On October 13, Apple launches the third beta for developers of iOS 26.1which comes with quite a few new features, which although the final public will see them polished, those who install this version will be able to try them first, it is not certain that we will end up seeing them for everyone.
These types of versions may contain errors, and are designed, as the name suggests, for developers, so it is not recommended to install it, unless you have a secondary iPhone, as you may suffer from bugs, battery or performance problems, etc.
What iOS 26.1 beta 3 brings
The new beta of iOS 26.1 brings several tweaks and improvements that, without being a huge change, offer us more options to customize, a more refined integration with artificial intelligence and some new visual touches. We leave you here the key points summarized:
- New Apple TV app icon: Apple said goodbye to the “+” and now everything is simply Apple TV (yes, just like the device). The icon also changes: it leaves behind the classic gray and adopts more vivid and modern colors. It may seem like a small detail, but it gives the app a fresher feel and fits better with the rest of the iOS 26 system. Ultimately, it is part of Apple's plan to simplify names and give more personality to its design.
- Local Capture function in Settings: Under the General menu appears a new option called Local Capture, designed for those who record audio or video frequently. It allows you to control the gain when using external microphones, choose the location where files are saved and activate audio-only capture if preferred. It's a handy tool that puts more control in the user's hands, especially useful for content creators or journalists who use the iPhone as a professional recorder.
- Expanded support for AI providers: In the beta code it was discovered that Apple is preparing the ground to integrate more artificial intelligence services within “Apple Intelligence”. So far, only ChatGPT is available, but everything indicates that other models will soon be available, such as Google's Gemini. This means that Apple does not want to depend solely on one partner, and is open to more.
- Improved notifications for third-party watches: Traces of a new notification forwarding system (Notification Forwarding) have been detected, designed to improve compatibility with smartwatches that are not Apple Watch (mandated, in a way, by the EU). This could allow watches from brands such as Garmin, Samsung or Fitbit to receive notifications from the iPhone more smoothly and with fewer limitations.
In general, iOS 26.1 beta 3 does not bring anything that completely changes the experience, but it does seem more polished, and little by little ready to be released to the general public. Apple is fine-tuning details, making everything look and work more coherently. It is also making it clear that it wants a more open system (something that is close to Android), where the user has more control and other services can be better integrated. It is not a big update, but it is one of those that prepares the ground for what is to come: a more connected, more practical iOS with a more human touch.
And you, have you already tried it? Leave us a comment with your opinion.
