What's New in iOS 26.2 Beta 1: Liquid Glass Slider, Reminders Alarms, and More

The first developer beta of iOS 26.2 has arrived, bringing a surprising number of new features and refinements across the system. The build number for this initial release is 23C5027f.

The update introduces more granular control over Apple's new 'Liquid Glass' design language. A new slider on the Lock Screen now lets users adjust the transparency of the clock, offering a range from nearly clear to a more frosted look. This adds another layer of customization on top of the system-wide 'Tinted' setting introduced in iOS 26.1.




Several apps also receive notable updates. The Reminders app gains a new "Urgent" toggle that can trigger a full-screen alarm when a reminder is due, complete with snooze and slide-to-stop options.



The Podcasts app adds three new AI-powered features: automatically generated chapters, the ability to see and follow other podcasts mentioned in a show, and quick access to links shared during an episode.




The Apple News app has also been redesigned with quick-access buttons for popular categories and a dedicated "Following" tab for easier navigation.



This beta also expands AirPods Live Translation to users in the European Union, a feature Apple had previously delayed in the region due to regulatory requirements. The update additionally introduces new supported languages for the feature, as first spotted in the iOS 26.1 beta.



Apple has adjusted the scoring ranges for its Sleep Score feature in watchOS 26.2 and the Health app, replacing the "Excellent" rating with "Very High" and refining the thresholds for all levels. Other changes include the ability to create tables in the Freeform app, the option to manage websites excluded from password saving, a new screen flash option in Accessibility, and an Enhanced Safety Alerts section for managing earthquake and imminent threat notifications.



Code within the beta also references a new AirDrop feature that would allow users to share a PIN to enable transfers for up to 30 days, as well as support for relative time alerts like "next Friday" in the Weather app.

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