limitation actually mandatory, Apple?
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Switch to Android
Information of iOS 26.3’s second characteristic isn’t fairly so previous. Actually, we solely discovered about it final week. Because it occurs, Apple is working immediately with Google on an official method to make transferring between an iPhone and an Android gadget extra seamless.
What do you assume thus far?
As of final week, Google had already rolled out its first check of the characteristic to Android Canary, but it surely was nowhere to be present in Apple’s betas. Now, we all know what to anticipate: In iOS’ “Switch or Reset iPhone” settings, there’s now a brand new “Switch to Android” choice. Right here, iOS instructs you to put your iPhone close to your Android gadget, the place you possibly can select to go alongside information like images, messages, notes, and apps. Nevertheless, it appears not all information will switch: Well being information, gadgets paired with Bluetooth, and “protected gadgets” like locked notes won’t come together with this switch characteristic.
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Watch out for operating betas in your iPhone
This is not the flashiest beta Apple has ever shipped, however it’s potential to put in proper now. Each the developer and public betas are actually accessible, which suggests anybody can enroll their gadget in Apple’s beta program to offer 26.3 a attempt.
Nevertheless, know the dangers earlier than you do. Unfinished software program may include bugs and glitches that might impression your expertise utilizing your iPhone. If the software program is especially glitchy, you might lose information when downgrading again to iOS 26.2. For those who do determine to put in the beta, make an entire backup of your iPhone to a Mac or PC earlier than you do.
