Apple Rolls Out Second iOS 26.2 Beta with Key Updates to Games, Messages, and Measure Apps
Apple has released the second beta of iOS 26.2 to developers, introducing a range of significant updates across several core applications and system-wide functionalities. This latest developer build, made available on November 12, 2025, provides an early look at enhancements to the Games, Messages, and Measure apps, among others. The general public can anticipate the full release of iOS 26.2 in December 2025.
Core App Refinements and User Experience Enhancements
The Measure app has received a notable visual redesign for its level tool. It now showcases a "Liquid Glass design," replacing the previous white circles with two distinct Liquid Glass bubbles, which offers a more contemporary and visually engaging interface.
For gaming enthusiasts, the Games app Library now includes a practical new feature: the ability to sort games by size. This addition complements existing sorting options like Name and Recent, simplifying the management of installed games and storage. A new splash screen alerts users to these changes upon their first interaction with the updated app. In a move to enhance driver focus and interface clarity, CarPlay users can now disable pinned messages within the Messages app, providing more flexibility while on the road.
System-Wide Visuals and Productivity Tools
Beyond individual applications, iOS 26.2 Beta 2 introduces more customization and efficiency. The Lock Screen clock now features a Liquid Glass slider, allowing users to adjust its opacity from nearly transparent to a frosted appearance. The option to entirely disable Liquid Glass remains available. System-wide menu animations have also been refined, now appearing quicker and bouncier, closely matching what was previewed at WWDC 2025.
The Reminders app sees an expansion of its "Urgent alarm" feature, making it more intuitive for users. The urgent toggle is now immediately visible once a date is selected for a reminder. If a specific time isn't set, urgent reminders default to 6 p.m. New animations and a dedicated splash screen highlight these improvements, with options to snooze alarms or manage them directly via live activities.
Broader Feature Integrations and Accessibility
In compliance with the EU Digital Markets Act, live translation via Siri on AirPods has been extended to the European Union, building upon its initial rollout in the US and select other countries. This feature expands communication capabilities for multilingual users.
Apple has also provided clarity on its Enhanced Safety Alerts, confirming that these region-based notifications for emergencies, such as earthquakes or floods, utilize Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile data. A key detail is Apple's affirmation that it does not store device location data for the purpose of these alerts.
The Apple News app now includes a "Following" tab, designed for quick access to favorite sources, saved stories, and reading history. It also offers shortcuts to popular topics like Food, Politics, Puzzles, and Sports. Apple Podcasts integrates new AI-generated chapters for episodes and a "Podcast Mentions" feature that automatically links referenced shows in episode descriptions, streamlining content discovery.
Other notable additions include offline lyric support in Apple Music, enabling users to view lyrics without an active internet connection, and a new accessibility feature that allows the iPhone screen to flash for notifications.
Performance, User Feedback, and Outlook
Early feedback from experts and testers indicates that the new menu animations are smoother and more responsive, with no reported lag in daily usage. This beta iteration also includes various bug fixes and security patches, with further stability improvements expected in the final public release.
Initial user reactions have been largely positive, with particular praise for the visual polish of the Liquid Glass effects and the practical enhancements to Reminders and the Games app management. The expansion of live translation for AirPods in the EU has also been well-received by frequent travelers and those in multilingual environments. The update is currently accessible to registered developers, with a public beta anticipated in the coming days. As with previous updates, there are no pricing changes associated with iOS 26.2, remaining free for supported devices.
