Apple Rolls Out Second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate, Public Launch Imminent
iOS 26.2 release candidate now live
Apple has begun seeding the iOS 26.2 release candidate (RC) to developers and public beta testers as of December 3, 2025. That makes it the final build before a full release — meaning a public rollout could arrive in the next few days.
What’s new in iOS 26.2 features
When you install the update your iPhone gets several useful changes and tweaks. Notable additions and improvements include:
- Liquid Glass slider on Lock Screen — you can now adjust the transparency of the clock, choosing how “frosted” or clear it appears.
- Offline lyrics in Apple Music — play a song and view its lyrics even when offline.
- Revised Sleep Score — Sleep tracking receives updated scoring ranges for more accurate feedback.
- Smarter Reminders — tasks can trigger alarms when due, helping you not miss important reminders.
- AirPods Live Translation expands — EU users get support for Live Translation with AirPods.
- Updates to apps and UI — smoother menu animations, improvements to the Measure, Games, Podcasts, Apple News and other built-in apps. CarPlay now allows disabling pinned messages in Messages.
Beyond these, several quality-of-life tweaks, bug fixes, and performance improvements are expected, making iOS 26.2 a well-rounded update rather than a purely superficial one.
When might iOS 26.2 release to everyone
Given the RC release now, a public release is expected very soon. According to previous patterns and current signals:
- Likely between December 8 and December 10, 2025.
- If there are no last-minute issues, Apple could push the update this week.
What this means for iPhone users
If you’re on a supported iPhone, you may want to keep an eye on Software Update once RC is out.
- The update brings useful customizations and improvements — not flashy, but practical (better sleep tracking, offline lyrics, smarter reminders)
- If you enjoy personalization, the new Liquid Glass slider and UI tweaks let you tune how your iPhone looks and behaves
- For EU AirPods users, Live Translation could be a helpful feature for multilingual situations
Overall, iOS 26.2 looks like a solid update worth installing once it becomes public.
