iOS 26 Beta 3 Info

Important innovations and changes

• Update size: The update is quite large at 11.7 GB on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but varies depending on the device.
• More betas: In addition to iOS, Beta 3 versions were also released for iPadOS, tvOS, HomePod OS, Vision OS, Watch OS and macOS.
• Build number: The build number for iOS 26 Beta 3 is 23A5287G.
• No modem update: There was no modem update from Beta 2 to Beta 3.
• New wallpapers: There are four new iOS wallpaper options: Sky, Halo, Dusk, and Shadow.
• Adjustments to “Liquid Glass”: The appearance of "Liquid Glass" has been slightly adjusted in apps like Music and Podcasts to improve readability and contrast. Apple Maps also makes adjustments, such as a more transparent top bar for directions.
• Screenshot behavior: Screenshots no longer open the editing menu directly, but are displayed at the bottom as before and can be swiped away.

New features (already available in iOS 26)

• News App: In the News app, all ingredients of a recipe can now be added directly to a shopping list in Reminders.
• Maps app: The Maps app now allows you to search using natural language, e.g. “coffee with good Wi-Fi”.
• Bug fixes: The update includes numerous bug fixes and feels smoother overall, although there are still some issues.

Recommendation and schedule

• Installation recommendation: Those already using Beta 1 or 2 can try Beta 3. Those still on iOS 18.6 or 18.5 betas should wait for the public beta.
• Expected schedule: A possible re-release of Beta 3 (e.g. Beta 3.5) could occur early next week, followed by the public Beta 1. Beta 4 is expected in about two weeks.

Performance and battery

• Performance: Performance seems to be good and less jerky than Beta 2. The device still gets a bit warm after the update.
• Battery: Battery life was poor in Beta 2 and still needs to be tested for Beta 3.
• Storage space: iOS 26 Beta 3 appears to take up less storage space than Beta 2.
• Benchmarks: Despite background processing, the benchmark results are decent and slightly better than Beta 2.

Scope of the update: The iOS 26 Beta 3 update was quite large at 11.7 GB on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, although the exact size could vary depending on the device. Parallel to iOS, Beta 3 versions were also released for other Apple operating systems such as iPadOS, tvOS, HomePod OS, Vision OS, Watch OS, and macOS. However, macOS had a known bug where the silicon versions of the beta were not displayed correctly. The specific build number for iOS 26 Beta 3 is 23A5287G. Notably, there was no modem update from Beta 2 to Beta 3.

Visual and functional innovations: One of the most noticeable visual changes is the addition of four new iOS wallpaper options: "Sky," "Halo," "Dusk," and "Shadow," which offer users more customization options. There have also been subtle adjustments to the appearance of "Liquid Glass" in various apps, such as Music and Podcasts. These changes were made to improve readability and contrast, thus increasing usability. Adjustments have also been made to Apple Maps, such as a more transparent top bar when displaying directions, which improves clarity.

One notable change concerns the behavior of screenshots: They no longer open the editing menu directly, but are displayed at the bottom of the screen as in previous iOS versions and can be easily swiped away, which could simplify the workflow for some users.

In addition to the beta-specific updates, features already present in iOS 26 were also highlighted: In the News app, users can now add all the ingredients of a recipe directly to a shopping list in the Reminders app, making meal planning easier. The Maps app has been enhanced with natural language search, allowing users to query things like "coffee with good Wi-Fi" for more precise results.

Bug fixes and performance: The update includes numerous bug fixes and provides a smoother overall user experience compared to the previous beta version. Despite these improvements, there are still some known issues listed in the release notes, such as the correct display of Liquid Glass in the volume control.

Recommendations and outlook: The video recommends that users who already have Beta 1 or Beta 2 installed try the update to Beta 3. However, those still on iOS 18.6 betas or iOS 18.5 should wait for the public beta release to get a more stable version. The expected timeline calls for a possible re-release of Beta 3 (e.g., Beta 3.5) early next week, followed by Public Beta 1. Beta 4 is expected in about two weeks.

In terms of performance, Beta 3 appears to be running well and less choppy than Beta 2, although the device may still get a bit warm after the update. Battery life was poor in Beta 2 and needs to be thoroughly tested for Beta 3. It was mentioned that the test device's battery health was at 99% after 255 charge cycles. Another positive is that iOS 26 Beta 3 appears to use less storage space than Beta 2. The benchmark results are decent despite background processing and slightly better than those of Beta 2.

This article is based on the video by zollotech