Thinking of Updating? Read This Before Installing iOS 26.1 Beta!

Apple has officially rolled out the first developer beta of iOS 26.1, marking the first significant update since the launch of iOS 26. This beta is available for iPhones registered with Apple’s Developer Program and comes with several new features, interface tweaks, and expanded language support for Apple Intelligence tools like Live Translation on AirPods.

In addition to visual and usability improvements, Apple has made subtle updates to the underlying code, hinting at potential future support for third-party AI integrations, including Google’s Gemini models.

What’s New in iOS 26.1 Developer Beta 1

1. Expanded Apple Intelligence Language Support

The iOS 26.1 developer beta adds new languages to Live Translation on AirPods, improving accessibility and global usability. Supported languages now include:

• Chinese (Mandarin, simplified and traditional)
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean

Previously supported languages: English (US & UK), French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Spain).

Moreover, Apple Intelligence features now support eight additional languages:

• Chinese (traditional)
• Danish
• Dutch
• Norwegian
• Portuguese (Portugal)
• Swedish
• Turkish
• Vietnamese

2. New Music App Gesture

iOS 26.1 introduces a new MiniPlayer gesture in Apple Music. Users can now swipe right or left on the MiniPlayer to skip to the next track or return to the previous one, making music playback smoother and more intuitive.

3. Interface and UI Tweaks

Several apps have received minor but noticeable design improvements:

• Calendar: Full-width color highlights in List view for events
• Photos: Refined video playback scrubber
• Phone: Keypad updated with Liquid Glass effect from iOS 26
• Safari: Slightly wider Tab Bar with reduced edge padding

4. Third-Party AI Integration in Image Playground

iOS 26 introduced support for ChatGPT styles in Apple’s Image Playground. The iOS 26.1 beta includes code references suggesting Apple may soon expand support to more third-party AI image-generation models, potentially including Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, aka “Nano Banana.” While Apple hasn’t confirmed this, the coding hints at broader AI integration.

Also Read: Tired of Annoying Group Pings? WhatsApp’s New Feature Will Save You!

Compatible iPhone Models for iOS 26.1 Beta

• iPhone 17 Series: 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 17 Air
• iPhone 16 Series: 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 16e
• iPhone 15 Series: 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 Series: 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 Series: 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 Series: 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11 Series: 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE: 2nd generation and later

How to Install iOS 26.1 Developer Beta

Follow these steps to install the iOS 26.1 developer beta safely:

1. Sign up for the iOS 26 beta program on the Apple Developer website.
2. Ensure your iPhone is signed in with the same Apple ID used for the developer account.
3. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
4. Navigate to Beta Updates and select iOS 26 Developer Beta.
5. When the iOS 26.1 developer beta is available, tap Install.

Conclusion

The iOS 26.1 developer beta focuses on enhanced Apple Intelligence support, UI refinements, and new gestures, while hinting at future third-party AI integrations. Users on compatible devices can test the beta and explore the latest improvements ahead of the public release.

Check out the Latest Tech News